| Designers | Steve Jackson,Sean M. Punch, andDavid L. Pulver |
|---|---|
| Publishers | Steve Jackson Games |
| Publication | 1986 (1e) 1987 (2e) |
| Genres | Universal |
| Systems | GURPS 4th Edition |
GURPS Basic Set is arole playing game publication written bySteve Jackson,Sean M. Punch, andDavid L. Pulver. The first editionGURPS Basic Set box was published in 1986, a standalone third edition book in 1988, and ahardcover, two-volume fourth edition in 2004.
GURPS stands for Generic Universal Role-Playing System – that is essentially a very flexible descendant ofThe Fantasy Trip. Basic combat is simple, but advance combat is very position-oriented, almost a complicated boardgame. The level of complexity used is completely up to the players. The character improvement system is skill-based. The many additional supplements to theBasic Set enableGURPS characters to move easily from one gaming genre to another.[2]
TheBasic Set includes a "Characters" book (72 pages, covers character creation and development, skills, and basic equipment), "Adventuring" (80 pages, covers success rolls, combat, damage, running the game, game and campaign backgrounds, and animals), a 24-page book of charts and tables, and a 32-page book of two introductory scenarios, one a solo.[2]
TheGURPS Basic Set used the same combat rules previously published inMan to Man, and magic rules were not included but later released inGURPS Fantasy (1986).[3]: 107
The third editionGURPS Basic Set, released in 1988, combined all the books from the previous sets into one volume.[2]
The third edition revisedGURPS Basic Set replaced the adventure with an appendix covering rules added in supplements between 1988 and 1994 that were generic in application. It was stated that "If you have an old Third Edition, and the new Compendium, you'll have it all."[1] Reviewers of the time called it "GURPS 3.5 edition" while Steve Jackson Game calls all their own non 4th edition GURPS material still in print "GURPS Classic".
TheGURPS Basic Set for the fourth edition ofGURPS was published in 2004 bySteve Jackson Games and contains thecore rules for the fourth edition ofGURPS. The first volume,Characters (ISBN 1-55634-729-4), addresses what players need to know to create aGURPS character and play the game. Eight sample characters are included. The second volume is titledCampaigns (ISBN 978-1-55634-730-6) and addresses the information a GM needs to build a world. All the basic information needed to run aGURPS campaign is here with genre or world-specific information in other books.
The previous edition of theGURPS rules consisted of a Basic Set as the core rule book, withGURPS Compendium I andGURPS Compendium II released later to collate alternative and advanced rules in a logical place. Many source books published after the release of the compendiums required them for play. The fourth edition basic set shifts the majority of that material into the core rule books.
In a move from previous editions, the books are hardbound and in color, a trend which has been followed in successive GURPS 4e books, with mixed reactions from players.
To facilitate the transition from third edition to fourth, a freePDF update was released. It includes a quick but comprehensive guide to change characters or source book information to the new rules.
The first editionGURPS Basic Set was written bySteve Jackson withCreede Lambard andSharleen Lambard, with a cover byDenis Loubet, and was published bySteve Jackson Games in 1986 as a boxed set containing four books (80, 72, 32, and 24 pages), sample character record sheets, and cardstock miniatures.[2] TheGURPS Basic Setboxed set made its debut atOrigins in 1986.[3]: 105 Steve Jackson Games published numerous supplements to support the game after the publication of theGURPS Basic Set.[3]: 107
The second edition revisedGURPS Basic Set was published in 1987.[2] The third editionGURPS Basic Set featured a cover byMichael Presley, and was published in 1988 as a 256-page book with a 16-page adventure (Caravan from Ein Arris).[2] In 1994 the Basic Set third edition Revised was printed with an appendix replacing the adventure with various new rules.[4]
The first edition of theGURPS Basic Set was reviewed byMarcus L. Rowland in issue 83 ofWhite Dwarf magazine (November 1986).[5] Rowland comments: "While I can applaud the idea behind the system, I can't really recommendGURPS at its present stage of development. In the long run,GURPS and all its supplements may cover more ground than other systems, possibly at less expense, but in the short term there isn't enough support material to run a fully rounded game of any type, apart from gladitorial combat and medieval adventures."[5]
Michael DeWolfe reviewedGURPS Basic Set inSpace Gamer/Fantasy Gamer No. 79.[6] DeWolfe commented that "GURPS is a good roleplaying system. It combines old ideas with new and surpasses its contemporaries. Playability is paramount, though reality is sacrificed. Its ambitious goal of covering all game worlds looks to be accomplishable."[6]
Ken Cliffe reviewed the second edition version of theGURPS Basic Set inWhite Wolf #13 (December 1988), rating it a 4 out of 5 and stated that "GURPS is definitely worth a look. This is especially so if you're tired of learning a new game system for each campaign. However, if you enjoy collecting games and prefer to be inspired by self-contained and extensive RPGs."[7]
Michael DeWolfe reviewed the third edition of theGURPS Basic Set inSpace Gamer/Fantasy Gamer #85.[8] DeWolfe comments in his summary: "This game has looked at its peers and built on all of them; avoiding their mistakes and following their successes. If you're looking for a good point generation system, getGURPS. If you're looking for a truly generic system, getGURPS. If you're looking for a painstakingly coherent system, getGURPS. If you want a fine RPG, get this game. It is worth it."[8]
Jim Bambra reviewed the third edition of theGURPS Basic Set forDragon magazine #149 (September 1989).[9] Bambra comments: "Now in its third incarnation, theGURPS Basic Set is better than ever. [...] It's a game designed to be used with an unlimited variety of backgrounds and settings; to its credit, the GURPS game does so admirably."[9]
GURPS Basic Set, 3rd edition was awarded theOrigins Award for "Best Roleplaying Rules of 1988".[10]
The third editionGURPS Basic Set was an ORIGINS and Gamers' Choice award-winner.[2]