Converting Avatar: The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra setting to GURPS

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I don't see why you think that. Bending isn't much like psionics.

Bending is an inborn potential that is subsequently realized by learnable skill. GURPS Psionic Powers, and indeed psionics in most fiction, is exactly like that.

But sure, if Chinese Elemental Powers does that thing even better, then the OP should probably go for that. I don't have it, have very little clue how it does things. But I know GURPS Psionic Powers fits.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

Bending is an inborn potential that is subsequently realized by learnable skill. GURPS Psionic Powers, and indeed psionics in most fiction, is exactly like that.

"Can only buy new abilities in a Power if you started with abilities or Talent from that power" isn't especially unique to psionics and isn't so revolutionary an idea that you can't just get it from the sentence I just wrote (look, I saved the OP $9.99!). The "skills" for Bending are martial arts not the Psionic skills in Psionic Powers.

But sure, if Chinese Elemental Powers does that thing even better, then the OP should probably go for that.

It has chi-based elemental abilities that are very similar (if not identical to) bending unlike Psionic Powers which has psionic abilities that aren't based on classical Chinese elements and don't at all resemble any feat in either cartoon series.

I don't have it, have very little clue how it does things.

Much more like the source material than Psionic Powers.

But I know GURPS Psionic Powers fits.

How do you figure? What ability in Psionic Powers matches an Earth Bender pushing somebody with a slab of rock combined with a Tai-Chi push?

[Mr_Sandman]

There was a thread on this a while back:
http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread...ight=airbender

As for TL, in Airbender the Fire Nation seemed to have some TL 5 (even a little bit of 6 if you count the tanks) tech but used bending for combustion so maybe TL 4+1, but the other nations seemed more solidly TL 4. In Korra, Republic City seems to be TL 6 without the need for bending. No guns for anyone still, but odd electric weapons, right? Been a while since I watched.

[timeladymanedwolf]

Originally Posted by Mr_Sandman

There was a thread on this a while back:
http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread...ight=airbender

As for TL, in Airbender the Fire Nation seemed to have some TL 5 (even a little bit of 6 if you count the tanks) tech but used bending for combustion so maybe TL 4+1, but the other nations seemed more solidly TL 4. In Korra, Republic City seems to be TL 6 without the need for bending. No guns for anyone still, but odd electric weapons, right? Been a while since I watched.

This seems far more plausible for me to use, thanks.

And yeah, those tech levels make more sense in my book. Now I just have to make the maps of the local areas the player characters will start out in.