eGURPS (GURPS 5e)

[DeDiceManCometh]

This is the next big thing: You guys at SJG need to start thinking outside of the box. Some of the paradigm shifts exemplified by Web 2.0 are totally relevant to RPG design.

First off, think of GURPS as primarily content. Beyond a few core mechanics (rolling die vs. a target number), the vast majority of the system is comprised of databases. SKILLS are a big database, CREATURES are, TEMPLATES are. You get the idea.

At this point GURPS is so robust, you're not doing anybody any favors by "revising" it without (or with limited) backward compatibility,...unless you think WotC's D&D product line strategy is good for GURPS (ha!).

What you CAN offer in the next gen is the ability to MANAGE all the content -- on the web via a CMS. Want to play GURPS Fantasy? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to click a button and have all the databases FILTERED for only fantasy entries?

And if only the GURPS interface could be SKINNED so that the necessary evil of "generic" typefaces and artwork could be done away with?

Even rules documentation could be FILTERED, even by tags BASIC, OPTIONAL, ADVANCED...or say, CINEMATIC.

"Official" campaign settings could be assembled/editted by MIBs from user (or in-house) submissions by employing a Wiki or Wiki-like technology. Settings would grow exponentially.

Just sayin' -- morebetter rules ain't the answer, it's the tools to manage all that we already have.

[Cybren]

Yeah, sure. But what rules are relevant to one GM's fantasy campaign aren't to another's. If an RPG ever had a software version of its rule system the only functionality i'd want is that it be searchable and hypertextual

[Metallic Vortex]

Maybe you should look at this old idea: http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/cdrom/

[DeDiceManCometh]

Originally Posted by Cybren

Yeah, sure. But what rules are relevant to one GM's fantasy campaign aren't to another's. If an RPG ever had a software version of its rule system the only functionality i'd want is that it be searchable and hypertextual

That's easily resolved by allowing two levels of tagging, SJG tags and User tags (keyed to a user account ID so that everyone doesn't necessarily see the whole universe of users tags). An import-export function for tags so that players can easily "grab" a GMs preexisting set.

[DeDiceManCometh]

Originally Posted by Metallic Vortex

Maybe you should look at this old idea: http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/cdrom/

Maybe I shouldn't. That is NOT Web 2.0 thinking; that is pre-year-2000 thinking. CDROMs are dead, man. Wake up and smell the rotting aluminum oxide.

[robkelk]

Originally Posted by DeDiceManCometh

Maybe I shouldn't. That is NOT Web 2.0 thinking; that is pre-year-2000 thinking. CDROMs are dead, man. Wake up and smell the rotting aluminum oxide.

Actually, everything you've described is pre-year-2000 thinking - you've spec'ed a relational database. I had the software to create what you wanted back when PCs ran MS-DOS and nobody'd heard of the "Y2K bug".

(Which is probably a good thing - when I hear "Web 2.0", I think "Facebook spam and Wiki page-vandalization, treated as good things"... You probably don't want the baggage associated with that term.)

[DeDiceManCometh]

Originally Posted by robkelk

Actually, everything you've described is pre-year-2000 thinking - you've spec'ed a relational database. I had the software to create what you wanted back when PCs ran MS-DOS and nobody'd heard of the "Y2K bug".

I invited you explain to me how I spec'd a _relational_ database. Warning: I am a professional in these matters, so think carefully. Second question, where is it written that Web 2.0 functionality precludes a relational database anyway? CMS systems all overlay databases, most of them relational.

SJG can't, perhaps, Open Source the core system and maintain a revenue stream (although, some thought should be given to challenging that assumption)...but it can put it out where the entire community can effectively "open" source house rules and materials in a seamless way with "official" content.

[robkelk]

Originally Posted by DeDiceManCometh

I invited you explain to me how I spec'd a _relational_ database. Warning: I am a professional in these matters, so think carefully.

Your comment "Wouldn't it be nice to be able to click a button and have all the databases FILTERED for only fantasy entries?" sets a requirement to have entries be related to genres. Perhaps I overgeneralized from that.

Originally Posted by DeDiceManCometh

Second question, where is it written that Web 2.0 functionality precludes a relational database anyway? CMS systems all overlay databases, most of them relational.

How did you get that out of what I wrote?

Originally Posted by DeDiceManCometh

SJG can't, perhaps, Open Source the core system and maintain a revenue stream (although, some thought should be given to challenging that assumption)...but it can put it out where the entire community can effectively "open" source house rules and materials in a seamless way with "official" content.

Funny, I thought we did that all the time on these forums. It's just not organized.

[Turhan's Bey Company]

Originally Posted by DeDiceManCometh

SJG can't, perhaps, Open Source the core system and maintain a revenue stream (although, some thought should be given to challenging that assumption).

Been there, done that. You do remember all the threads about people wanting GURPS to go OGL, right? They've thought about it and firmly decided that the answer is no, and the apparent failure of D&D to make a go of open sourcing (as evidenced by the much tighter licensing around D&D 4.0) is likely to only reinforce that decision.

[warmachine]

I always thought something like this was needed but as SJG doesn't have the computer resources, it would be hosted by amateurs around the world. I'm wondering if SJG should make their trait, template, equipment and creature databases (but not rules) publically available and, thus, free. SJG doesn't have the bureaucracy to track which customer has which books or PDFs and is therefore entitled to see which databases. I'm thinking not as it would undermine the sales of their catalogue books (Magic, High-Tech, Ultra-tech etc.). This would reduce the databases to brief descriptions and page references.