(thing) by Scupper Tue Sep 19 2000 at 0:02:49
GURPS, the Generic Universal Roleplaying System, evolved from a set of miniatures rules called Man to Man, written by Steve Jackson. Character creation is point-based, similar to many early superhero RPG's. The rules system is flexible, with many optional rules which can add up to one of the most realistic combat systems in any paper and pencil RPG.

The GURPS line is probably best known for its wide number and variety of supplements and world books. The game is designed to facilitate campaigns set in any genre using a single set of adaptable rules for magic, psionics, combat, and character creation. There are over 150 supplements and worldbooks so far, with a release schedule of about 2 new books and reprints per month.

Besides generic supplements such as Martial Arts, Supers, and Vehicles, there are worldbooks covering major historical eras and geographic regions, such as Russia, Egypt, China, and Imperial Rome. GURPS also has a number of licensed worldbooks for the works of fiction writers such as Alan Dean Foster, David Brin, Andre Norton, Terry Pratchett, and others. Other RPG's have also been licensed for a one or two-book GURPS adaptation, such as Vampire: The Masquerade, Castle Falkenstein, Traveller, and the real-time simulation game Myth. In addition, Steve Jackson Games has also adapted some of its other properties, such as Car Wars, In Nomine and Ogre to the GURPS rules.

GURPS supplements, particularly the historical worldbooks, are known for high-quality and well researched writing and can be fascinating reads completely separate from their function as RPG supplements. Artwork in GURPS used to be fairly poor, but SJG has recently put more money into design and it shows.

An abridged list of GURPS sourcebooks:

  • Aliens
  • Alternate Earths
  • Alternate Earths 2
  • Arabian Nights
  • Atomic Horror
  • Autoduel
  • Aztecs
  • Bestiary
  • Bio-Tech
  • Black Ops
  • Blood Types
  • Bunnies & Burrows
  • Camelot
  • Castle Falkenstein
  • Celtic Myth
  • China
  • Cliffhangers
  • Conan
  • Creatures of the Night
  • Cthulhupunk
  • Cyberpunk
  • Cyberworld
  • Dinosaurs
  • Discworld
  • Egypt
  • Espionage
  • Fantasy
  • Fantasy Bestiary
  • Fantasy Folk
  • Goblins
  • Greece
  • Grimoire
  • High-Tech
  • Horror
  • Horseclans
  • Humanx
  • Ice Age
  • Illuminati
  • Imperial Rome
  • In Nomine
  • International Super Teams
  • Japan
  • Lensman
  • Low Tech
  • Mage: The Ascension
  • Magic
  • Martial Arts
  • Mecha
  • Middle Ages
  • Myth
  • New Sun
  • Ogre
  • Old West
  • Places Of Mystery
  • Planet Krishna
  • The Prisoner
  • Psionics
  • Reign of Steel
  • Religion
  • Riverworld
  • Robin Hood
  • Robots
  • Russia
  • Scarlet Pimpernel
  • Space
  • Special Ops
  • Steampunk
  • Supers
  • Swashbucklers
  • Technomancer
  • Terradyne
  • Time Travel
  • Traveller
  • Traveller: Alien Races 1
  • Traveller: Alien Races 2
  • Traveller: Alien Races 3
  • Traveller: Behind the Claw
  • Traveller: Far Trader
  • Traveller: First In
  • Traveller: Modular Cutter
  • Traveller: Rim of Fire
  • Traveller: Star Mercs
  • Traveller: Starports
  • Ultra-Tech
  • Undead
  • Uplift
  • Vampire: The Masquerade
  • Vehicles
  • Vikings
  • Villains
  • Voodoo
  • War Against the Chtorr
  • Warehouse 23
  • Warriors
  • Werewolf: The Apocalypse
  • Who's Who
  • Wild Cards
  • Witch World
  • Wizards
  • Y2K

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