Pyramid #3/37: Tech and Toys II - Page 3

Kromm · 11-17-2011, 04:49 PM

I don't give a toot
Whether it shoots or computes
Bot's one ugly brute
— Some hack

Being a high-tech kind of publisher, e23 is all about innovation. Consider the latest Pyramid issue: Pyramid #3/37: Tech and Toys II. Is it more tech than toy? Check out this list and decide for yourself!

Some plots call for a huge MacGuffin. Maybe you need a way to endanger an entire star system, or something entire species can fight over. Starmaker, Starbreaker brings you the Starmaker: We only half-know how it works, its brilliant creator is dead, and its ability to terraform systems is rivaled only by its potential as the ultimate weapon.
David Pulver, the man who came up with all of those lasers, masers, and bobasers (wait, sorry, wrong game), gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the Blaster and Laser Design system that gave him his starting numbers for GURPS Ultra-Tech. If you want a damaging beam weapon that isn't in the book, it's no longer a problem – just roll your own!
Need rules for computers that cover everything from atomic-level machines all the way up to galaxy-sized behemoths that require multiple, networked Dyson spheres? Want them to go into such detail that they're broken down by quarter-TLs? Then you'll love Thinking Machines, a variant computer-design system that takes a greatly expanded view of building computers in GURPS.
Everyone's favorite tech seems to be ways to kill each other . . . but we've already covered death rays, so what's left? More Ultra-Tech Guns and Heavy Weapons, a catalog of new slugthrowers, mortars, artillery pieces, missiles, and other weapons that blast your enemies with metal and high explosives! Just be sure not to push the red button without first asking what it does.
Let's say your vehicle is damaged and you don't have time to fix the whole thing. Maybe you only need to get the thrusters up, or the teleporters. That's when you reach for Mr. Fixit, Matt Riggsby's simple rules for partial repairs to vehicular systems and other large toys. Now you can get power to your lasers without fixing the control panel or safeties – and you just know that's going to be fun!
With all the attention paid to weapons and vehicles, it's easy to forget that the biggest leaps in technology are in Future Home Tech. These new gadgets will add color and flavor to any sci-fi game – and as the included adventure seeds show, they hold as much adventure potential as any laser or gravsled.
Arguably the best place for an assassin to hide is in plain sight. Who would ever suspect The Killer Cleanbot of being a nefarious murderer? This NPC comes with full stats for its machine body and AI mind (that's "cybershell" and "infomorph," to you Transhuman Space fans), plus detailed tactics, strengths and weaknesses, and plenty of advice on how to use it in your games.
All the usual Pyramid toys are here, too, including a Random Thought Table about the progress of tech and what that means to the history of your setting, some Odds and Ends with new rules for advertisement-supported technology, and a Murphy's Rules that may have you grilling your next taxi driver on how well he's been trained.

— Rev. Pee Kitty & Kromm

11-17-2011, 04:49 PM	#1
Kromm *GURPS* Line Editor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Montréal, Québec	Pyramid #3/37: Tech and Toys II I don't give a toot Whether it shoots or computes Bot's one ugly brute — Some hack Being a high-tech kind of publisher, e23 is all about innovation. Consider the latest Pyramid issue: Pyramid #3/37: Tech and Toys II. Is it more tech than toy? Check out this list and decide for yourself! Some plots call for a huge MacGuffin. Maybe you need a way to endanger an entire star system, or something entire species can fight over. Starmaker, Starbreaker brings you the Starmaker: We only half-know how it works, its brilliant creator is dead, and its ability to terraform systems is rivaled only by its potential as the ultimate weapon. David Pulver, the man who came up with all of those lasers, masers, and bobasers (wait, sorry, wrong game), gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the Blaster and Laser Design system that gave him his starting numbers for *GURPS Ultra-Tech. If you want a damaging beam weapon that isn't in the book, it's no longer a problem – just roll your own! Need rules for computers that cover everything from atomic-level machines all the way up to galaxy-sized behemoths that require multiple, networked Dyson spheres? Want them to go into such detail that they're broken down by quarter-TLs? Then you'll love Thinking Machines, a variant computer-design system that takes a greatly expanded view of building computers in GURPS. Everyone's favorite tech seems to be ways to kill each other . . . but we've already covered death rays, so what's left? More Ultra-Tech Guns and Heavy Weapons, a catalog of new slugthrowers, mortars, artillery pieces, missiles, and other weapons that blast your enemies with metal and high explosives! Just be sure not to push the red button without first asking what it does. Let's say your vehicle is damaged and you don't have time to fix the whole thing. Maybe you only need to get the thrusters up, or the teleporters. That's when you reach for Mr. Fixit, Matt Riggsby's simple rules for partial repairs to vehicular systems and other large toys. Now you can get power to your lasers without fixing the control panel or safeties – and you just know* that's going to be fun! With all the attention paid to weapons and vehicles, it's easy to forget that the biggest leaps in technology are in Future Home Tech. These new gadgets will add color and flavor to any sci-fi game – and as the included adventure seeds show, they hold as much adventure potential as any laser or gravsled. Arguably the best place for an assassin to hide is in plain sight. Who would ever suspect The Killer Cleanbot of being a nefarious murderer? This NPC comes with full stats for its machine body and AI mind (that's "cybershell" and "infomorph," to you Transhuman Space fans), plus detailed tactics, strengths and weaknesses, and plenty of advice on how to use it in your games. All the usual Pyramid toys are here, too, including a Random Thought Table about the progress of tech and what that means to the history of your setting, some Odds and Ends with new rules for advertisement-supported technology, and a Murphy's Rules that may have you grilling your next taxi driver on how well he's been trained. — Rev. Pee Kitty & Kromm __________________ Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> *GURPS* Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just *GURPS* News]