Character Advancement

[Eric Funk]

Originally Posted by fridayparson

The problem lies in that most of the coolest stuff are things like Advantages, most of which one can't get after creation and stat increases are prohibitively expensive.

Depending what kind of setting you have it is your job as GM to determine what kind of advancement your "team" can have with their chosen character concepts and how they will "train" up and "level" up. You can consider "leveling" an idea that a new advantage might be available to a warrior (or access to a new spell tree, etc). Without knowing anything about your campaign setting I can't give specific suggestions.



If it is a dungeon fantasy setting, I suggest looking into the GURPS "GURPS Dungeon Fantasy"* set of products at e23. They have gone to the trouble to package standard classes and give "next level" suggestions for class and race.
Say a warrior might learn High Pain Threshold, or a dwarf might learn some Magic Resistance (Switchable). Also remember that not all awards are "tangible", such as patrons, reputation, Rank (B499)

A "levelup" scenario can often be represented as some sort of advanced training appropriate to your setting between adventures (visit the dojo, combat sim, wizard tower, commune with the otherworldly powers). (See the advice around "Controlling Character Development" p.B499)



Stat increases are expensive?

Note that it is permitted secondary characteristicscan vary by 30% off base (B16). With GM advice an adventurer can buy them in parcels for incremental benefits until complete.

ST - base 10/level
You can start it with
+1 HP 2cp (B16)
+1 Striking ST

IQ - base 20/level
You can start with
CORE IQ: 10/level ( no Will, Per)
then add +1 Will, Per for 5cp each and you can match with "Stock IQ"


the next two are intertwined for Speed/Move
DX: Base 10/level
Start with
+1 Basic Move (B17) [5]
+0.25 Basic Speed
And optionally Higher Manual Dexterity 5/level (B59) (if a PC would benefit)

HT: Base 10/level
Also +1 FP (3/level)



* (I say it this way as I personally prefer the GURPS "GURPS Dungeon Fantasy" product in contrast to the "Dungeon Fantasy (Powered by GURPS)" also available but still refer to the latter for all the work to gather rules together.

[RGTraynor]

While it's been three years, and the OP was the only post the person ever made, I have an extraordinarily hard time wrapping my head around the nonsensical statement of "In other words after 20 sessions a GURPS character is basically the same." We're talking what, 40 points for a mediocre player in a campaign where not a whole lot happens? That's quite a lot of advancement. (Never mind that if the players really, honestly, have to go newbie-to-superhero overnight, for pity's sake, just hand over 5x XP a session or something.) Then again, I also have a heretical take on things:

For many years I was in a combat fantasy LARP, playing a priest-mage (for lack of a simpler term). By 1994, I maxed out all the spells the system would allow me to have and still carry a sword of an effective length. In that season, I was 34 years old and was just about as effective a fighter as my gradually deteriorating knees and wrists would allow me to be. I was, by that time, also a prince at the head of my own nation, and the most prominent ritual magician in the game.

I played for eight more years and about 150 events, never advancing one jot further. Social progress only came with the retirement of other players; of the several of us who were major leaders, all but one of us was in place for several years, and the longest standing one was a Queen for nearly 15 years. Meanwhile, I wasn't getting any younger, and gradually made the move from being a front line-capable fighter to an archer because my joints and hand strength weren't reliable enough any more.

In short, I didn't "advance." Few people, once they'd learned their quota of spells and gotten past newbie stage with a weapon, ever did. Somehow we managed to have fun nonetheless. Who knew?

[rkbrown419]

Rewards for the PC's don't have to just be points, cash or gear. When the party saves a town or two they should develop a Reputation advantage in addition to bonus points. You want to boost the players abilities into more cinematic territory have them meet a teacher who gives them a crash course that qualifies them for Trained by a Master. After a few jobs for a wealthy employer have the relationship evolve into the Patron advantage. Adventures can reward your PC's in any way you can imagine as long as it makes sense in your setting and they story you're telling. Of course the reverse is true as well. Injuries can leave characters maimed if you're using those rules. A colossal foul up in front of witnesses can provide a negative reputation. If your players liked a particular antagonistic NPC who didn't end up an absolutely confirmed kill can become an Enemy popping up again and again. It all depends on what kind of game you want to run.

[mburr0003]

Originally Posted by fridayparson

The problem lies in that most of the coolest stuff are things like Advantages, most of which one can't get after creation...

Says who? It's your game, run it the way you want. Let them buy Advantages, kewl Powers, etc.

Run the game you want to play in.

Originally Posted by Black Leviathan

GURPS advancement is slow.

Doesn't ahve to be. Hand out 25 exp per session if that's what it takes for you Players to feel the advancement.

Run the game you want to play in.

I'm making that my new slogan, "Run the game you want to play in."