GURPS Old West

Last updated
Artwork by David Patrick Menahan, 1991 Cover of GURPS Old West 1991.png
Artwork by David Patrick Menahan, 1991

GURPS Old West is a supplement published by Steve Jackson Games in 1991 for GURPS (Generic Universal Role-Playing System).

Contents

Content

GURPS Old West provides details of how to introduce a Western setting to GURPS. Details include various forms of transportation, and activities such as panning for gold, robbing trains or banks, and cattle drives. Some exploration of Southwest Amerindian culture is included, with suggestions on how native religion could be adapted for spellcasting. New rules around gunplay and spellcasting are also included. [1]

Publication history

GURPS Old West is a 128-page softcover book written by Ann Dupuis, Liz Tornabene, Robert E. Smith, and Lynda Manning Schwartz, with additional material by Mike Hurst, Steve Jackson, and Loyd Blankenship. Interior art is by Topper Helmers and Carl Anderson, and cover art is by David Patrick Menahan. It was published by Steve Jackson Games in 1991. [1]

In the 2014 book Designers & Dragons: The '80s, game historian Shannon Appelcline noted that Steve Jackson Games decided in the early 1990s to stop publishing adventures, and as a result "SJG was now putting out standalone GURPS books rather than the more complex tiered book lines. This included more historical subgenre books. Some, such as GURPS Camelot (1991) and GURPS China (1991), were clearly sub-subgenres, while others like GURPS Old West (1991) and GURPS Middle Ages I (1992) covered genres notably missing before this point." [2] :45

Reception

In the February 1993 edition of Dragon (Issue #190), Rick Swan pointed out that "the emphasis here is on drama over dry facts. Wherever reality contradicts John Wayne movies, the designers aren't afraid to goose the truth a bit, and they encourage referees to do the same." Nonetheless, Swan found that "The book abounds with inviting activities for PCs to pursue, along with sound advice for staging memorable encounters." He concluded by giving the book an excellent rating of 4.5 out of 5, saying, "The combination of diligent research and imaginative embellishments makes for an unbeatable package — one that players and referees alike ought to relish. After reading from start to finish, I was hungry for more. And that’s about the best recommendation a sourcebook can get." [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GURPS Middle Ages I</span>

GURPS Middle Ages I is a sourcebook for running a Middle Ages themed GURPS campaign. It is a part of the extensive GURPS "generic" roleplaying system.

<i>GURPS High-Tech</i> Role-playing games supplement

GURPS High-Tech is a sourcebook published by Steve Jackson Games (SJG) in 1988 for GURPS.

<i>GURPS Time Travel</i> Tabletop role-playing game supplement

GURPS Time Travel is a sourcebook for GURPS. It was written by Steve Jackson and John M. Ford and published in 1991.

<i>GURPS Vehicles</i> Role-playing games supplement

GURPS Vehicles is a sourcebook for GURPS by David Pulver. The first edition was published in 1993.

<i>GURPS Swashbucklers</i>

GURPS Swashbucklers is a sourcebook by Steffan O'Sullivan, published by Steve Jackson Games in 1988 to provide a swashbuckling setting for GURPS.

<i>GURPS Vampire: The Masquerade</i> Licensed adaptation of Vampire: the Masquerade for GURPS

GURPS Vampire: The Masquerade is a licensed adaptation of White Wolf Publishing's horror role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade, written by Jeff Koke and published by Steve Jackson Games in 1993 for the third edition of their GURPS rules.

<i>GURPS Arabian Nights</i> Role-playing game supplement

GURPS Arabian Nights is a supplement by Phil Masters, published by Steve Jackson Games in 1993 for GURPS.

<i>GURPS Camelot</i>

GURPS Camelot is an Arthurian supplement published by Steve Jackson Games in 1991 for GURPS.

<i>GURPS Dinosaurs</i>

GURPS Dinosaurs is a supplement by Stephen Dedman, published by Steve Jackson Games in 1996 for GURPS.

<i>GURPS Fantasy II: Adventures in the Mad Lands</i>

GURPS Fantasy II: Adventures in the Mad Lands is a supplement by Robin Laws, published by Steve Jackson Games in 1992 for the third edition of GURPS.

<i>GURPS Greece</i>

GURPS Greece is a supplement published by Steve Jackson Games (SJG) in 1995 for GURPS.

<i>GURPS Mecha</i>

GURPS Mecha is a supplement by David Pulver, published by Steve Jackson Games (SJG) in 1997 for GURPS.

<i>GURPS Planet Krishna</i>

GURPS Planet Krishna is a role-playing game supplement published by Steve Jackson Games (SJG) in 1997 that helps a gamemaster design a GURPS campaign using the Viagens Interplanetarias science fiction setting of L. Sprague de Camp.

<i>GURPS Psionics</i>

GURPS Psionics is a supplement by David Pulver, published by Steve Jackson Games in 1991 for GURPS.

<i>GURPS Robots</i>

GURPS Robots is a supplement for GURPS. Written by David Pulver, it was published by Steve Jackson Games in 1995.

<i>GURPS Space Atlas 4</i>

GURPS Space Atlas 4 is a science fiction supplement written by David Pulver and Stephen Dedman published by Steve Jackson Games in 1991 for GURPS Space.

<i>GURPS Vikings</i>

GURPS Vikings is a supplement published by Steve Jackson Games in 1991 for GURPS.

<i>GURPS Voodoo: The Shadow War</i>

GURPS Voodoo: The Shadow War is a role-playing game supplement by C. J. Carella, published by Steve Jackson Games in 1995, about using voodoo magic in a GURPS campaign.

<i>GURPS Werewolf: The Apocalypse</i> Role-playing game supplement

GURPS Werewolf: The Apocalypse is a supplement published by Steve Jackson Games (SJG) in 1993 that translates the role-playing game Werewolf: The Apocalypse to the GURPS rules set.

<i>GURPS Space Atlas</i> Role-playing game supplement

GURPS Space Atlas is a supplement published by Steve Jackson Games (SJG) in 1988 for the science fiction role-playing game GURPS Space, which uses the rules of GURPS.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Swan, Rick (February 1993). "Roleplaying Reviews". Dragon . TSR, Inc. (190): 67.
  2. Shannon Appelcline (2014). Designers & Dragons: The '80s. Evil Hat Productions. ISBN   978-1-61317-081-6.