seventeenth issue - RPG Review

A lot of realistic features of GURPS are derived from the attribute levels in a linear manner. Encumberance capacity is
based as a direct function of Strength, and has quick reductions in speed (itself a function of Dexterity and Health), but
a high overall potential. Likewise the capacity to lift, throw, dig, jump, climb, perceive etc. It is obviously unsurprising
to discover a direct relationship between Strength and damage as well, although the game distinguishes between
"swinging" damage and "thrusting" damage. These ratings are applied directly to weapons, so instead of a the weapon
forming the base damage roll, modified by Strength, as is common in many games, GURPS starts with Strength and is
modified by the weapon, which acts as a lever or focussed point. Weapon damage is further modified by the damage
type; impaling, slashing etc. The most dangerous weapons are swung and piercing (e.g., a pick) and the least are thrust
and crushing damage (e.g., a punch). Ranged weapons have an incremental negative on skill resolution and a halfdamage
range.
As mentioned in the introduction the combat system is modular, although that is hardly sufficient itself to justify the
claim of being generic. Broadly speaking however, the core differences between the basic and the advanced combat
systems is that the latter concerns itself with hex­based movement, reach of weapons, hit locations, and close combat.
The second­by­second combat turn, which particularly allows for realistic action times, has an inititive based on
character speed. On their turn characters are entitled to select from a wide­range of actions, which include important
tactical choices (e.g., do you risk all and go for an all­out­attack but lose active defenses?), which is always a good
feature. Defenses are either passive (e.g., armour) or active (dodge, parry, or block). The combination of active and
passive defenses equate with a total defense which is rolled against a successful hit. Thus there is up to three rolls for
every turn (attack, defense, and damage) which is fairly average for resolution speed.
After armour reduces rolled damage, the effects of varies significantly by location and type; a piercing blow to the
vitals or brain is absolutely devastating, and a lot less disconcerting to a limb. Breakpoints exist for crippled or
permanently damaged limbs, for being stunned, knocked out, or knocked down. Once characters are brought to less
than hit points they become unconscious. At negative hit points, the character must roll against HT or die ­ and for
every ­5 hit points thereafter up to ­5*HT, when death is automatic. Healing depends significantly on technology level
and the availablility of skilled medical staff. As a correlate to injury, there is also the accumulation of fatigue, based on
Strength rather than Health. This is acquired through over­exertion (e.g., battle), long­distance marching or running,
spell­casting etc.
Finally, GURPS 1st and 2nd editions concluded with brief descriptions of running the game (good advice, logical, but
nothing particularly special), game worlds and especially technology levels (arbitrarily chosen), and a few pages on
special characteristics of animals, albeit with very few examples themselves. Of particular note is character
development, where additional character points are awarded for narrative contributions (to be applied to the
simulationist character), but with the realistic option of learning by training or work. Some of the major and unexpected
gaps included at least a somewhat more comprehensive selection of animals, and equipment.
GURPS 3rd Edition
The third edition of GURPS was released a mere year after the prior edition ­ three editions in three years 1986, 1987,
1988. Originally in a softback, it really reached its height with the revised hardback edition. Whilst in one sense the
release of three editions in as many years was a sign of a fast and popular developing game­system (RuneQuest, for
example, had a fairly rapid succession between first, second, and third editions too), this was becoming a little hard to
keep up with. In a delightful move, SJG released "GURPS Update" which included pretty much all of the changes from
34 RPG REVIEW ISSUE SEVENTEEN September 2012