What happens when your game collapses and you need to start a new thing?

Pat discusses his experience running a GURPS fantasy campaign and a Twilight 2000 campaign, highlighting how personal connections and real-life circumstances often take precedence over game mechanics. He explains how his Saturday table, initially a Rome campaign with five players, struggled to maintain its structure due to player attrition and the real-life reasons and health issues which led to the end of his Twilight 2000 campaign. Pat concludes that while game elements are important, the primary focus should be on fostering strong relationships among players, as this ultimately determines the success and longevity of a gaming group.

Pat and Che discuss the development of a post-apocalyptic role-playing game set 10 years in the future. They focus on creating a straight-toned, conspiracy-driven narrative with secrets and mysteries for both the players and their characters. Pat explains the grounding process for players, which involves collaborative choices and surprise elements. They discuss the process of preparing for a new campaign, emphasizing the importance of thorough pre-processing and collaboration to ensure a successful and immersive experience for players. 

Thanks for listening and supporting the show.

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PAT'S BLOG:

Processing GURPS – Enabling Longform, Immersive TTRPG play using GURPS

OR

https://processinggurps.com/

RPR PATREON: patreon.com/rpgrescue

THANKS:

Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:

https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo by MJ Hiblen:

https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:

The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS system from Steve Jackson Games. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.

GURPS is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What the heck is "point salad"?

Pat and Che discuss the concept of "point salad" in GURPS, a term used to describe when characters have an excessive number of points to spend on abilities, leading to complex character creation and potentially distracting gameplay. They discuss an anonymous listener's message about a GURPS campaign where players are creating characters with a complex point system, including 200 base points, various disadvantages, quirks, and implants/biomods that are paid for with wealth. They note this as an example of "point salad" due to the complex allocation of points across different character elements.

Pat and Che discuss the mechanics-first approach in GURPS, where character mechanics are prioritised over world-building and character development. They emphasise that this style, often referred to as "Point Salad," can be time-consuming and may lead to out-of-character gameplay. Che suggests a better approach involves imagining the world first, describing it to players, and then allowing them to create characters based on that setting. Pat agrees and highlights the importance of inviting players to experience long-form play in a well-developed world.

Thanks to the anonymous listener who gave us permission to share their experience of play.

Thanks for listening and supporting the show.

RPR PATREON: patreon.com/rpgrescue

GOT A QUESTION?

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THANKS:

Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:

https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo by MJ Hiblen:

https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:

The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS system from Steve Jackson Games. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.

GURPS is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do we mean when we talk about character development with the GURPS system?

Che and Pat discuss the concept of bonus character points in GURPS, clarifying that they are not experience points but rewards for attendance and good role-playing. They discuss character development in tabletop role-playing games, focusing on mechanical rewards and how different systems handle character progression. Pat emphasises that mechanical increases in character abilities are a common feature across many RPGs.

Pat and Che discuss their approaches to awarding points in role-playing games. Che explains his system in Karameikos, while Pat shares his method for Twilight 2000. They both emphasise the importance of these awards in motivating players and providing clear objectives for both characters and the party as a whole. Pat and Che discuss the Superior RP Award process, where players nominate peers for outstanding roleplaying moments.

Thanks for listening and supporting the show!

RPR PATREON: patreon.com/rpgrescue

GOT A QUESTION?

Ask us via voice message:

speakpipe.com/gurpstalk

Ask us via an email:

[email protected]

THANKS:

Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:

https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo by MJ Hiblen:

https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:

The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS system from Steve Jackson Games. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.

GURPS is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is GURPS Magic not, in fact, boring?

Pat and Che discuss listener Alex's question about magic systems in GURPS, addressing concerns about the basic Magic system. Pat explains the GURPS Magic system, emphasizing its flexibility and suitability for new players. Che shares his experience using the system with a new GURPS group, highlighting its potential for creative spell use and character development. They agree that the basic Magic system is a good starting point for many settings, though there are options available for more specific needs.

Pat explains how the Pvaric magic system in the Harn setting uses convocations based on six elements, with magic being learned and taught rather than innate. He describes how this system could be adapted to use GURPS Magic very simply. Pat emphasises that GURPS can suffer from "point salad paralysis" where players get overwhelmed by complex calculations and decision-making, leading to impractical use of magic in gameplay. GURPS Magic is a way of avoiding this problem.

Che and Pat discuss the use of further magic systems in the game, focusing on the Church of Karameikos in Che's Karameikos campaign, and the use of Divine Favor. Pat explains that Divine Favor provides a quick-to-use, in-play system that can be adapted to various gods or Immortals, offering a distinct vibe for clerical magic. He describes the mechanics of unlearned and learned prayers, highlighting the difference between spontaneous petitions to a god and pre-crafted spells. 

Pat and Che discuss the development and implementation of magic systems in GURPS, focusing on the creation of a custom magic system for a player's character. They emphasise the importance of simplicity, usability, and quickness of play in magic systems, and highlighted the success of a recently created imbuement-based magic system for a paladin character. They also stress that custom magic systems should only be developed when a specific player expresses interest in a specific type of character, rather than pre-planning a large number of options for all players.

Big thanks to Alex for the question that inspired this episode... even if Pat did feel strongly that he stands wrongly accused.

We hope everyone will take the response with the love intended, all sarcasm aside.

(Well, ok, it's Che who's worried about what people think)

RPR PATREON: patreon.com/rpgrescue

GOT A QUESTION?

Ask us via voice message:

speakpipe.com/gurpstalk

Ask us via an email:

[email protected]

THANKS:

Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:

https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo by MJ Hiblen:

https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:

The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS system from Steve Jackson Games. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.

GURPS is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can we use the GURPS skill system to deepen our experience in the Otherworld?

Pat and Che discuss the mechanics of skill-based gameplay in GURPS, focusing on when players and the Game Master should roll dice for perception and information skills. They also discuss the mechanics and benefits of quick contests in role-playing games, focusing on their use in resolving instantaneous actions and adding uncertainty and tension to gameplay. They go further to discuss the concept of default skills in a game system, focusing on how skills function without training and how they relate to attributes. They explore how default levels are calculated and emphasize the importance of defaults in making the game a universal role-playing system.

Pat and Che discuss NPC reactions in role-playing games, focusing on a system that uses numerical values to determine NPC behaviour towards players. Pat explains how he uses social skills and dice rolls to influence NPC reactions, while Che mentions the influence rolls and quick contest rolls as alternative methods. They also discuss the use of reaction tables in role-playing games, particularly for simulating interactions between player characters and non-player characters. 

RPR PATREON: patreon.com/rpgrescue

GOT A QUESTION?

Ask us via voice message:

speakpipe.com/gurpstalk

Ask us via an email:

[email protected]

THANKS:

Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:

https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo by MJ Hiblen:

https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:

The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS system from Steve Jackson Games. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.

GURPS is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do the 350+ skills in GURPS work out in play?

Pat and Che discuss the extensive skill system in GURPS, emphasizing its versatility for various settings and genres. They highlight the importance of skill selection for long-form play, focusing on character development and the specific context of the game world. 

Pat and Che discuss the challenges of managing skills in the GURPS system, emphasizing the importance of tailoring skills to specific campaigns rather than trying to memorize all available skills. They discuss the use of skill checks and difficulty modifiers in this game system.

GURPS Skills Categories Freebie: GURPS Skill Categories | Warehouse 23

OR warehouse23.com/products/gurps-skill-categories

OR via sjgames.com/gurps/resources

RPR PATREON: patreon.com/rpgrescue

GOT A QUESTION?

Ask us via voice message:

speakpipe.com/gurpstalk

Ask us via an email:

[email protected]

THANKS:

Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:

https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo by MJ Hiblen:

https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:

The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS system from Steve Jackson Games. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.

GURPS is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's happening in the host's campaigns?

Che and Pat discuss their recent GURPS gaming experiences, with Che sharing his excitement about running a GURPS-powered game set in the world of Karameikos, which had its first successful session. 

They note that the system encourages detailed world-building through character bios and mechanical choices, leading to the creation of new organizations, patrons, and story elements.

Che emphasizes the beauty of having multiple narrative threads and the flexibility to adapt the setting based on player input. They also touch on the complexity of managing character motivations and the initial setup of the campaign, which involved a mystery investigation.

Pat shares his own experience of improvising a complex random encounter involving Roman magic users in his Memento Mori campaign, emphasizing the value of spontaneous world-building in gaming. They discuss their approach to game mastering, focusing on how to handle player characters exploring a world with random encounters and organic story development.

Big thanks to UberGrog for the kind call-in!

GOT A QUESTION?

Ask us via voice message:

speakpipe.com/gurpstalk

Ask us via an email:

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THANKS:

Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:

https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo by MJ Hiblen:

https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:

The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS system from Steve Jackson Games. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.

GURPS is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a new GM overcome points paralysis?

Pat and Che discussed strategies for managing point allocation in GURPS, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience and starting with smaller, simpler campaigns. They advised new GMs to experiment with character creation, focusing on attributes and skills before moving to disadvantages and advantages. For superhero campaigns, they recommended starting with street-level scenarios and gradually increasing complexity. Che suggested sitting down with an experienced GM to learn the process, while Pat highlighted the value of using bio sheets and organic advantages in character creation.

Big thanks to Alex for the call-in that inspired this episode!

Please be aware, we're moving to a bi-weekly release schedule after this episode.

GOT A QUESTION?

Ask us via voice message:

speakpipe.com/gurpstalk

Ask us via an email:

[email protected]

THANKS:

Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:

https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo by MJ Hiblen:

https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:

The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS system from Steve Jackson Games. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.

GURPS is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the problem with surprise in GURPS?

Che and Pat discussed the implementation and mechanics of surprise and initiative rules in GURPS, including how these rules interact with various character advantages and combat systems. They explored modifications to combat reflexes and coolness mechanics, with Pat proposing new approaches to address balance and realism issues in the current system. The conversation concluded with discussions about GM flexibility in implementing surprise mechanics and adapting rules to create engaging combat scenarios.

Pat's Surprise Rules: Major Renovations: Tuning Up the Rules – Cry Havoc!

OR t2kcampaigns.com/2024/05/22/major-renovations-tuning-up-the-rules/

Thanks to Matt for the question!

GOT A QUESTION?

Ask us via voice message:

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Ask us via an email:

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THANKS:

Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:

https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo by MJ Hiblen:

https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:

The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS system from Steve Jackson Games. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.

GURPS is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are Frequency Rolls and how can we use them effectively?

Che and Pat discuss the frequency of appearance mechanism in GURPS, which determines how often NPCs like allies, contacts, patrons, and dependents show up in adventures. They discuss how to apply frequency rolls for NPCs, advantages, and disadvantages in open-world GURPS campaigns without defined adventures. Pat explains that GMs need to determine when to make these rolls based on their campaign structure rather than relying on the vague concept of "per adventure". They emphasize that these mechanics create opportunities for roleplaying and complications while taking pressure off the GM to arbitrarily decide when elements like contacts, dependents, or enemies appear in the game. 

GOT A QUESTION?

Ask us via voice message:

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Ask us via an email:

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THANKS:

Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:

https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

Logo by MJ Hiblen:

https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/

DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:

The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS system from Steve Jackson Games. This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.

GURPS is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.