Moving from d20 to GURPS

SID · 09-09-2021, 06:37 PM

I just finished a couple of campaigns I ran under d20 systems. Now I want to prepare a game with GURPS, a Star Wars game. I also play GURPS, mostly dungeon fantasy.

Besides the opportunity of running any game I can imagine; I’m trying to get my friends to dive into GURPS because the community is very active! I’ve found a bit of resistance because Star Wars is already out for D20, but I am up to the challenge.

My initial questions are:

What would be the appropriate TL?
How would you build the force powers?
I plan to include combat in star-fighters, where do I find guidelines for that?
If you’ve run Star Wars with GURPS, let me know about your experience.

AOTA · 09-09-2021, 06:53 PM

Someone did this very unofficial Star Wars conversion to GURPS 4th edition. Might be a good start for you to work from. http://i.4pcdn.org/tg/1380393515310.pdf

trechriron · 09-09-2021, 07:00 PM

Do a search for GURPS Star Wars. There is a 4e supplement floating out there that is incredibly thorough. Also, a sentient species writeup. Should save you some time creating your own thing... :D

thalcos · 09-09-2021, 07:15 PM

Be sure to run it with Impulse Buys! I.e., letting players spend character points to avoid damage, turn success into failures, and add dramatic hooks during a session. I typically give players 5 points to spend on Impulse Buys per adventure, which feels in the same ballpark as something like The Mandalorian.

Otherwise, GURPS blasters make for really deadly firefights, especially with new players coming from other systems who aren't used to needing to be more tactical in the face of ranged weapons.

Phantasm · 09-09-2021, 08:38 PM

Throwing my SWTOR-era GURPS Star Wars document out there for the OP to peruse.

And while not exactly meant for a Star Wars setting, I have a whole line of Sith & Wesson blasters developed using the Blaster and Laser Design Pyramid article, many of which should be suitable for a Star Wars game.

Polydamas · 09-09-2021, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SID

I just finished a couple of campaigns I ran under d20 systems. Now I want to prepare a game with GURPS, a Star Wars game. I also play GURPS, mostly dungeon fantasy.

Besides the opportunity of running any game I can imagine; I’m trying to get my friends to dive into GURPS because the community is very active! I’ve found a bit of resistance because Star Wars is already out for D20, but I am up to the challenge.

My initial questions are:

What would be the appropriate TL?
How would you build the force powers?
I plan to include combat in star-fighters, where do I find guidelines for that?
If you’ve run Star Wars with GURPS, let me know about your experience.

Some options in GURPS Action could be good for things like chase scenes. I think GURPS Spaceships has the space combat rules.

The most important piece of advice I can give is that this is not rational science fiction. The more your world basically works like TL 6-7 but with droids and contragravity instead of servants and internal-combustion engines, the more 'Star Warsy' it will feel.

JulianLW · 09-10-2021, 12:09 AM

Mailanka's "Psi Wars" adaptation of Star Wars is pretty amazing. You should check it out.

His blog, Mailanka's Musings, has an incredible catalog of entries on the setting development.

And finally, Mailanka's rationale for filing the serial numbers off the source material: "Psi Wars: Don't Convert, Create!"

tbone · 09-10-2021, 07:07 AM

Another relevant book is GURPS Adaptations. It's not a book you need to get going; unlike the great fan resources people pointed out, it (AFAIK) contains nothing specific to Star Wars. But if you want to take a deep dive into the broader business of recreating fictional worlds, you might find it a good read.

maximara · 09-10-2021, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOTA

Someone did this very unofficial Star Wars conversion to GURPS 4th edition. Might be a good start for you to work from. http://i.4pcdn.org/tg/1380393515310.pdf

That is the old version from 2009 which uses the old Classic GURPS TL scale. There is a new version (2019) accessible only via Dark Lord Azagthoth's own forum/website which requires a log in to download, is in zip file, and is hidden away under Star Wars>TRPG>Downloads>Previous.

As for TL, Star Wars sits at TL10^ using the method outlined in Adaptations.

SID · 09-10-2021, 07:27 PM

This goes deeper than I imagined, thanks for these gems. Lots of new stuff and lots of reading for the weekend.

09-09-2021, 06:37 PM	#1
SID Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Nar Shaddaa	Moving from d20 to GURPS I just finished a couple of campaigns I ran under d20 systems. Now I want to prepare a game with GURPS, a Star Wars game. I also play GURPS, mostly dungeon fantasy. Besides the opportunity of running any game I can imagine; I’m trying to get my friends to dive into GURPS because the community is very active! I’ve found a bit of resistance because Star Wars is already out for D20, but I am up to the challenge. My initial questions are: What would be the appropriate TL? How would you build the force powers? I plan to include combat in star-fighters, where do I find guidelines for that? If you’ve run Star Wars with GURPS, let me know about your experience.

09-09-2021, 06:53 PM	#2
AOTA MIB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Olathe, KS	Re: Moving from d20 to GURPS Someone did this very unofficial Star Wars conversion to GURPS 4th edition. Might be a good start for you to work from. http://i.4pcdn.org/tg/1380393515310.pdf __________________ Bob Gilson Mib#3477 Formally Bobzilla GURPS Checker for Prime Directive

09-09-2021, 07:00 PM	#3
trechriron Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Renton, WA	Re: Moving from d20 to GURPS Do a search for GURPS Star Wars. There is a 4e supplement floating out there that is incredibly thorough. Also, a sentient species writeup. Should save you some time creating your own thing... :D __________________ Trentin C Bergeron (trechriron) Bard, Dreamer & RPG Enthusiast My Worlds My Blog

09-09-2021, 07:15 PM	#4
thalcos Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Seattle, WA	Re: Moving from d20 to GURPS Be sure to run it with Impulse Buys! I.e., letting players spend character points to avoid damage, turn success into failures, and add dramatic hooks during a session. I typically give players 5 points to spend on Impulse Buys per adventure, which feels in the same ballpark as something like The Mandalorian. Otherwise, GURPS blasters make for really deadly firefights, especially with new players coming from other systems who aren't used to needing to be more tactical in the face of ranged weapons.

09-09-2021, 08:38 PM	#5
Phantasm Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the road again...	Re: Moving from d20 to GURPS Throwing my SWTOR-era GURPS Star Wars document out there for the OP to peruse. And while not exactly meant for a Star Wars setting, I have a whole line of Sith & Wesson blasters developed using the Blaster and Laser Design *Pyramid* article, many of which should be suitable for a Star Wars game. __________________ "Life ... is an Oreo cookie." - J'onn J'onzz, 1991 "But mom, I don't wanna go back in the dungeon!" The GURPS Marvel Universe Reboot Project A-G, H-R, and S-Z, and its not-a-wiki-really web adaptation. Ranoc, a Muskets-and-Magery Renaissance Fantasy Setting Last edited by Phantasm; 09-09-2021 at 08:43 PM.

09-10-2021, 12:09 AM	#7
JulianLW Join Date: Apr 2019	Re: Moving from d20 to GURPS Mailanka's "Psi Wars" adaptation of Star Wars is pretty amazing. You should check it out. His blog, Mailanka's Musings, has an incredible catalog of entries on the setting development. And finally, Mailanka's rationale for filing the serial numbers off the source material: "Psi Wars: Don't Convert, Create!"

09-10-2021, 07:07 AM	#8
tbone Join Date: Aug 2004	Re: Moving from d20 to GURPS Another relevant book is *GURPS Adaptations. It's not* a book you need to get going; unlike the great fan resources people pointed out, it (AFAIK) contains nothing specific to Star Wars. But if you want to take a deep dive into the broader business of recreating fictional worlds, you might find it a good read. __________________ T Bone GURPS stuff and more at the Games Diner: http://www.gamesdiner.com Twitter: @Gamesdiner \| RSS: here ⬅︎ Updated RSS link \| This forum: Site updates thread (occasionally updated) (Latest goods on site: GLAIVE Mini levels up to v2.4. Update to melee weapon design tool, with more example weapons and commentary.)

09-10-2021, 07:27 PM	#10
SID Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Nar Shaddaa	Re: Moving from d20 to GURPS This goes deeper than I imagined, thanks for these gems. Lots of new stuff and lots of reading for the weekend.