<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

GURPS or The Generic Universal Role Playing System, is a customizable character generation and task resolution system designed to be applied to any role-playing game setting, from sword-and-sorcery fantasy campaigns to far future space opera. First introduced by Steve Jackson Games in 1986, GURPS uses a point-build system of character creation; players spend a predetermined number of character points to purchase physical and mental abilities, skills and special talents (called quirks) that create a basic character profile. An extremely broad and comprehensive skill list covers everything from climbing to anti-matter power plant design, allowing players to create characters suitable to virtually any genre or setting. Task resolution in GURPS is achieved by rolling three six-sided dice and adding the result. If the result is equal to or less than the relevant ability or skill level, then the task succeeds. This simple and flexible set of game mechanics are the core of the GURPS system; later supplements provide Game-masters with additional rules and guidelines for applying these systems in a variety of different genres, such as GURPS Fantasy, GURPS Space and others.

In addition to generic genre books, Steve Jackson Games has produced world books tailored to popular books, historical periods and even licensed GURPS versions of other role-playing games such as Traveller, Vampire: The Masquerade and Tekumel. Literary settings include Robert E. Howard’s Hyborean Age and E. E. “Doc” Smith’s Lensman universe. Historical periods range from Imperial Rome to World War II.

Currently in its fourth edition, a free set of basic rules called GURPS Lite can be downloaded as a PDF from the Steve Jackson website.

External Links

• Official Site