GURPS Adaptations

GURPS Adaptations (2016; 2017) shows you how to build your favorite fictional settings.

Introduction (Based on...)

Each of these have Recommended version, Adaptation, and Works inspired subsections.

• Odyssey (Odys.): TL1; Cyclopes TL0; Phaeacians TL1^
• Water Margin [Shui Hu Zhuan] (WM): TL3
• Pride and Prejudice: (P&P) TL5
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea [Vingt mille lieues sous les mers] (20KL): TL5; Captain Nemo TL(5+1)
• Dracula (Drac.): TL6
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (WWOz): Kansas TL6; Oz TL4 with magic (TL4^)

High Concept

• Starting Point: Prequels and Sequels; Filling the Gaps; Alternate Histories; Displacements; Reinvention
• Premise: Mundane Premises; fantastic Premises
• Genre
  • Why Genre Matters
  • What Defines a Genre: Conventions; Tropes
  • Common Genres: Action/adventure; Alternate history (uchronia); Fantasy; Hardboiled fiction and noir films; Horror; Humor (Comedy); Martial arts; Mimetic fiction (realistic fiction); Mystery; Romance; Science Fiction
  • Slipstream and related genres
  • Superheroic fiction
  • Thrillers
• Mood
• Theme
• The Players

Places

• Describing the World
• Environments
  • Planets
  • Terrains
  • Technologies
  • Populations
  • Cultures
  • War and Politics
  • Supernatural Forces
• Locations
• Setting and Drama

People

• Roles
• Defining Major Characters
• Specifications for Original Characters

Things

• Narrative Function
• Physical Form
• Availability

Action

• Agency
• Action and the World
• Modes
• Narratives
• Preparing the Payoff

Assigning Tech Level note

• If the general patterns are similar, but one or two technologies are missing, delayed, or advanced, go by the typical TL, and by the kind of society it permits. Don’t focus on a single signature technology such as bronze or steam engines; look at the overall pattern.
• If the society reached an advanced stage without the characteristic inventions of that age – for example, a steampunk world with analytical engines rather than electronic computers – use a divergent TL, such as TL(5+2) rather than TL7.
• If the society took a radically different path from the beginning, such as the classic science-fiction idea of a civilization based on biotechnology and bioscience, define it as TL(0+1), TL(0+2), etc.
• If a key invention is superscience, add a ^ to the TL.
• If the entire technology is impossible to define by analogies to Earth’s history, call it TL^ without assigning numbers

See Also

• Equivalent TL

Additional Information

• Metatron (youtube): "On this channel I speak about 4 things: "languages", "videogames", "Medieval weapons and armours" and "History" and much more!" - Great source for the GM who wants some accuracy in their adaptations of historical material.