History of the Size and Speed/Range Table?

[RogerBW]

I'm putting together a short summary of the use of logarithmic and exponential measure in RPGs.

In the GURPS Basic Set 3rd edition, the Size and Speed/Range table is there in its modern form (×10 for +6) and determines the penalties for all ranged combat.

In Man to Man, ranged weapons have a "range increment"; each increment of distance gives you a -1 to hit. (There's also a point-blank, ½D and maximum range.)

Would anyone with a copy of GURPS 1st and 2nd edition be prepared to tell me exactly where the S+S/RT was introduced?

[johndallman]

GURPS 2e has separate Target Size and Relative Speed tables, which are clearly ancestral to the SSR table, but don't use the same progression. It still has the Base Range and Increment systems for ranged weapon attacks. So I think the SSR appeared in its modern form at 3e.

[Anthony]

SSR was new to 3e as far as I know. There's a conversion document from 2e to 3e that talks about it. I wouldn't be surprised if there's an ancient discussion somewhere that betaed it (possibly back in Roleplayer; issue #5 has an article that looks suspicious but the text isn't on the web)

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Anthony

I wouldn't be surprised if there's an ancient discussion somewhere that beta'ed it (possibly back in Roleplayer; issue #5 has an article that looks suspicious but the text isn't on the web)

Roleplayer #5 has the combat modifiers tables that were in GURPS 2e. They aren't the SSR, but seem to be an ancestor of it.