# 38: GURPS
37 Points (On 2 of 14 lists)
Highest Vote: (#6 by Compound)
Publication Date: 1986
Number of Players: 2+
Designed by: Steve Jackson
Publisher: Steve Jackson Games
Description:GURPS, a.k.a. Generic Universal Role Playing System is a tabletop role playing game. In it, one player takes the role of the Game Master, or GM. who designs and runs the game, and the other players take the roles of characters in the setting who then run through the adventure created by the GM. At least in theory. More often that not though, players will respond to "Okay, an evil overload has kidnapped the princess" with "Sweet. We're opening up an interdimensional portal to Vegas. We're going to start a Falafel stand and use our profits to fund an extreme volleyball league."
Most GMs respond by drinking heavily.
Gurps itself includes many, many, many supplements allowing you to play in almost any background or setting including licensed settings such as Miles Vorkosian, Conan, Discworld, Wild Cards and
Casey and Andy. Even Star Trek. And no, I'm not going to explain the legal mess that allows that to happen.
Hey, How Do I Win This? Well, you don't. It's generally open ended. You may win a specific adventure or tournament, but in most RPGs just like in life, there's no "you win" space at the end of the trip.
This has been your zen gaming moment of the day.
Fun Gaming Facts:Gurps is a refinement of an earlier Steve Jackson design, The Fantasy Trip, which Steve no longer owned the rights to. It includes an expanded, but still rather small in RPG terms, set of statistics for the character and a much, much detailed system of skills than ever appeared in TFT.
Gurps also has a habit of having other games publish a version of their setting using the Gurps rules. This includes White Wolf's Vampire, Mage and Werewolf settings, R. Talsorian Games' Castle Falkenstein, GDW's Traveller, Pinnacles's Deadlands and ADB's Prime Directive.
Steve Jackson is a huge Lego fan, which gives him the inside track on any eventual Lego RPG.
Gurps is also the system most often referred to in the webcomic Irregular Webcomic.
Dice:Yes. Gurps uses a 3d6 system for skill resolution as well as using d6s for all sorts of reasons. 'Cause d6s are cool.
Purple and Orange?:Er,
no. Gurps is all black and white since it's all texty. Some players may write in purple and orange pens, but that's generally regarded as a "back away slowly and don't make eye contact" sign.
Awards & Stuff:Origins Award- 1988- Best RPG Rules
Origins Hall of Fame -2000
Related Games that Received Votes: Related Games that Didn't Receive Votes: The Hero System, which is superior to Gurps in every way, shape and form. Search in your heart, Gurps players. You know it is true.
Hey! It's an Amazon link with the price! $28.90 Next Turn:Yeah, yeah. Non-rpg geeks can wander back in now. And now it's time to burn things!