GURPS 4e Basic Set
Encyclopedia
GURPS 4e Basic Set is a hard-bound
two volume set written by Steve Jackson, Sean M. Punch
, and David L. Pulver. It was published in 2004 by Steve Jackson Games
and contains the core rules
for the fourth edition of GURPS
. The first volume, Characters (ISBN 1-55634-729-4), addresses what players need to know to create a GURPS character and play the game. Eight sample characters are included. The second volume is titled Campaigns (ISBN 978-1-55634-730-6) and addresses the information a GM needs to build a world. All the basic information needed to run a GURPS campaign is here with genre or world-specific information in other books.
The previous edition of the GURPS rules consisted of a Basic Set as the core rule book, with GURPS Compendium 1 and GURPS Compendium 2 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 free PDF update was released. It includes a quick but comprehensive guide to change characters or source book information to the new rules.
Hardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
two volume set written by Steve Jackson, Sean M. Punch
Sean Punch
Sean Punch is a Canadian writer and game designer. He is the author of the fourth edition of the GURPS role-playing game. Before he turned to writing he was a student of particle physics.-History with GURPS:...
, and David L. Pulver. It was published in 2004 by Steve Jackson Games
Steve Jackson Games
Steve Jackson Games is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and the gaming magazine Pyramid.-History:...
and contains the core rules
Role-playing game system
A role-playing game system is a set of game mechanics used in a role-playing game to determine the outcome of a character's in-game actions...
for the fourth edition of GURPS
GURPS
The Generic Universal RolePlaying System, or GURPS, is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting...
. The first volume, Characters (ISBN 1-55634-729-4), addresses what players need to know to create a GURPS character and play the game. Eight sample characters are included. The second volume is titled Campaigns (ISBN 978-1-55634-730-6) and addresses the information a GM needs to build a world. All the basic information needed to run a GURPS campaign is here with genre or world-specific information in other books.
The previous edition of the GURPS rules consisted of a Basic Set as the core rule book, with GURPS Compendium 1 and GURPS Compendium 2 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 free PDF update was released. It includes a quick but comprehensive guide to change characters or source book information to the new rules.
Awards and nominations
- In 2004 GURPS 4e Basic set won the "Pen & Paper Fan Award" as Best RPG and was an inductee in its RPG Hall of Fame.
- It was a nominee at the 2005 Origins AwardOrigins AwardThe Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the game industry. They are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for the previous year, so the 1979 awards were given at the 1980 Origins.The Origins Award is commonly...
for Best Role-playing Game.
See also
- List of GURPS books
- GURPS Infinite WorldsGURPS Infinite WorldsGURPS Infinite Worlds is a supplement for the Fourth Edition of the GURPS role-playing game, published by Steve Jackson Games in 2005 and written by Kenneth Hite, Steve Jackson, and John M. Ford...
– a 36 page introduction to this setting is provided in Campaigns.