Advice for GURPS campaigns not using Character Points

lachimba · 04-28-2014, 02:22 AM

Anyone have any particular advice for not using Character Points in a GURPS campaign? Or can point me to a Pyramid article or existing post?

In particular I am thinking about it in relation to a present day secret powers campaign.

The PCs would be built on ordinary professional templates (cops, soldiers etc) more or less using point based options.

Their powers would be themed in levels with a branching system, but each level bought `blind' so not just buying another level of innate attack or tk, but rather eg telepathy power level 2... ok now I can use my telepathy better (which in game stats might mean skill, range, new power eg mind probe)

Im after this because I want the actual powers and power levels in play to be strictly GM controlled, not based on mix maxing, encourage less useful/ more atypical traits and explicity not be point based (I dont want for example recovery to not be taken because the player thinks very fit is a better advantage)

In regards to mundane traits I was thinking of automatically adding and subtracting traits aquired or lost in play. So wealth would go up or down based on their success.

In regard to skill development I dont want the players to just buy a point of climbing skill

If a player trains for example as a mountain climber well sure they will probably get a point in climbing, but maybe also lifting ST or a perk, or even survival based on the conditions.

I expect the final character sheets to be point inefficient (lots of techniques, skills and perks where attributes would be more efficient), but the players not to care because they dont use points for this. Their actual character point totals will possibly be quite different from each other.

In regards to points earned in play I want to keep these in a pool for them to use on buying successes etc

I know Kromm used 'blind' profession packages in his current campaign, and I think he doesnt directly give CP rewards.

Im wondering about advice on going a bit further with this.

04-28-2014, 02:22 AM	#1
lachimba MIB Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sydney	Advice for GURPS campaigns not using Character Points Anyone have any particular advice for not using Character Points in a GURPS campaign? Or can point me to a Pyramid article or existing post? In particular I am thinking about it in relation to a present day secret powers campaign. The PCs would be built on ordinary professional templates (cops, soldiers etc) more or less using point based options. Their powers would be themed in levels with a branching system, but each level bought `blind' so not just buying another level of innate attack or tk, but rather eg telepathy power level 2... ok now I can use my telepathy better (which in game stats might mean skill, range, new power eg mind probe) Im after this because I want the actual powers and power levels in play to be strictly GM controlled, not based on mix maxing, encourage less useful/ more atypical traits and explicity not be point based (I dont want for example recovery to not be taken because the player thinks very fit is a better advantage) In regards to mundane traits I was thinking of automatically adding and subtracting traits aquired or lost in play. So wealth would go up or down based on their success. In regard to skill development I dont want the players to just buy a point of climbing skill If a player trains for example as a mountain climber well sure they will probably get a point in climbing, but maybe also lifting ST or a perk, or even survival based on the conditions. I expect the final character sheets to be point inefficient (lots of techniques, skills and perks where attributes would be more efficient), but the players not to care because they dont use points for this. Their actual character point totals will possibly be quite different from each other. In regards to points earned in play I want to keep these in a pool for them to use on buying successes etc I know Kromm used 'blind' profession packages in his current campaign, and I think he doesnt directly give CP rewards. Im wondering about advice on going a bit further with this.