Only 1 player help please

Kazamir · 09-07-2009, 03:20 AM

Well so far I'm loving the advice, and yes I strongly agree that not everything involves a fight... BUT as for when he does fight, because he is a brilliant guy and loves puzzles and such.. but he also longs for combat as well. So I was more of looking for what to do about combat. When I said that I was recently introduced to the rules of GURPS... I meant it more of just introduced to rules of any RPG honestly.. when I said I winged it I really did from start to finish wing it not using any stats or anything, combat was always sketchy but it worked in a weird way. Now that i have read the full Basic Set book (part 1 and 2) for 4th ed. and also now have a bunch of other books such as dungeon fantasy books I'm learning more and more but most examples I've seen are for a party where as I only have 1 party member. Since this was the 1st game I planned on using stats and rules with I wanted to fully transfer to GURPS because it seems so much better than what I was doing lol. He was asking if he could pick up a healing spell or something like that, or a hireling that could possibly heal, but very weak so he would have to protect said hireling. Part of me wants to say sure why not because you might need it, but the rest of me says no because I'm not sure if that is ok or not, well anyways thanks for the advice on everything so far, I really love hearing from experienced GMs and would love to hear more, so keep it coming.. I appreciate all of it :D

trooper6 · 09-07-2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kazamir

Well so far I'm loving the advice, and yes I strongly agree that not everything involves a fight... BUT as for when he does fight, because he is a brilliant guy and loves puzzles and such.. but he also longs for combat as well. So I was more of looking for what to do about combat. When I said that I was recently introduced to the rules of GURPS... I meant it more of just introduced to rules of any RPG honestly.. when I said I winged it I really did from start to finish wing it not using any stats or anything, combat was always sketchy but it worked in a weird way. Now that i have read the full Basic Set book (part 1 and 2) for 4th ed. and also now have a bunch of other books such as dungeon fantasy books I'm learning more and more but most examples I've seen are for a party where as I only have 1 party member. Since this was the 1st game I planned on using stats and rules with I wanted to fully transfer to GURPS because it seems so much better than what I was doing lol. He was asking if he could pick up a healing spell or something like that, or a hireling that could possibly heal, but very weak so he would have to protect said hireling. Part of me wants to say sure why not because you might need it, but the rest of me says no because I'm not sure if that is ok or not, well anyways thanks for the advice on everything so far, I really love hearing from experienced GMs and would love to hear more, so keep it coming.. I appreciate all of it :D

A hireling that can heal is fine. Or him picking up a healing spell is also fine...this is GURPS and you can do mostly anything thing. The catch is that is all costs points. And you said he is a 150pt character? It is going to costs some points for him to be able to cast that healing spell. And you've only given him 150pts? Maybe give him 200pts? That could let him get some Magery and healing. Perhaps he was a priest but quit the order? Or maybe he's a Paladin type? What is his character concept and background anyway?

One of the strengths of GURPS is that it isn't a class system, that means the characters can be complex and multifaceted. They can be fighters who dabble in Magery. They can also sneak around a bit...they can be really good at dancing. The point ceiling and concept are your limits!

If you are worried about the enemies you are putting him up against, here is some more concrete advice-

Make a fighter, who has the exact same stats as the PC then subtract 1 to everything. Then have you and the player do some practice arena fights. It will let both of you get a feeling for combat before you actually get into the game, in a consequence free zone, as it were. Then you could throw a couple different combat situations in there. Try 3 really weak (compared to him) kobolds. Try 1 really tough (compared to him) monster.

Also, Dungeon Fantasy is geared towards 250pt PCs. If you are feeling a bit more 150pts...also give a look to Banestorm. That defaults to 150, is a really neat setting, and will give you more templates and monsters and what not that might fit better into your vision.

Kazamir · 09-07-2009, 08:27 AM

Well right now I'm allowing him to be 200 points, considering 250 though, and as for the arena advice for practice i'm going to do that it sounds like a great idea. I'm leaning more towards the hireling or like someone who is forever in debt to him or something like that, with healing spells. That way he can have a little interaction, have someone to save the day if it hits the fan or lol.... to cause him trouble at "convenient" moments lol. He can get healing spells if he wants too but I feel like I'm going to give him a hireling.

Kazamir · 09-07-2009, 08:33 AM

Also just to mention this, I have a program called GCM (GURPS character maker) and it is just AWFUL... (at least I find it to be) we were making characters to see and got everything we could need for only 125 points... and I mean everything we could possibly find in it. It was depressing. Sooo now I'm going by hand (pencil and paper) using the Basic Set book for all of the stats, I would love to go and buy GURPS character assistant, I've heard great things of it. As for that though I can't afford to buy it lol. So yeah just thought I'd mention that we are using everything by hand haha.

trooper6 · 09-07-2009, 10:06 AM

Have you tried GURPS Character Sheet? It is platform independent and free.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/gcs-java/files/

I quite like it.

vicky_molokh · 09-08-2009, 11:02 AM

Maybe this e23 thingie will be useful to you in your 1-player gaming:
http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=XRP6200

mehrkat · 09-08-2009, 01:34 PM

If you want to avoid killing give him a regeneration/regrowth magic item or wish to give him the advantages. Slow 1 hp / 1 hour or so it means if he can limp away or crawl away or heck even stay still long enough he'll get better and you can throw some battles you wouldn't under normal circumstances because you don't have to avoid killing him. It keeps the game from turning into a campaign of attrition.

I often use it for my oft foolish 12 year old child in games.

09-07-2009, 03:20 AM	#1
Kazamir Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: In Killeen Texas, with my best friend.	Re: Only 1 player help please Well so far I'm loving the advice, and yes I strongly agree that not everything involves a fight... BUT as for when he does fight, because he is a brilliant guy and loves puzzles and such.. but he also longs for combat as well. So I was more of looking for what to do about combat. When I said that I was recently introduced to the rules of GURPS... I meant it more of just introduced to rules of any RPG honestly.. when I said I winged it I really did from start to finish wing it not using any stats or anything, combat was always sketchy but it worked in a weird way. Now that i have read the full Basic Set book (part 1 and 2) for 4th ed. and also now have a bunch of other books such as dungeon fantasy books I'm learning more and more but most examples I've seen are for a party where as I only have 1 party member. Since this was the 1st game I planned on using stats and rules with I wanted to fully transfer to GURPS because it seems so much better than what I was doing lol. He was asking if he could pick up a healing spell or something like that, or a hireling that could possibly heal, but very weak so he would have to protect said hireling. Part of me wants to say sure why not because you might need it, but the rest of me says no because I'm not sure if that is ok or not, well anyways thanks for the advice on everything so far, I really love hearing from experienced GMs and would love to hear more, so keep it coming.. I appreciate all of it :D

09-07-2009, 08:27 AM	#3
Kazamir Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: In Killeen Texas, with my best friend.	Re: Only 1 player help please Well right now I'm allowing him to be 200 points, considering 250 though, and as for the arena advice for practice i'm going to do that it sounds like a great idea. I'm leaning more towards the hireling or like someone who is forever in debt to him or something like that, with healing spells. That way he can have a little interaction, have someone to save the day if it hits the fan or lol.... to cause him trouble at "convenient" moments lol. He can get healing spells if he wants too but I feel like I'm going to give him a hireling.

09-07-2009, 08:33 AM	#4
Kazamir Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: In Killeen Texas, with my best friend.	Re: Only 1 player help please Also just to mention this, I have a program called GCM (GURPS character maker) and it is just AWFUL... (at least I find it to be) we were making characters to see and got everything we could need for only 125 points... and I mean everything we could possibly find in it. It was depressing. Sooo now I'm going by hand (pencil and paper) using the Basic Set book for all of the stats, I would love to go and buy GURPS character assistant, I've heard great things of it. As for that though I can't afford to buy it lol. So yeah just thought I'd mention that we are using everything by hand haha.

09-07-2009, 10:06 AM	#5
trooper6 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Medford, MA	Re: Only 1 player help please Have you tried GURPS Character Sheet? It is platform independent and free. http://sourceforge.net/projects/gcs-java/files/ I quite like it.

09-08-2009, 11:02 AM	#6
vicky_molokh GURPS FAQ Keeper Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kyïv, Ukraine	Re: Only 1 player help please Maybe this e23 thingie will be useful to you in your 1-player gaming: http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=XRP6200 __________________ Vicky 'Molokh', GURPS FAQ and uFAQ Keeper

09-08-2009, 01:34 PM	#7
mehrkat Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin Texas	Re: Only 1 player help please If you want to avoid killing give him a regeneration/regrowth magic item or wish to give him the advantages. Slow 1 hp / 1 hour or so it means if he can limp away or crawl away or heck even stay still long enough he'll get better and you can throw some battles you wouldn't under normal circumstances because you don't have to avoid killing him. It keeps the game from turning into a campaign of attrition. I often use it for my oft foolish 12 year old child in games. __________________ He stared out in the distance to see the awesome might of the Meerkat war party.