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I've always disliked monsters and aliens in roleplaying games. Most are just guys in rubber suits rather than truly monstrous or alien, and human beings have always been weird enough for any purpose I could envision (Call of Cthulhu being the exception that makes the rule here). When my players were poised to contact a new culture in a low fantasy game I was running, mesoamerica came to mind as an interesting cultural model that was plenty alien and a little monstrous. I picked up GURPS: Aztecs and was very impressed.

Like most GURPS historical supplements, the book has a solid bibliography and is well researched. It covers a huge amount of material but never seems either overbroad or tightly-focused, a difficult moving target. The author and editor clearly had gamers in mind, and all the material presented is both relevant and of interest to the intended audience. For example, a long list of Aztec names is provided, since this sort of thing might be hard for a GM to track down.

GURPS Aztecs covers the history and culture of the pre-contact valley of Mexico, including chapters on warfare, trade, and religious life. There are good discussions (with game mechanics) of slavery, feasting, and, of course, ritual sacrifice. A lot of effort has been made to show Aztec culture as vibrant and real, and much of this detail can be brought to bear in the service of a compelling story. Encountering the Aztecs (or a fantasy analog) can be a bewildering, dangerous, wonderful experience with this supplement as a guide.

One of the highlights of the book, for me, was the discussion of Aztec timekeeping and dates. GURPS Aztecs includes a workable calendar based on the Aztec model, but simplified for use in games. For me, it was a lot of fun to say, "Well, it's One Reed, the feast day of Ce Acatl, so the shops are closed." The calendar also indicates days of good and bad fortune for various groups, and includes a simple technique of applying small modifiers based on dates. Thus, a thief might wait a few days until Eight Rain when his skills will be at their height. It is a unique approach, and it works well when applied exclusively to those who believe in it -- leaving the PCs bewildered when their caravan guides refuse to enter town on Six Wind.

On the down side, the book is indifferently illustrated and somewhat dated in GURPS terms; particularly the chapter on magic. All of the material is easily converted to other systems, and the majority is not system-specific at all. If you are even considering introducing Aztec culture to a historical game, go find a copy of this out-of-print supplement. If you want a deliciously alien culture to inject into a fantasy game, it is also a great resource.

GURPS: Aztecs
GURPS: Aztecs Capsule Review by Jason Morningstar on 16/07/01 Style: 2 (Needs Work) Substance: 4 (Meaty) Stranger than fiction ... GURPS Aztecs is a great sourcebook for historical and fantasy gaming. Product: GURPS: Aztecs Author: Aurelio Locsin III Category: RPG Company/Publisher: Steve Jackson Games Line: GURPS Cost: 16.95 Page count: 128 Year published: 1993 (OOP) ISBN: 1-55634-260-8 SKU: SJG6054 Comp copy?: no Capsule Review by Jason Morningstar on 16/07/01 Genre tags: Fantasy Historical Other	I've always disliked monsters and aliens in roleplaying games. Most are just guys in rubber suits rather than truly monstrous or alien, and human beings have always been weird enough for any purpose I could envision (Call of Cthulhu being the exception that makes the rule here). When my players were poised to contact a new culture in a low fantasy game I was running, mesoamerica came to mind as an interesting cultural model that was plenty alien and a little monstrous. I picked up GURPS: Aztecs and was very impressed. Like most GURPS historical supplements, the book has a solid bibliography and is well researched. It covers a huge amount of material but never seems either overbroad or tightly-focused, a difficult moving target. The author and editor clearly had gamers in mind, and all the material presented is both relevant and of interest to the intended audience. For example, a long list of Aztec names is provided, since this sort of thing might be hard for a GM to track down. GURPS Aztecs covers the history and culture of the pre-contact valley of Mexico, including chapters on warfare, trade, and religious life. There are good discussions (with game mechanics) of slavery, feasting, and, of course, ritual sacrifice. A lot of effort has been made to show Aztec culture as vibrant and real, and much of this detail can be brought to bear in the service of a compelling story. Encountering the Aztecs (or a fantasy analog) can be a bewildering, dangerous, wonderful experience with this supplement as a guide. One of the highlights of the book, for me, was the discussion of Aztec timekeeping and dates. GURPS Aztecs includes a workable calendar based on the Aztec model, but simplified for use in games. For me, it was a lot of fun to say, "Well, it's One Reed, the feast day of Ce Acatl, so the shops are closed." The calendar also indicates days of good and bad fortune for various groups, and includes a simple technique of applying small modifiers based on dates. Thus, a thief might wait a few days until Eight Rain when his skills will be at their height. It is a unique approach, and it works well when applied exclusively to those who believe in it -- leaving the PCs bewildered when their caravan guides refuse to enter town on Six Wind. On the down side, the book is indifferently illustrated and somewhat dated in GURPS terms; particularly the chapter on magic. All of the material is easily converted to other systems, and the majority is not system-specific at all. If you are even considering introducing Aztec culture to a historical game, go find a copy of this out-of-print supplement. If you want a deliciously alien culture to inject into a fantasy game, it is also a great resource.