Steve Jackson Games - Site Navigation
Home General Info Follow Us Search Illuminator Store Forums What's New Other Games Ogre GURPS Munchkin Our Games: Home

Go Back   Steve Jackson Games Forums > Roleplaying > GURPS

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-19-2009, 05:08 PM   #1
Magehound
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Puerto Rico, U.S.A.
Default GURPS Uplift

A player came up with an ur-species, specifically mentioning that it has eyespots down it's back. They can only sense light and dark, but given that the species has fully developed eyes at the head, it does not have a Blindness disadvantage.

However, I can't find any stats that could work for this kind of extra eye situation. I'm working around them, so they provide the Danger Sense advantage, but it's basically become a free advantage. I really would like to know though if someone has any idea how to rate eyespots as a point cost.
Magehound is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2009, 05:32 PM   #2
David Johnston2
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Default Re: GURPS Uplift

360 degree vision (Only to avoid being surprised from behind -40%)
David Johnston2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2009, 05:53 PM   #3
The Benj
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Platform Zero, Sydney, Australia
Default Re: GURPS Uplift

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Johnston2 View Post
360 degree vision (Only to avoid being surprised from behind -40%)
I call shenanigans. Surely that's the primary use for 360 degree vision.
The Benj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2009, 06:14 PM   #4
roguebfl
Dog of Lysdexics
 
roguebfl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Melbourne FL, Formerly Wellington NZ
Default Re: GURPS Uplift

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Benj View Post
I call shenanigans. Surely that's the primary use for 360 degree vision.
Well it can't tell you if it is a T-Rex that going to eat you, your your girlf frend thant going to tickle you...
__________________
Rogue the Bronze Firelizard
Gerald Grenier, Jr. Hail Eris!
Rogue's Weyr
roguebfl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2009, 06:42 PM   #5
capnq
 
capnq's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pittsburgh PA USA
Default Re: GURPS Uplift

My first instinct is to call the eyespots a Perk, but that assumes you're using Uplift in a 4th ed. campaign. I'm having trouble imagining much practical use for them; even treating them as Danger Sense seems overly generous to me.

You might convince me that they'd let the species treat its back hex as a side hex for purposes of defending from attacks.
__________________
Cap'n Q

When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. -- Mark Twain
capnq is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2009, 06:40 PM   #6
David Johnston2
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Default Re: GURPS Uplift

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Benj View Post
I call shenanigans. Surely that's the primary use for 360 degree vision.
No. The primary use for 360 degree vision is to obviate the defense penalty for attacks from behind.
David Johnston2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2009, 06:54 PM   #7
The Benj
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Platform Zero, Sydney, Australia
Default Re: GURPS Uplift

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Johnston2 View Post
No. The primary use for 360 degree vision is to obviate the defense penalty for attacks from behind.
I was parsing those as the same thing.
The Benj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2009, 07:30 PM   #8
roguebfl
Dog of Lysdexics
 
roguebfl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Melbourne FL, Formerly Wellington NZ
Default Re: GURPS Uplift

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Benj View Post
I was parsing those as the same thing.
Not really. a Back Hex normally get the no defense due to not seen.

Treating it as a flank with the defense penalty because you spotted it is a is the penalty.
__________________
Rogue the Bronze Firelizard
Gerald Grenier, Jr. Hail Eris!
Rogue's Weyr
roguebfl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2009, 11:33 PM   #9
Magehound
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Puerto Rico, U.S.A.
Default Re: GURPS Uplift

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Johnston2 View Post
360 degree vision (Only to avoid being surprised from behind -40%)
Sorry, it didn't occur to me to mention some other body measurements. The player just went off on making these things (mind you, they make pretty good PCs) they're semi-upright, but fly (that was a headache rolling for, trust me) so they actually have no "behind" to watch, they can see down and behind themselves already. The spots had to do with their fallow ancestors who had a distinct tendency to attack from above.

After asking her, she said the spots are meant to be a visual equivalent of a fish's lateral line, they hook up directly to the spinal cord and so react by reflex based on the "darkness" of the shadow (the darker the shadow, the closer the attacking target and bright overhead light makes for the sharpest shadows) and at the speed of which two or more eyes are "tripped".

Any input the brain has is delayed anyway, because it would take them too long to look up and then decide where to move when they have something stooping down at them anyway. Hence, my slapping it as Danger Sense, as there was no cognition, just a reaction.

And actually, I only have the 2ed Uplift sourcebook available.
Magehound is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2009, 10:43 PM   #10
Pragmatic
Ceci n'est pas une tag.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vancouver, WA (Portland Metro)
Default Re: GURPS Uplift

Ah, Uplift. I hope someone takes the time, someday, to post a revision of the ur-species rules. (Hint hint hint... Someone who has more experience with GURPS than me, that is! :-)

It's nice to know that someone is actually playing Uplift. One of my favorite "daydreaming" campaign settings.

Have you seen the Alliance for Progress Encyclopedia and Grey Matters Campaign website?

http://www.geocities.com/allianceforprogress/

Very cool website. (I'll have to remember to "synch it up" again, so if it ever goes down permanently, I have it in my hard drive...)
Pragmatic is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
gameplay, uplift, ur-species

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Fnords are Off
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.