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GURPS Vehicles is intended to be the sourcebook that lets players and GMs generate their own toys instead of using the same AK-47 or same B-27 as the next roleplayer. The concept is nice, and some of the examples can inspire great ideas, but the overall execution is not to my taste.

The possible vehicle designs are practically endless. GURPS Vehicles is to be admired for the myriad systems and gadgets you can pack into whatever kind of transportation you desire. From mag-lev systems and Orion engines to ornithopters and artificial gravity, it's all here. If you can think of it, you can at least try to design it.

Unfortunately, the emphasis here will have to remain on "try". If you know what you want, constructing a vehicle is a frustrating endeavor filled with dull mathematical calculations, obscure acronyms, and more in-depth mechanics that I'd ever want to have. One particular example that really grates on my nerves is the question of engine power.

Say I want my super-pumped car to be able to go 180 MPH, to really jazz up those chase scenes. However, at the stage I design my engine, I don't know how much the car is going to weigh! The bigger the engine, the more the car weighs, and the slower the car goes -- not to mention that I haven't chosen all sorts of other options that will affect the car's final speed. Basically, unless you have Precognition at 15 skill or more, it's very hard to make the car you want to make.

There is also the matter of obscure systems. The whole sensors department more or less assumes that you already know what everything is and why you'd want to have it. When I presented my first vehicle (a car for the cinematic Black Ops), I was told that it lacked no less than six sensor systems. This was about the point where I gave up.

GURPS Vehicles is a nice book to page through idly, and even a nice book to read. The ideas are cool and the pictures are nice. Unfortunately, overdone details and a frustrating design system makes this book a waste for all but the most dedicated gearheads.

I'm sticking with the good, old-fashioned, simple Driving roll.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 2 (Sparse)

GURPS Vehicles
Author: David Pulver Category: game Company/Publisher: Steve Jackson Games Line: GURPS Cost: $24.95 Page count: 208 ISBN: 1-55634-325-6 SKU: 6505 Playtest Review by Sam Lindsay-Levine on 07/29/99. Genre tags: none	GURPS Vehicles is intended to be the sourcebook that lets players and GMs generate their own toys instead of using the same AK-47 or same B-27 as the next roleplayer. The concept is nice, and some of the examples can inspire great ideas, but the overall execution is not to my taste. The possible vehicle designs are practically endless. GURPS Vehicles is to be admired for the myriad systems and gadgets you can pack into whatever kind of transportation you desire. From mag-lev systems and Orion engines to ornithopters and artificial gravity, it's all here. If you can think of it, you can at least try to design it. Unfortunately, the emphasis here will have to remain on "try". If you know what you want, constructing a vehicle is a frustrating endeavor filled with dull mathematical calculations, obscure acronyms, and more in-depth mechanics that I'd ever want to have. One particular example that really grates on my nerves is the question of engine power. Say I want my super-pumped car to be able to go 180 MPH, to really jazz up those chase scenes. However, at the stage I design my engine, I don't know how much the car is going to weigh! The bigger the engine, the more the car weighs, and the slower the car goes -- not to mention that I haven't chosen all sorts of other options that will affect the car's final speed. Basically, unless you have Precognition at 15 skill or more, it's very hard to make the car you want to make. There is also the matter of obscure systems. The whole sensors department more or less assumes that you already know what everything is and why you'd want to have it. When I presented my first vehicle (a car for the cinematic Black Ops), I was told that it lacked no less than six sensor systems. This was about the point where I gave up. GURPS Vehicles is a nice book to page through idly, and even a nice book to read. The ideas are cool and the pictures are nice. Unfortunately, overdone details and a frustrating design system makes this book a waste for all but the most dedicated gearheads. I'm sticking with the good, old-fashioned, simple Driving roll. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 2 (Sparse)