Newbie: Sci Fi books vs. Traveller

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Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.gurps (More info?)

I have seen that gurps have many Sci Fi related books. I also see many
Traveller related books.

Can a GM mix the two. For example, can you take weapons found in a Sci
Fi book that is not part of Traveller and include it into the Traveller
universe ?

Basically my question is how flexible is the GURP system? If a player
wants to run a Traveller campaign are you stuck using only books that
are stamped Traveller ?

...

 

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Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.gurps (More info?)

richmarin@earthlink.net wrote:

> I have seen that gurps have many Sci Fi related books. I also see many
> Traveller related books.
>
> Can a GM mix the two. For example, can you take weapons found in a Sci
> Fi book that is not part of Traveller and include it into the Traveller
> universe ?
>
> Basically my question is how flexible is the GURP system? If a player
> wants to run a Traveller campaign are you stuck using only books that
> are stamped Traveller ?
>
> ...

There are actually several questions here.

1) Generally, can you mix things from different GURPS supplements?

Easily. The same format and rules are used for similar items and rules
changes from book to book are clearly stated.

2) How difficult is it to mix things from from different supplements?

That depends on the worlds involved. You could mix things from Humanx and
Transhuman Space, but the result wouldn't much resemble either. Careless
mixing could also result in campaign inconsistencies and imbalances.

3) How generic are the Traveller supplements?

Very. I use Far Trader and First In for worlds that aren't even science
fiction; the Zhodani from Alien Races I could be slipped in nearly
anywhere; and so forth.

4) What about using other books with Traveller?

It isn't that this won't work, as it's unnecessary. There's so much
information in the Traveller books that bringing in other sources isn't
needed unless you want to change the character of the universe; in which
case you're better off treating the Traveller supplements as add-ons to the
universe you want to build.

Jefferson
http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/

 

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Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.gurps (More info?)

On 3 Jun 2005 14:42:51 -0700, richmarin@earthlink.net drained his
beer, leaned back in the rec.games.frp.gurps beanbag and drunkenly
proclaimed the following

>I have seen that gurps have many Sci Fi related books. I also see many
>Traveller related books.
>
>Can a GM mix the two. For example, can you take weapons found in a Sci
>Fi book that is not part of Traveller and include it into the Traveller
>universe ?

Sure! The list of 3rd Edition books i've used with GURPS Traveller is
long.

The only cavet I would give you is to watch the tech levels. The
highest TL in the Traveller universe is 12, with occasional pieces of
TL 13 here and there. The Ancients reached TL16+, but left very
artifacts in working order.

Basically, no force fields, energy weapons are either lasers or plasma
projectors, and the speed of communication is equal to the speed of
travel (no FTL radio.)

>Basically my question is how flexible is the GURP system? If a player
>wants to run a Traveller campaign are you stuck using only books that
>are stamped Traveller ?

Not at all. Some of the "culture" books (Aztecs, China, Russia) are
great for building alien cultures, and the Ultratech books provide
some cool toys. It's your game, build it how you like, the gaming
police won't kick down your door.*

*With the exception of GT: Ground Forces. Change one of my precious
words, and I will hunt you to the ends of the Earth.**

**Kidding!
--

Douglas E. Berry Do the OBVIOUS thing to send e-mail
Atheist #2147, Atheist Vet #5

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as
when they do it from religious conviction."
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Pense'es, #894.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.gurps (More info?)

richmarin@earthlink.net wrote:
> I have seen that gurps have many Sci Fi related books. I also see many
> Traveller related books.
>
> Can a GM mix the two. For example, can you take weapons found in a Sci
> Fi book that is not part of Traveller and include it into the Traveller
> universe ?

Yes you can. Stats are completely compatible. One warning, though:
Traveller makes very different assumptions about technological progress
than the generic GURPS books. No force fields, FTL travel is very specific,
and weapons tend to be mostly good old fashioned slug throwers. Throwing
in too much stuff is possible, but it may end up looking less like
Traveller. Also keep an eye on the balance between damage and armour.

> Basically my question is how flexible is the GURP system? If a player
> wants to run a Traveller campaign are you stuck using only books that
> are stamped Traveller ?

Not at all. Although there are plenty of Traveller books around, and
if you want to stick to the official Traveller universe, you don't
need to add much, but if you want, you can.


mcv.