''GURPS High-Tech'' 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 ...
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 ...
(SJG) in 1988 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 ...
'' (''Generic Universal Role-Playing System'').
Contents
''GURPS High-Tech'' is a ''
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 ...
'' supplement of rules for weapons and transportation, focusing on firearms and organized into seven technological levels, from the black-powder-musket era to a future of lasers and stun guns. The book includes descriptions of standard weapons from all levels.
It is a universal sourcebook for ''GURPS'' that is intended to be useable in many different settings.
The book is divided into three sections:
#. Guns, Projectiles, and Explosives
#. Details of the four "tech" levels covered by this book
#. A list of individual weapons, costs and availability
Publication history
''GURPS High-Tech'' was written by
Michael Hurst
Michael Eric Hurst New Zealand Order of Merit, ONZM (born 20 September 1957) is a New Zealand actor, director and writer. He acted in the television programs ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'' and companion series ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' ...
, with art by
Guy Burchak, and was first 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 1988 as a 128-page book.
A new ''GURPS High-Tech'' (2007) was one of the tech books published for ''GURPS'' 4e.
Reception
In the April 1989 edition of ''
Games International
''Computer Games Magazine'' was a monthly computer and console gaming print magazine, founded in October 1988 as the United Kingdom publication ''Games International''. During its history, it was known variously as ''Strategy Plus'' (October 1 ...
'' (Issue 4),
James Wallis questioned the blurb on the back cover of the book, which claimed this book was "A Sourcebook of Weapons & Equipment Through the Ages." Wallis agreed with the "weapons" part of the description, but found equipment "takes a back seat." He did find the book "well-presented and laid out, written in an interesting style which often takes joy in tongue-in-cheek examples of the rules which it explains." He concluded by giving the book an average score of 3.5 out of 5, saying, "It is not essential by any means, but is a nice items for the ''GURPS'' referee to own."
Reviews of ''GURPS High-Tech'' appeared in two issues of ''
Dragon
A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...
'':
* In the December 1989 edition (Issue 152),
thought that the book was "a valuable addition to the ''GURPS'' system, particularly to GMs running historical or time-travel campaigns. Using these rules, small-scale military actions can easily be staged and have the added bonus of being set in any gunpowder era—modern day, World War II, the American Civil War, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Thirty Years War being just some of the possibilities." Bambra concluded with a thumbs up, "Even you have no interest in the ''GURPS'' game system, ''GURPS High-Tech'' is still a very useful guide to weaponry and equipment."
* In the April 1993 edition (Issue 192),
Rick Swan
Rick Swan is a game designer and author who worked for TSR.
His work for TSR, mostly for ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'', appeared from 1989 to 1995.
Swan also wrote '' The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'' (1990), published by St. Martin' ...
described the book as "Packed with lucid descriptions, sharp illustrations, and fascinating trivia (early military engineers not only designed weapons, they also distilled brandy and taught chess), ''High Tech'' is a dazzler.
References
{{reflist
GURPS 3rd edition
GURPS 4th edition
High-Tech
High technology (high tech or high-tech), also known as advanced technology (advanced tech) or exotechnology, is technology that is at the cutting edge: the highest form of technology available. It can be defined as either the most complex or ...
Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1988