Ultra-Tech Classic VS 4e

hal · 04-18-2020, 08:25 PM

Hello Folks,
Not certain if this kind of thread exists elsewhere, so I thought I'd bring it up here.

As I work at populating equipment lists for campaigns, whether I use Classic Ultra-tech or the newer version depends on which sourcebook I'm using and what I'm trying to emulate. For instance, Classic Ultra-tech books were used with GURPS TRAVELLER and almost mandate that one uses that for their GURPS TRAVELLER campaigns over against the newer book. Me? I'm good with using either - largely because I also use GURPS VEHICLES for my campaigns regardless of whether or not it is a true classic campaign or a true 4e campaign (hence why I often refer to my campaigns as GURPS 3.5).

I am curious however. Has anyone done a side by side comparison between the two systems and where they are more or less the same as opposed to where they don't quite see eye to eye?

For example - Power cells in Classic were had specific rules/guidelines for how much they weighed or were priced based upon a specific mathematical formula. As I attempt to work with the 4e version, I find it passing odd that although the weights are in multiples of 10 larger/smaller than the next size up/down - the prices do not follow that same guideline.

Another item of interest for me was the TL assignment for Gauss weaponry. I understand that because 4e compressed the Tech levels a fair bit, and that what used to be TL 8 and TL 9 in the Classic Ultra-Tech were more or less merged in together as TL 9 in 4e Ultra-Tech, but even so, I was surprised to see that the two books largely disagreed upon where/when Gauss weaponry comes into play.

Now, I know if I want to, I can simply reassign the TL tag to items, such that something listed as TL 10 in the book can be made to be TL 9 in a campaign. But the purpose of this thread is more to explore the differences between the two books in such a way as to perhaps give a heads up for those who blithely assume they're comparable with each other.

Thoughts? Comments?

04-18-2020, 08:25 PM	#1
hal Join Date: Aug 2004	Ultra-Tech Classic VS 4e Hello Folks, Not certain if this kind of thread exists elsewhere, so I thought I'd bring it up here. As I work at populating equipment lists for campaigns, whether I use Classic Ultra-tech or the newer version depends on which sourcebook I'm using and what I'm trying to emulate. For instance, Classic Ultra-tech books were used with GURPS TRAVELLER and almost mandate that one uses that for their GURPS TRAVELLER campaigns over against the newer book. Me? I'm good with using either - largely because I also use GURPS VEHICLES for my campaigns regardless of whether or not it is a true classic campaign or a true 4e campaign (hence why I often refer to my campaigns as GURPS 3.5). I am curious however. Has anyone done a side by side comparison between the two systems and where they are more or less the same as opposed to where they don't quite see eye to eye? For example - Power cells in Classic were had specific rules/guidelines for how much they weighed or were priced based upon a specific mathematical formula. As I attempt to work with the 4e version, I find it passing odd that although the weights are in multiples of 10 larger/smaller than the next size up/down - the prices do not follow that same guideline. Another item of interest for me was the TL assignment for Gauss weaponry. I understand that because 4e compressed the Tech levels a fair bit, and that what used to be TL 8 and TL 9 in the Classic Ultra-Tech were more or less merged in together as TL 9 in 4e Ultra-Tech, but even so, I was surprised to see that the two books largely disagreed upon where/when Gauss weaponry comes into play. Now, I know if I want to, I can simply reassign the TL tag to items, such that something listed as TL 10 in the book can be made to be TL 9 in a campaign. But the purpose of this thread is more to explore the differences between the two books in such a way as to perhaps give a heads up for those who blithely assume they're comparable with each other. Thoughts? Comments?