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/

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 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:

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.

Enhancements and Limitations? What the heck are all these modifiers about?

Pat and Che discuss GURPS Limitations and Enhancements, particularly how they can be used to create supernatural abilities and powers. Pat explains that limitations like "costs fatigue" or "unreliable" can reduce point costs and balance abilities, while enhancements like "reduced time" or "ranged" can modify abilities to work differently. They agree that while these mechanics might seem complicated to newcomers, they're valuable tools for fine-tuning characters, and recommend mastering the basic system before diving into these options.

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 are Disadvantages at the heart of roleplay?

This episode Che and Pat are discussing character creation in GURPS with a focus on disadvantages as meaningful roleplaying elements rather than just point sources. They emphasise that disadvantages should reflect character depth, create interesting dilemmas, and be limited to a reasonable number to maintain playability while adding flavour to characters. The conversation also covers adapting content from other game systems to GURPS, creating custom disadvantages, and the importance of self-control rolls in gameplay.

Big thanks to Frank T for the call-in!

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 are Advantages and how on Earth do you select them for your campaign?

In this podcast episode, Pat and Che discuss the different types of Advantages in the game system, categorised as mental, physical, and social, with further classifications as mundane, exotic, or supernatural. They review specific examples including Absolute Timing, Acute Senses, Affliction, Allies, and supernatural abilities like Blessed and Psychometry, explaining how these function in gameplay and how frequency roles determine how often social advantages like allies appear in long-form campaigns.

The hosts also address listener questions about character advantages/disadvantages, recommending collaborative character creation focused on concept-appropriate traits rather than overwhelming players with all available options. Pat explains that in a mundane spy campaign like "Sandbaggers," characters should focus on social advantages and realistic human attributes rather than exotic or supernatural abilities.

Big thanks to Ty for the call-in!

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 all this stuff about social background at the beginning of the Basic Set rulebook?

In this episode, Pat and Che discuss approaches to starting and maintaining roleplaying campaigns in GURPS, emphasizing the importance of establishing setting context, social backgrounds, and character goals before gameplay begins.

They explore how often overlooked elements like status, wealth, cultural familiarity, and language skills can enrich the gaming experience and help players create grounded characters with meaningful connections to the game world. The hosts also address listener questions about adventure preparation.

Big thanks to Andrew for the call-in!

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.

Co-hosts Che Webster (Roleplay Rescue) and Patrick Mullen (Cry Havoc T2K) discuss today's topic:

What are Character Points and what can I spend them on? What's the point of these points?

Pat and Che discuss the mechanics of character creation in GURPS, focusing on point allocation for attributes, advantages, and disadvantages. They explored different campaign settings and power levels, comparing their experiences with GURPS's character level descriptions.

We talk about the point-based character creation system in GURPS, explaining how players can allocate points to attributes like strength, dexterity, IQ, and health. They described the costs associated with increasing these attributes and the concept of secondary attributes derived from primary ones.

Pat emphasizes that GURPS assumes characters start with average (10) attributes and explained how players can spend points on advantages, disadvantages, and skills. We also touch on the importance of fatigue points and health points in the game.

Che explains his low fantasy campaign's power level of 75 points with 25 disadvantages, reasoning it was appropriate for new players and fit the campaign's setting. Pat shared his Twilight 2000 campaign's 140 base points and 35 disadvantages, emphasizing personal disadvantages and roleplay impact.

Pat and Che discuss the allocation of skill points in role-playing games, particularly focusing on how technology levels affect point distribution. They agreed that low-tech campaigns require more points for combat skills, while higher technology levels allow for more dispersed skills.

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.

Co-hosts Che Webster (Roleplay Rescue) and Patrick Mullen (Cry Havoc T2K) discuss today's topic:

Isn't the GURPS combat system fiddley and difficult? Isn't it really complicated to run fights?

We discuss the combat system in GURPS, emphasizing its simplicity and effectiveness. 

Pat explains the simplicity and ease of use of the GURPS combat system, highlighting its one-second round concept. He emphasized that while GURPS is often perceived as a reality simulator, it is actually a fictional system designed to simplify combat actions into basic, simple tasks. 

We highlight the system's simplicity and speed compared to other role-playing games. They emphasized that actions in combat are resolved quickly, with players declaring what they intend to do, and the GM determining the outcome.

We discuss the mechanics of damage and hit points in a role-playing game, comparing the damage resistance of different characters and scenarios. 

Pat and Che discuss the deadly nature of combat in their GURPS games, particularly focusing on the impact of modern weapons and hit locations. They agreed that the system's realism, appropriate for the TW2000 setting, adds tension and requires careful planning from players. 

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.

Co-hosts Che Webster (Roleplay Rescue) and Patrick Mullen (Cry Havoc T2K) discuss today's topic:

What's is it with GURPS and the 3d6 roll low mechanism? Isn't that complicated and fiddley to deal with?

We discuss the mechanics and simplicity of the GURPS (Generic Universal Role-Playing System) dice rolling system, particularly the 3D6 method. We emphasize that the system's bell curve nature mirrors real-world statistics and is intuitive once understood. Che highlights that while GURPS might seem complex due to its many options, it's actually straightforward, requiring only basic math skills.

Using a practical example, Pat discusses a combat scenario in a Twilight 2000 scenario powered by GURPS, where a character with a base skill of 14 attempted to snipe an enemy on a roof. Talking through how this played out hopefully illustrates that GURPS isn't, at heart, difficult to play.

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.

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.

Co-hosts Che Webster (Roleplay Rescue) and Patrick Mullen (Cry Havoc T2K) discuss today's topic:

We've got our campaign idea fleshed out. How do we avoid analysis paralysis when our players sit down to make characters?

We discuss character creation in role-playing games, focusing on a structured process that involves collaboration between the Game Master and players. We explore how this process can empower players to create characters that align with their vision while also fitting within the game's setting.

We emphasize that our discussion is not meant to criticize existing approaches but to share our own experiences and recommendations. Che shares his initial mistake of leaving players to navigate GURPS character creation alone, which led to analysis paralysis.

Pat shares his specific eight-step character creation process, which includes steps like discussing concepts, filling out bio sheets, and making characters together virtually. They emphasized that this approach helps new players and experienced ones alike, and can lead to more engaged and long-term participation in the game.

Link to Pat's Process:

Making the Player Characters- “The Process” & Templates – Cry Havoc!

t2kcampaigns.com/2024/05/20/making-the-pcs-the-process-templates/

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.

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.