''GURPS Aliens'' is a

sourcebook A sourcebook is a collection of texts on a particular subject intended for use as an introduction to the subject. The selected texts are typically edited, laid out, and typeset in a uniform format before binding, and the result is often a hardcov ...

for ''

GURPS The ''Generic Universal Role Playing System'', or ''GURPS'', is a tabletop role-playing game system published by Steve Jackson Games. The system is designed to run any genre using the same core mechanics. The core rules were first written by St ...

'' published in 1990.

''GURPS Aliens'' is a complete sourcebook on extraterrestrials, intended for use with ''

GURPS Space ''GURPS Space'' is a sourcebook published by Steve Jackson Games (SJG) for use with ''GURPS'' (''Generic Universal Role-Playing System''), published in four editions from 1988 to 2006. Description ''GURPS Space'' is a toolkit that enables gamem ...

'', '' GURPS Horror'', or ''

GURPS Supers ''GURPS Supers'' is a superhero roleplaying game written by Loyd Blankenship and published by Steve Jackson Games. The first edition was published in 1989. Contents ''GURPS Supers'' is a supplement of rules for comic-book superhero characters and ...

''. ''GURPS Aliens'' is a ''

'' supplement describing 28 alien races for use with ''

'', including the An Phar, "pig-like humanoids with a love of philosophy," the Banduch, "super-powerful psychic dinosaurs," and the Verms: "Their ambition is to eat the galaxy." ''Aliens'' came out before the more successful '' Fantasy Folk''. The supplemental rules forming about a third of the book were largely outmoded by the revised edition of ''Supers''.

Publication history

''GURPS Aliens'' was written by Chris W. McCubbin with

W.G. Armintrout WG may refer to: In arts and entertainment * W&G Records, an Australian recording company * ''Will & Grace'', a television series * Wonder Girls, a South Korean girl group Businesses * W. G. Bagnall, a locomotive manufacturer in Stafford, Englan ...

, William A. Barton, Steve Jackson, Creede Lambard, and Sharleen Lambard, with a cover by

Michael Whelan Michael Whelan (born June 29, 1950) is an Americans, American artist of imaginative Realism (arts), realism. For more than 30 years, he worked as an illustrator, specializing in science fiction and fantasy cover art. Since the mid-1990s, he has ...

, and was published by

Steve Jackson Games Steve Jackson Games (SJGames) is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and (until 2019) the gaming magazine ''Pyramid''. History Founded in 1980, six years after the cr ...

in 1990 as a 128-page book. ''GURPS Aliens'' requires the ''

GURPS Basic Set ''GURPS Basic Set'' is a role playing game publication written by Steve Jackson, Sean M. Punch, and David L. Pulver. The first edition ''GURPS Basic Set'' box was published in 1986, a standalone third edition book in 1988, and a hardcover, two ...

'' to use. ''GURPS Aliens'' was one of several sourcebooks published to add to the background of the ''

'' setting.

Reception

David L. Pulver reviewed ''GURPS Aliens'' for '' Challenge'' #49. Pulver comments in his conclusion: "''GURPS Aliens imaginative array of extraterrestrial races coupled with its lucid organization makes it a pleasure to read and to use. I have no hesitation in giving it a whole-hearted recommendation, not only as an invaluable sourcebook for ''GURPS'', but as a useful source of ideas for any science-fiction RPG."

References

{{reflist

Aliens Alien primarily refers to: * Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country ** Enemy alien, the above in times of war * Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth ** Specifically, a lifeform with ext ...

Science fiction role-playing game supplements Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1990