Effects on Secondary Characteristics when Primary Attributes change

[Albagyrion]

I am trying to determine whether the current value of a Primary Attribute continues to determine the values of the dependent Secondary Characteristics after character creation. For example, if something decreases a character's ST (magic, etc.), is there a corresponding reduction in HP?

At the moment, I am inclined to interpret RAW to indicate that the relationship continues beyond character creation. Basic Set: Characters, p. 15 states: "'Secondary characteristics' are quantities that depend directly on you attributes. You can raise or lower these scores by adjusting your attributes." There is no explicit limitation to just the character build process in that statement, so it seems reasonable that a strength drain might induce a corresponding reduction in that portion of a character's hit points derived from ST. HP purchased directly would still be unaffected.

There is room for GM judgment on this matter, and the situation may vary depending on the nature of the reduction in ST. Some sort of wasting disease or similar effect might diminish a character's Build, but a spell with a temporary effect might only effect ST and not build, and maybe not even HP. But it would be good to understand the intended basic case, RAW.

Thanks for any responses.

[mr beer]

Secondary characteristics change unless stated otherwise. Increase your DX by 2 and your Speed goes up by +0.5.

EDIT

Should explain a bit further. Say you spend 10 CP to increase your ST by +1. Well those 10 points are made up of HP [2], Strike ST [5], Lift [3]. So charging the player 10 CP to improve their character by less than 10 points would be unfair.

[Albagyrion]

Originally Posted by mr beer

Secondary characteristics change unless stated otherwise. Increase your DX by 2 and your Speed goes up by +0.5.

Thanks for your quick reply. And thumbs up to a very promising handle!

Best.

[Stormcrow]

"If you improve an attribute, secondary characteristics and skills based on that attribute improve as well." (Characters, page 290)

[Albagyrion]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow

"If you improve an attribute, secondary characteristics and skills based on that attribute improve as well." (Characters, page 290)

This definitely supports the idea that the dependency is ongoing after character development. It might have been more clear if it did not specify "improvement" and discussed negative as well as positive changes. It still leaves room to imagine situations where a spell or similar effect might reduce ST and leave HP unchanged, but that is GM discretion particular to a situation, and would ordinarily be a temporary effect. It is pretty clear that significant changes in base physique and physical capacity effect those characteristics dependent on them in typical circumstances.

It takes a bit to think in a "GURPSian" way (somewhat akin to thinking Pythonically for Python programming). Coming from a D&D tradition (AD&D, a bit of 3.5/Pathfinder) seasoned by Rolemaster/RMSS, GURPS is a departure in many ways. Still, for the most part, the specifics are pretty clearly stated. It is the mental shift of dealing with a non-classed, non-leveling system that is, for the dungeon-crawler hack-and-slash, potentially more dangerous to PCs that will be fun.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Albagyrion

This definitely supports the idea that the dependency is ongoing after character development. It might have been more clear if it did not specify "improvement" and discussed negative as well as positive changes. It still leaves room to imagine situations where a spell or similar effect might reduce ST and leave HP unchanged, but that is GM discretion particular to a situation, and would ordinarily be a temporary effect. It is pretty clear that significant changes in base physique and physical capacity effect those characteristics dependent on them in typical circumstances.

See also "Attribute Penalty" on p. B36, and "Temporary Attribute Penalties", in the box on p. B421,

[Albagyrion]

Originally Posted by johndallman

See also "Attribute Penalty" on p. B36, and "Temporary Attribute Penalties", in the box on p. B421,

Ah! The case is made plain, ex libris. Many thanks.