This is a web site that has many different GURPS combat scenarios, melee, ranged, combo, etc.  Gives a good idea about how simple to how complex GURPS combat can be.

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I just read melee example 4 ( Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ).  It makes the combat system seem very appealing.  I like the idea of a wounding modifier that goes along with a cutting weapon, e.g. a broadsword.  I also like the idea of armor providing a partial damage reduction; is that pretty common in games?  Seems to make sense.

If I were to get into GURPS 4e, what materials should I buy to start?  There are tons of books; getting into the game system seems a little daunting.

beyonder wrote on Jan 28^th, 2010 at 7:55pm:

I also like the idea of armor providing a partial damage reduction; is that pretty common in games?  Seems to make sense.

It depends on the setting really.  Some settings that you could run in, armor just does not apply (Renaissance, 1920's Film Noir, Civil War, etc).  But in games where armor would be in effect (Fantasy, modern military, future battle armor, etc), yes, the AR actually reduced the damage taken.  The the better the armor the more points are diverted to the armor instead of the character.  The better the armor the more points it stops from doing the character or NPC damage.


Quote:

If I were to get into GURPS 4e, what materials should I buy to start?  There are tons of books; getting into the game system seems a little daunting.

GURPS is a sandbox type game.  The core books give you the rules and everything else is flavor or specific setting crunch.  The Core books are Basic Set: Characters and Basic Set: Campaigns, with these two books you can do anything and everything that you can do with GURPS.  I would also add the Powers book as a core book although it is not listed as a core. 
All the other books will assist is specific settings.  For example Space, Ultra-Tech, and Bio-Tech for futuristic space type games.  These types of books help the players and GMs with specific items, and rules.  But with the core books you can adjust the rules as needed for your specific setting(s). 

Also a lot of the 3rd Ed setting books are still usable with 4e, because they are mostly fluff and low on crunch.  So if you wanted to run something in feudal Japan then the 3e Japan book is still a viable resource.  Just to give you some ideas that you can still use all the 3e books that are out there too.

I really enjoy GURPS because it can be as simple as you want it to be with the basic rules or as complex as you can get with all the additional rules for realism.

If you are coming from a level based system, ie D&D, it may be a little weird using a point based system to start.  You can have mages walking around in plate mail armor and flinging fireballs.  The only rules there are for this type of character are the ones the GM makes up or allows for his/her game, but, there is nothing in the rules themselves that prevent this type of character.

EDIT: You can get GURPS Lite as a free download from the SJGames.com website.  It has everything you need to create a basic character and run a game.
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