GURPS

GURPS

GURPS Fourth Edition logo
Designers	Steve Jackson
Publishers	Steve Jackson Games
Publication	1985 (Man to Man) 1986 (1st and 2nd ed.) 1988 (3rd ed.) 2004 (4th ed.)
Genres	Universal
Systems	GURPS

The Generic Universal Role Playing System, or GURPS, is a tabletop role-playing game system published by Steve Jackson Games. The system is designed to run any genre using the same core mechanics. The core rules were first written by Steve Jackson and published in 1986, at a time when most such systems were story- or genre-specific. Since then, four editions have been published. The current line editor is Sean Punch.^[1]

Sessions are run by a game master (GM), who controls the world and adjudicates the rules, with any number of players controlling the actions of a character. Most actions are resolved by rolling three six-sided dice (3d6), trying to roll below a certain number, usually a skill. GURPS uses a point-based character creation system; characters are represented by four basic stats (Strength, Dexterity, IQ and Health), and players can buy any number of advantages, disadvantages, perks, quirks and skills.^[1]

GURPS consists of a GURPS Basic Set, which contains the core rules required to run most games. In addition, more than a hundred supplemental books provide optional rules and details about different settings and genres (GURPS Martial Arts, for example). By adapting the various optional rules and systems, GURPS can be run with as much or as little detail as required, and can accommodate virtually any genre, character or style of play.^[2]

GURPS won the Origins Award for Best Roleplaying Rules of 1988,^[3] and in 2000 it was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame.^[4] Many of its expansions have also won awards.