GURPS Compendium

GURPS Compendium was a series of 2 books for 3.5 edition which came out in 1996:

• Compendium I covered "character creation"
• Compendium II covered "combat and campaigns"

It resembled 4e's split of the Basic Set into Basic Set: Characters and Basic Set: Campaigns but these books were supplements to the Basic Set Classic with additional traits (I) and rules (II)

When combined with an old Third Edition Basic Set these books make it on par with (and possibly better than) Basic Set (Third Edition) Revised.

Compendium II

While effectively everything in the Compendium I has been updated/replaced in 4e the Compendium II is still usable with 4e. The following sections with a little tweeking can be used/combined with 4e.

Equipment

• Breakdowns and Maintenance; Alien Devices, New Inventions, and Weird Gadgets; Computer (Programs); Muscle-Powered Weapons; Pre-Gunpowder Artillery; Armor

Combat

• Optional Realistic Combat Rules; Optional Cinematic Combat Rules

Other Combat Systems

• Ritualized Combat; Jousts and Competitions; Duelling; Showdowns and Shootouts; Competition Fighting

Abstract Vehicle Combat

• Naval Combat System; Space Combat System; Space Opera Combat System (SOCS)

Mass Combat

Updated and expanded version of this chapter is in GURPS Mass Combat (2010)

Hazards and Hostile Environments

• Acceleration; Acid; Altitude; Arctic/Cold Weather Hazards; Collisions; Seasickness; Space Sickness; Poison; Electricity; Extreme Cold; Extreme Heat; Gravity; Pressure; Radiation; Vacuum

Injury, Illness, Fatigue, and Recovery

• Optional Rules for Wounds and Healing; Medical Care – Medicine By TL; Drinking and Intoxication; Herbs; Try a Little Bit Harder: Expanded Rules for Extra Effort; Sleep: Advanced Rules for Fatigue and Recovery

Campaigning

• Cinematic Roleplaying; High-Powered Campaigns; Alternate Planes of Existence; Society

Unique concepts

These were not carried over into 4e but could be useful:

• Exchanges and Lulls (with options for Pressing and Stalling or Maneuvers During Lulls)
• Stun Points
• Retreating Clarified

Comment

One problem with the Compendiums was they quickly became outdated as updated versions of old books and new books came out. Books that fall into this category:

• Classic: Horror Third Edition (2002)
• Classic: Spirits (2002) - revised Classic: Voodoo magic system
• GURPS Dragons (2004)

See also

• GURPS Update for converting Classic to 4e