GURPS

GURPS (Generic Universal Role-Playing System) is a tabletop role-playing game system designed by Steve Jackson Games. First published in 1986, it is intended to be genre-neutral, capable of supporting campaigns across fantasy, science fiction, horror, historical, and modern settings. The system emphasizes realism, modularity, and the use of a point-based character creation model that can scale from gritty to cinematic play.

Core mechanics revolve around task resolution using a 3d6 roll: players attempt actions by rolling three six-sided dice and comparing the result to a target number determined by a character’s skills and attributes, with success margins affecting the outcome. The Basic Set provides the core rules, including the four primary attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Health, along with a wide range of skills, advantages, and disadvantages. GURPS models characters through a flexible point-buy system; players allocate points to attributes, skills, advantages (positive traits), and disadvantages (negative traits) to shape capabilities and costs. Templates offer quick-start options for common archetypes.

The system has been expanded through numerous supplements and sourcebooks covering specific genres, settings, and historical periods. GURPS Lite is a free, pared-down version intended as an introduction. Over time, multiple editions have been released, with the Fourth Edition being the most widely used in contemporary play.

GURPS is known for its depth and adaptability, enabling detailed world-building and precise tuning of power levels, at the cost of a steeper learning curve compared to some other RPG systems.