The Inside Scoop on Gaming

It's difficult nowadays to review GURPS 3rd edition without also giving some feedbacks about the two compendiums. Those volumes have became official material. References to those two volumes are made when you buy any support product of Gurps made after 1996.

Meaning they are now prerequisites if you think about playing with GURPS. Therefore, your total starting investment to play GURPS is more than 60 $ US (a lot of canadian bucks). It also makes the system bulky. The rules found in those two books were designed and playtested over a number of years. There are optional rules, house rules that became official, errata correction, etc.. made by various game designers at Steve Jackson games and compiled by their line editor, Mr Sean Punch.

The Compendium 1's focus is on additional rules concerning character creation. On the (ugly) cover is written: "a comprehensive collection of new advantages, disadvantages, skills and more. All the rules for characters since the basic set, third edition".

And that sums up what this book is all about. Except it's not really anything new. At least 90% of those rules can be found in various support books for Gurps.

All in all, this book is typically "GURPISH", meaning it is very functional, but uninspired. The book is very useful during character creation, especially in a fantastic settings where all sort of bizarre characters are allowed.

For now, Steve Jackson Games have no intention of producing a streamlined 4th edition of their game. So the compendium book is now mandatory. Ample references are made to the compendiums in other support products, making it impossible to play GURPS without it.

The GURPS compendium is very useful for players and GM alike. Apart from character creation, there's nothing else. Don't expect to find new game mechanics or campaign advices (all of this is covered in the wonderful Steve Jackson Game$ compendium 2)

Bottom line: if you like GURPS 3rd edition, buy this book. It is a must If you don't, don't bother.

Now, go check out my review of the compendium 2 !

Style: 2 (Needs Work)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

GURPS compendium 1
Author: (compiled by) Sean Punch Category: game Company/Publisher: Steve Jackson Games Cost: 20$ Page count: 192 ISBN: http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/ Playtest Review by Warrior on 10/18/98. Genre tags: Generic	It's difficult nowadays to review GURPS 3rd edition without also giving some feedbacks about the two compendiums. Those volumes have became official material. References to those two volumes are made when you buy any support product of Gurps made after 1996. Meaning they are now prerequisites if you think about playing with GURPS. Therefore, your total starting investment to play GURPS is more than 60 $ US (a lot of canadian bucks). It also makes the system bulky. The rules found in those two books were designed and playtested over a number of years. There are optional rules, house rules that became official, errata correction, etc.. made by various game designers at Steve Jackson games and compiled by their line editor, Mr Sean Punch. The Compendium 1's focus is on additional rules concerning character creation. On the (ugly) cover is written: "a comprehensive collection of new advantages, disadvantages, skills and more. All the rules for characters since the basic set, third edition". And that sums up what this book is all about. Except it's not really anything new. At least 90% of those rules can be found in various support books for Gurps. All in all, this book is typically "GURPISH", meaning it is very functional, but uninspired. The book is very useful during character creation, especially in a fantastic settings where all sort of bizarre characters are allowed. For now, Steve Jackson Games have no intention of producing a streamlined 4th edition of their game. So the compendium book is now mandatory. Ample references are made to the compendiums in other support products, making it impossible to play GURPS without it. The GURPS compendium is very useful for players and GM alike. Apart from character creation, there's nothing else. Don't expect to find new game mechanics or campaign advices (all of this is covered in the wonderful Steve Jackson Game$ compendium 2) Bottom line: if you like GURPS 3rd edition, buy this book. It is a must If you don't, don't bother. Now, go check out my review of the compendium 2 ! Style: 2 (Needs Work) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

GURPS compendium 1