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Combat Rules in the Basic Set
Roleplayer #2, June 1986
COMBAT RULES IN THE BASIC SET
The original plan for the GURPS boxed release was to make
it the complete RPG. It would include all the rules necessary
for roleplaying -- slanted heavily toward fantasy -- plus enough "universal"
material to let people start work on other types of worlds, if they were
impatient.
But the feedback questionnaires from Man to Man
showed that a lot of MTM buyers didn't
like that idea. They wanted a "basic set" without
anything from MTM
-- so they wouldn't have to "buy the same rules twice." Some writers
were very polite about pointing this out. Some weren't so polite.
Anyway, this gave me most furiously to think. And after a lot
of thinking, and consultation with the rest of the staff and with
the local gamers, I came up with the following points:
In Favor of Omitting "Old" Material Entirely
(1) It will satisfy the people who are complaining now, and
anybody who bothers to write us a letter is somebody we want to please.
(2) It will reduce the amount of work I have to do for the Basic
Set.
(3) It will make the Basic Set cheaper.
In Favor of Repeating Only A Few Basic Rules
(1) It would satisfy the people who are complaining now.
(2) It would make it possible -- maybe -- to play the game withoutMTM.
The problem with this is that it might please nobody. And
once you start including combat, where do you stop?
In Favor of Leaving Everything In
(1) It would make the set essentially complete in one box. If
we left a lot out, new buyers would have to get MTM
before they could play, and that would cause problems and bad feelings.
(2) It would allow a coherent index and table of contents that covered the
whole game.
(3) It would allow the material to be reorganized for easy reading -- combat
skills with other skills, combat advantages with other advantages, no repetition
in character creation, etc.
In Favor of Doing Two Editions -- One Each Way
(1) It would give something for everybody.
Now, thinking it through:
If the "old" material is omitted entirely, the Basic
Set will be crippled and disorganized, compared to what it
should be. It might be possible to include some of the MTM
material -- but where would I draw the line? Character creation? Injuries
and fatigue? Basic combat? At least half of the material in MTM
is absolutely vital to a roleplaying system!
Several writers have suggested we release two different editions. Unfortunately,
this combines the biggest problem of omitting combat entirely (disorganization
of the final product) with the logistical nightmare of producing two separate
packages. That one's right out.
So we come back to the original plan: The Basic Set
will include complete character creation and combat rules -- actually more
of this material than MTM includes. Some
parts will be completely rewritten and reorganized; others will seem almost
identical. My biggest priority right now is to make the Basic
Set the best, completest, most gameable package possible --
and I really still think that's the way to do it.
But I do understand the position of the people who didn't
want a repeat of the combat rules -- especially if they are on a limited
budget. So what we're going to do is this:
(1) The maps and scenarios included in the Basic
Set will be different from those in MTM.
Some of the Cardboard Heroes figures, if not all
of them, will also be different.
(2) We will take $5 off the Basic Set price for
any MTM owner. You can get this three ways:
First -- you can order the Basic Set
from SJ Games for $22.50 instead of the regular mailorder price of $27.50.
You must cut out the stock number (1204) from the back cover of Man
to Man and send it in with your order. This price covers postage
and handling.
Second -- we'll give you the same deal at our table at any convention, except
that your cutout stock number gets you $5 off the suggested retail of $24.95,
so you get the game for $19.95.
Third -- if you buy the Basic Set somewhere else,
send us the cut-out stock number from your MTM,
and the completed questionnaire from your Basic Set,
and we'll send you a $5 certificate. You can use this certificate on any
direct mail order, or at a convention; it is good on any GURPS product
order of $10 or more.
All these offers will expire Dec. 31, 1986.
I think this solution gives the best possible Basic Set,
and is still more than fair to everyone who bought MTM.
It means that MTM cost you $4.95. Seems to me
that $4.95 was a bargain for maps, scenarios, figures, and a whole year's
advance look at GURPS. I hope you feel that way too!
-- Steve Jackson
(Back to Roleplayer #2 Table
of Contents)
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