GURPS Basic Set

GURPS Basic Set is a hard-bound two volume role playing game set written by Steve Jackson, Sean M. Punch, and David L. Pulver. The first edition "GURPS Basic Set" was published in 1986.
Contents.
First and second editions.
"GURPS" stands for Generic Universal Role-Playing System – that is essentially a very flexible descendant of "The Fantasy Trip". Basic combat is simple, but advance combat is very position-oriented, almost a complicated boardgame. The level of complexity used is completely up to the players. The character improvement system is skill-based. The many additional supplements to the "Basic Set" enable "GURPS" characters to move easily from one gaming genre to another.
The "Basic Set" includes a "Characters" book (72 pages, covers character creation and development, skills, and basic equipment), "Adventuring" (80 pages, covers success rolls, combat, damage, running the game, game and campaign backgrounds, and animals), a 24-page book of charts and tables, and a 32-page book of two introductory scenarios, one a solo.
The original "GURPS Basic Set" included the combat rules from the previously published "Man to Man". Magic rules were omitted, but were released in "GURPS Fantasy" (1986).
Third edition.
The third edition "GURPS Basic Set", released in 1988, combined all the books from the previous sets into one volume.
The third edition revised "GURPS Basic Set" replaced the adventure with an appendix covering rules added in supplements between 1988 and 1994 that were generic in application. It was stated that "If you have an old Third Edition, and the new Compendium, you’ll have it all." Reviewers of the time called it "GURPS 3.5 edition" while Steve Jackson Game calls all their own non 4th edition GURPS material still in print "GURPS Classic".
Fourth edition.
The "GURPS Basic Set" for the fourth edition of "GURPS" was published in 2004 by Steve Jackson Games and contains the core rules for the fourth edition of "GURPS". The first volume, "Characters" (), 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" () 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 I" and "GURPS Compendium II" 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.
Publication history.
The first edition "GURPS Basic Set" was written by Steve Jackson with Creede Lambard and Sharleen Lambard, with a cover by Denis Loubet, and was published by Steve Jackson Games in 1986 as a boxed set containing four books (80, 72, 32, and 24 pages), sample character record sheets, and cardstock miniatures. The boxed "GURPS Basic Set" appeared at Origins in 1986. Steve Jackson Games began regularly supporting the game with supplements following the publication of the first "GURPS Basic Set".
The second edition revised "GURPS Basic Set" was published in 1987. The third edition "GURPS Basic Set" featured a cover by Michael Presley, and was published in 1988 as a 256-page book with a 16-page adventure (Caravan from Ein Arris). In 1994 the Basic Set third edition Revised was printed with an appendix replacing the adventure with various new rules.
Reception.
The first edition of the "GURPS Basic Set" was reviewed by Marcus L. Rowland in issue 83 of "White Dwarf" magazine (November 1986). Rowland comments: "While I can applaud the idea behind the system, I can't really recommend "GURPS" at its present stage of development. In the long run, "GURPS" and all its supplements may cover more ground than other systems, possibly at less expense, but in the short term there isn't enough support material to run a fully rounded game of any type, apart from gladitorial combat and medieval adventures."
Michael DeWolfe reviewed "GURPS Basic Set" in "Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer" No. 79. DeWolfe commented that ""GURPS" is a good roleplaying system. It combines old ideas with new and surpasses its contemporaries. Playability is paramount, though reality is sacrificed. Its ambitious goal of covering all game worlds looks to be accomblishable."
"Different Worlds" #47
"Aventurer" #6
Second edition Basic Set reviewed in "White Wolf" #13
Michael DeWolfe reviewed the third edition of the "GURPS Basic Set" in "Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer" #85. DeWolfe comments in his summary: "This game has looked at its peers and built on all of them; avoiding their mistakes and following their successes. If you're looking for a good point generation system, get "GURPS". If you're looking for a truly generic system, get "GURPS". If you're looking for a painstakingly coherent system, get "GURPS". If you want a fine RPG, get this game. It is worth it."
Jim Bambra reviewed the third edition of the "GURPS Basic Set" for "Dragon" magazine #149 (September 1989). Bambra comments: "Now in its third incarnation, the "GURPS Basic Set" is better than ever. [...] It's a game designed to be used with an unlimited variety of backgrounds and settings; to its credit, the GURPS game does so admirably."
"Games Review" #5
"GURPS Basic Set", 3rd edition was awarded the Origins Award for "Best Roleplaying Rules of 1988".
The third edition "GURPS Basic Set" was an ORIGINS and Gamers' Choice award-winner.