GURPS Thaumatology: Age of Gold

vitruvian · 11-07-2008, 12:17 AM

Can't believe that nobody has commented on this e23 supplement on the GURPS board yet. It's quite an effective combination of 1930s pulp and magic, I thought, though I had some quibbles, like the notion that straight-up Voudoun, not being among the common Path/Book traditions, would surprise even an expert occultist. But things like that can be easily altered by the GM, as can the prohibition on Super-Effort ST based on the setting being before the advent of Superman and true Golden Age Supers (which I'd argue based on the earlier occurrence of Hugo Danner in Philip Wylie's Gladiator, and even earlier comic strip examples such as Popeye and Hugo Hercules).

Anyway, I'm interested both in comments on the supplement in general, and suggestions or even full writeups for potential PCs, allied NPCs, or NPC villains that fit the setting. Ideas on how some of the classic Golden Age superheroes could be recast in magical/alchemical terms already occur:

Hugo Danner/Clark Kent (pre-costume) - alchemical product with the aforementioned exceptional levels of Super-ST and DR
Hourman - exceptionally powerful version of an alchemical elixir for strength
Flash - same for speed
Dr. Fate - uses both powers and spirit-assisted spells granted by Nabu, slowly being taken over by his spirit mentor
Human Torch - homunculus embodying elemental fire
Submariner - Deep One sleeper agent?
Captain America - a more recent experiment in deliberate alchemical enhancement
and so on...

11-07-2008, 12:17 AM	#1
vitruvian Join Date: Aug 2004	GURPS Thaumatology: Age of Gold Can't believe that nobody has commented on this e23 supplement on the GURPS board yet. It's quite an effective combination of 1930s pulp and magic, I thought, though I had some quibbles, like the notion that straight-up Voudoun, not being among the common Path/Book traditions, would surprise even an expert occultist. But things like that can be easily altered by the GM, as can the prohibition on Super-Effort ST based on the setting being before the advent of Superman and true Golden Age Supers (which I'd argue based on the earlier occurrence of Hugo Danner in Philip Wylie's Gladiator, and even earlier comic strip examples such as Popeye and Hugo Hercules). Anyway, I'm interested both in comments on the supplement in general, and suggestions or even full writeups for potential PCs, allied NPCs, or NPC villains that fit the setting. Ideas on how some of the classic Golden Age superheroes could be recast in magical/alchemical terms already occur: Hugo Danner/Clark Kent (pre-costume) - alchemical product with the aforementioned exceptional levels of Super-ST and DR Hourman - exceptionally powerful version of an alchemical elixir for strength Flash - same for speed Dr. Fate - uses both powers and spirit-assisted spells granted by Nabu, slowly being taken over by his spirit mentor Human Torch - homunculus embodying elemental fire Submariner - Deep One sleeper agent? Captain America - a more recent experiment in deliberate alchemical enhancement and so on...