GURPSGEN GURPS GENRE GUIDE Most genres have several sub-genres. Assume that all recommendations from the main genre also apply to its sub-genres. These recommendations assume you are using the 4th Edition Rules and only suggest 3rd Edition books for background material, genre advice, and inspiration. ACTION Fast-paced excitement, with plenty of chases and probably some explosions. Inspirational fiction: Dirty Harry, James Bond, and Jason Bourne films. Required books: Basic Set. Recommended books: Action 1-2, High-Tech. Suggested books: Action 3-6, Martial Arts, Power-Ups 5. Recommended Pyramid articles: Alternate Guns Specialties and Techniques (3/65), Colorless Green Ideas Sleep Furiously (3/44), Survivable Guns (3/44). Suggested Pyramid articles: Chase Cards (3/23), Hot Rides! (3/40), I’ve Got a Great Idea (3/53), Monster Hunter Firepower at the Movies (3/31), The Football (3/112). Recommended optional rules: Chases (Action 2), Falls (Action 2), Simplified Range (Action 2). Beefcake Blockbuster 1980s action movie style, featuring heavily muscled cops and ex-military men. Inspirational fiction: Commando, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Rambo. Recommended books: Gun-Fu. Suggested books: Action 7, Power-Ups 7. Suggested Pyramid articles: Horde Ninja (3/70), The Compleat Jumpsuit (3/67). Recommended optional rules: Cannon Fodder (Basic Set), Cinematic Explosions (Basic Set), Cinematic Knockback (Basic Set), Cross-Trained (Gun-Fu), Dumb Mooks (Action 2), Flesh Wounds (Basic Set), Flimsy Cover (Gun-Fu), Infinite Ammunition (Basic Set). Suggested optional rules: Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy (Martial Arts). Choppy-Socky Focused on unarmed combat, either tournaments or street-fighting criminals. Inspirational fiction: Enter the Dragon, Kung-Fu Hustle, The Karate Kid. Recommended books: Action 3, Martial Arts. Suggested books: Martial Arts: Technical Grappling. Suggested Pyramid articles: A New Take on Grappling (3/34), Coming to Grips With Realism (3/61), Delayed Gratification (3/52), Horde Ninja (3/70), Takedown Sequences (3/61). Recommended optional rules: Melee Etiquette (Basic Set), TV Action Violence (Basic Set). Suggested optional rules: Cannon Fodder (Basic Set), Unarmed Etiquette (Martial Arts). Cliffhangers Two-fisted action in the early 20th century. Inspirational fiction: Doc Savage, Indiana Jones. Recommended books: Cliffhangers (3rd Edition), High-Tech: Pulp Guns 1-2. Recommended optional rules: Cannon Fodder (Basic Set), Flesh Wounds (Basic Set), Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy (Martial Arts), TV Action Violence (Basic Set). Disaster! A natural or man-made hazard provides the main threat. Suggested books: Disasters: Hurricane, Disasters: Meltdown and Fallout, Underground Adventures, Y2K (3rd Edition). Recommended Pyramid articles: GURPS Fathom Five (3/26). Suggested Pyramid articles: Things Fall Apart (3/40). Heist Daring criminals try to get away with their loot. Inspirational fiction: Heat, Public Enemies. Suggested books: Social Engineering, Social Engineering: Keeping in Contact. Suggested Pyramid articles: Dealing with the Law (3/53), Fortunately, I Saw This Coming (4/53), Safes and How to Open Them (3/47), The Civil Arts in GURPS (3/54). Heroic Bloodshed Modern gangsters and hit-men settle things with stylized gunplay. Inspirational fiction: Hard Boiled, John Wick, Leon: the Professional, Shoot ʼEm Up. Recommended books: Gun-Fu. Recommended optional rules: Bullet Time (Martial Arts), Cannon Fodder (Basic Set), Cinematic Knockback (Basic Set), Cross-Trained (Gun-Fu), Dumb Mooks (Action 2), Flimsy Cover (Gun- Fu), Infinite Ammunition (Basic Set), Pants-Positive Safety (Gun-Fu), The Contest of Wills (Martial Arts). Tactical Operations Elite soldiers, law enforcement, and intelligence agents battle gangsters, guerrillas, and terrorists. Recommended books: Tactical Shooting. Suggested books: Cops (3rd Edition), Covert Ops (3rd Edition), SEALs in Vietnam, Special Ops (3rd Edition), SWAT (3rd Edition). Suggested Pyramid articles: Dodge This (3/57), Hell on Wheels (3/53), Marine Protector and Dolphin (3/93), On Target (3/77), Tigerphobia (3/67). DETECTIVE DRAMA Investigation of crimes, by professional or amateur sleuths, often in historical settings. Inspirational fiction: Phillip Marlowe, Poirot, Miss. Marple, Sherlock Holmes. Required books: Basic Set or Lite. Recommended books: High-Tech, Mysteries. Suggested books: Cliffhangers (3rd Edition), Cops (3rd Edition), Social Engineering, Social Engineering: Keeping in Contact. Recommended Pyramid articles: Colorless Green Ideas Sleep Furiously (3/44). Suggested Pyramid articles: Human, Flawed (3/42), Penguin Dreams (3/59). FANTASY Magical adventures in other worlds. Inspirational fiction: Lord of the Rings, Lyonesse. Required books: Basic Set. Recommended books: Fantasy, Low-Tech, Magic, Thaumatology. Suggested books: Dragons, Low-Tech Companion 2, Powers, Religion (3rd Edition), Spirits (3rd Edition), Vehicles: Transports of Fantasy. Recommended Pyramid articles: Art of Prophecy (3/38), Blessed Be (3/78), Cursed Thou Art (3/78), Languages, Culture, and the Common Tongue (3/16), Spirits in Everyday Life (3/41), The Material Difference (3/66). Suggested Pyramid articles: A Killing Breath (3/33), Ars Metallica (3/68), Codex Duello (3/91), Eight Artifacts (3/82), Festivals of the Unknown (3/58), Instruments of Enchantment (3/82), It’s Pure Chemistry! (3/28), Low-Tech Armor Design (3/52), Ten Tweaks to Customize Combat (3/34), The Thaumaturgy of Metallurgy (3/91), The Village Green (3/95). Dark Fantasy Gloomy stories which combine fantasy and horror elements. Inspirational fiction: The Black Company, Zothique. Recommended books: Horror. Suggested books: Banestorm: Abydos, Locations: Hellsgate, Magic: Death Spells, Myth (3rd Edition), Undead (3rd Edition), Zombies, Zombies: Day One. Suggested Pyramid articles: Altus Brat (3/81), Bell, Book, and Candle (3/81), Cruel and Unusual (3/9), Dark Alchemy (3/91), How Very Tempting (3/67), Indian Ghouls (3/92), May the Shadows Guide You (3/47), Necromantic Tools (3/1), Safe as Houses (3/58), The Children of the Coming Darkness (3/41), The Gryndel Menace (3/80), The Sin Eaters (3/19), The Tome of the Black Island (3/91). Recommended optional rules: Power Corrupts (Horror). DUNGEON FANTASY Required books: Basic Set, Dungeon Fantasy 1-2, Magic. Recommended books: Dungeon Fantasy 3, 5, 7, 8, & 15-18, Dungeon Fantasy Monsters 1-4, Low-Tech. Suggested books: Dungeon Fantasy 4, 6, 9-14, & 19-21, Dungeon Fantasy Adventures 1-3, Dungeon Fantasy Denizens: Barbarians, Dungeon Fantasy Denizens: Swashbucklers, Dungeon Fantasy Encounters 1-3, Dungeon Fantasy Treasures 1-4, Magical Styles: Dungeon Magic, Thaumatology, Thaumatology: Magical Styles. Recommended Pyramid articles: Wizardry, Refined (3/60). Suggested Pyramid articles: Auras of Power (3/19), Clerics of Order and Chaos (3/77), Cultists of the Elder Gods (3/43), Dark Summonings (3/50), Dire and Terrible Monsters (3/76), Dungeon Brewmasters (3/82), Dungeon Saints (3/35), Eastern Adventures (3/89), Gog and Magog (3/80), Horde Ninja (3/70), In All Series-ness (3/60), It’s a Threat! (3/77), It’s a Trap! (3/60), Just Rewards (3/75), More Charms (3/82), More Power to Dungeon Warriors (3/61), More Psionic Threats (3/80), Monster Slavers (3/47), Seven Mythical Artifacts for Dungeon Fantasy (3/38), Pointless Slaying and Looting (3/72), Psychic Swords Against Elder Evil (3/76), The Demolisher (3/35), The Magic Touch (3/76), The Musketeer (3/36), The Sorcerer (3/82), Traits for Town (3/58), What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Stronger (3/99).

DUNGEON FANTASY ROLEPLAYING GAME Required books: Adventurers, Exploits, Monsters, Spells. Recommended books: Magic Items, Monsters 2, Traps. Suggested books: Companion 2, Magic Items 2, Dungeon: Against the Rat-Men. Suggested Pyramid articles: Grave of the Pirate Queen (3/98), The Monstrous Monstorum (3/98), You All Meet at an Inn (3/98).

Epic Fantasy The heroes of epic fantasy are truly powerful, both personally and politically. Recommended Books: Power-Ups 1 & 5. Suggested books: City Stats, Low-Tech Companion 1, Magic: Artillery Spells, Mass Combat, Powers: Divine Favor. Recommended Pyramid articles: All the Epic Ways (3/25), Combat Write Large (3/77). Suggested Pyramid articles: City Management (3/54), God is Dead (3/41), Heroes on the Mass Scale (3/84), Knowing Your Own Strength (3/83), Lord of Your Own Domain (3/63), Tactical Mass Combat (3/44). Recommended optional rules: Cannon Fodder (Basic Set), Flesh Wounds (Basic Set). Fairytale Inspired by traditional stories featuring capricious magical entities. Inspirational fiction: Tales of 1,001 Nights, The Brothers Grimm. Recommended books: Thaumatology: Alchemical Baroque. Suggested books: Arabian Nights (3rd Edition), Fayrie (3rd Edition), Horror. Recommended Pyramid articles: The Magic of Stories. Furry Fantasy Instead of dwarves, elves, and goblins, furry fantasy has sentient animals. Inspirational fiction: The Chronicles of Narnia, Redwall. Recommended books: Furries. Suggested books: Powers: Enhanced Senses. Recommended Pyramid articles: When We Were Very Small (3/34). Gritty Fantasy Bleak stories where filth and squalor are common. Inspirational fiction: First Law, Game of Thrones. Suggested books: Low-Tech Companion 1 & 3. Suggested Pyramid articles: Anatomy of a Crossroads Bargain (3/81), Concealed Armor (3/52), Driving Us Mad (3/32), Low-Tech Transportation (3/95), Medieval Prisons (3/33), On the Bounty Board (3/80), Purveyors of the Priceless (3/87), Scurvy Dog Sorcery (3/64), Survival at the End (3/90), The Broken Blade (3/87), Who’s Gonna Buy This? (3/47). Historical Fantasy Rather than being set in another world, historical fantasy introduces fantastic elements to history. Inspirational fiction: Averoigne, Solomon Kane. Suggested books: Crusades, Hot Spots: Constantinople, Hot Spots: Renaissance Florence, Hot Spots: Renaissance Venice, Loadouts: Low-Tech Armour, Locations: St. George’s Cathedral, Middle Ages I (3rd Edition), Vikings (3rd Edition). Recommended Pyramid articles: A Brief History of the Thieves Guild (3/47), Colorless Green Ideas Sleep Furiously (3/44). Suggested Pyramid articles: Anatomy of a Crossroads Bargain (3/81), Bell, Book, and Candle (3/81), City of the Caesars (3/16), Holy Dirty Money (3/10), Indian Ghouls (3/92), Judicum Dei (3/93), Knowledge is Power (3/87), Low-Tech Armor Loadouts for the New World (3/77), Low- Tech Transportation (3/95), Medieval Prisons (3/33), Medieval Sea Trade (3/87), Real Weird Books (3/43), Roman Technology (3/33), Sanctuary and Right of Clergy (3/19), Scurvy Dog Sorcery (3/64), Sultans, Shurta, and the Courts (3/93), Templars: the Fighting Priests (3/19), The Emperor’s Finest (3/47), The Fountain of Youth (3/16), The Knights Templar (3/86), The Knock Volley Gun (3/57), The Tricks of the Shaman (3/19), The Viking Dead (3/92), The Vikings in the Atlantic (3/16). Magic School Students studying to become witches and wizards. Inspirational fiction: Harry Potter, the Black Magician trilogy, The Magicians, The Worst Witch. Recommended books: Social Engineering: Back to School. Suggested books: Locations: Worminghall, Thaumatology: Magical Styles. Mythic Fantasy Inspired by traditional mythology, with larger-than-life heroes. Recommended Books: Power-Ups 1 & 5. Suggested books: Celtic Myth (3rd Edition). Suggested Pyramid articles: The Journey of the Dead (3/38). Stone Age Fantasy Cavemen live alongside prehistoric beasts, often including ones that went extinct before cavemen evolved. Recommended books: Lands Out of Time. Recommended Pyramid articles: Caveman Fundamentals (3/56). Suggested Pyramid articles: Past Presents and Future (3/56), Prehistoric Plots (3/56), The Emerald Hell (3/95), The Old Ways (3/56). Sword and Sorcery Competent but grounded heroes battle cults, dinosaurs, sorcerers and ape-men in exotic lands. Inspirational fiction: Conan, Elric, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Suggested books: Conan (3rd Edition), Lands Out of Time. Suggested Pyramid articles: Snakes Who Walk (3/97), The Emerald Hell (3/95). Recommended optional rules: Bulletproof Nudity (Basic Set). Weird Fantasy Even more surreal, exotic, and populated with freakish creatures than other fantasy. Suggested books: Creatures of the Night 1-5, Powers: the Weird. Suggested Pyramid articles: The Magic Desert (3/68), The Qanat Pirates of Old Than (3/64). HORROR Gruesome monsters and terrifying revelations. Inspirational fiction: Dracula, It, Frankenstein, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Exorcist. Required books: Basic Set or Lite. Recommended books: Horror. Suggested books: Zombies. Recommended Pyramid articles: A Little Bit Psychic (3/69), Colorless Green Ideas Sleep Furiously (3/44), Cursed Thou Art (3/78). Suggested Pyramid articles: Anatomy of a Crossroads Bargain (3/81), Bell, Book, and Candle (3/81), Ghoul Magic (3/43), How Very Tempting (3/67), Indian Ghouls (3/92), Mummy Amulets (3/17), Penanggalan (3/32), Real Weird Books (3/43), Safe as Houses (3/58), Snakes Who Walk (3/97), Too Similar, Too Different (3/81). Cosmic Horror Investigators struggle to maintain their sanity in an uncaring universe of alien monstrosities. Inspirational fiction: H. P. Lovecraft. Suggested books: Cthulhupunk (3rd Edition), Horror: The Madness Dossier, Powers: the Weird. Suggested Pyramid articles: Iraqi Irruptor Blues (3/81), The Black Chamber (3/5). Ghost Stories Dealing with spirits of the dead, often requiring a murder to be solved. Recommended books: Mysteries. Suggested books: Spirits (3rd Edition). Suggested Pyramid articles: The Wraith of Precinct 13 (3/58). Monster Hunters High-powered heroes fight against deadly creatures in a hidden struggle. Inspirational fiction: Blade, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellboy, Supernatural, The Order. Recommended books: Monster Hunters 1-2. Suggested books: Black Ops (3rd Edition), Conspiracy X (3rd Edition), Creatures of the Night 1-5, How to be a GURPS GM: Ritual Path Magic, In Nomine (3rd Edition), Monster Hunters 3-6, Monster Hunters Power-Ups 1, Thaumatology: Ritual Path Magic, Voodoo: the Shadow War (3rd Edition). Recommended Pyramid articles: A Familiar Path (3/75), Inhuman Options (3/45). Suggested Pyramid articles: Alternative Ritual Path Magic (3/66), Belial’s Bastards (3/58), Bottled Magic (3/43), Elemental Xia Champions vs. the Shenguai (3/70), Hunting the Cabal (3/58), Magic Bullets (3/57), Monster Hunter Firepower at the Movies (3/31), Pointless Monster Hunting (3/83), Pulp Hunters! (3/31), Ritual Path Specialists (3/66), Soul Reapers (3/99), Tactical Shooting: Monster Hunters (3/73), Technomysticism (3/91), The Department of Occult Defense (3/73), The Network (3/31), The Wild Hunt (3/45), Venatio (3/73). Supernatural Conspiracy Magicians, mentalists, and monsters use their powers to manipulate human society. Suggested books: Atlantis (3rd Edition), Cabal (3rd Edition), Illuminati (3rd Edition), Mage: the Ascension (3rd Edition), Vampire: the Masquerade (3rd Edition), Werewolf: the Apocalypse (3rd Edition). Suggested Pyramid articles: Mask of Humanity (3/97), The Conspirator’s Enemies (3/59), The Way of the Keepers (3/48). POST-APOCALYPSE After the fall of civilization, survivors struggle to live in the harsh new world. Inspirational fiction: Mad Max. Required books: Basic Set or Lite. Recommended books: After the End 1-2, Low-Tech, High-Tech. Suggested books: Autoduel (3rd Edition), Disasters: Meltdown and Fallout, Horseclans (3rd Edition), Reign of Steel (3rd Edition), Reign of Steel: Will to Live, Y2K (3rd Edition). Recommended Pyramid articles: Post-Apocalyptic Guns (3/88). Suggested Pyramid articles: Are We Not Men (3/90), Better Improvised Weapons (3/88), Name That Apocalypse (3/3), Survivable Guns (3/44), Survival at the End (3/90), The Redeemers (3/88), Zippemart! (3/3). Recommended optional rules: Long-Term Fatigue Points (After the End 1), Simplified Range (After the End 2). Suggested optional rules: Mutations and Freakishness (After the End 1), Radiation Threshold Points (After the End 1). Rebuilding Rather than just surviving, some people want to help society recover from the collapse. Suggested books: Low-Tech Companion 3. Suggested Pyramid articles: Are Humans a Renewable Resource? (3/3), At Play in the Fields (3/33). Zombie Apocalypse Zombies have overrun civilization. Inspirational fiction: 28 Days Later, Dawn of the Dead, The Walking Dead, Zombieland. Recommended books: Zombies. Suggested books: Zombies: Day One. ROBINSONADE Trapped in a remote place, civilized heroes must tame the wilderness. Inspirational fiction: Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson. Required books: Basic Set or Lite. Recommended books: Low-Tech. Suggested books: High-Tech. Recommended Pyramid articles: Survival at the End (3/90). Suggested Pyramid articles: The Emerald Hell (3/95). SCIENCE FICTION Set in a future of technological marvels. Inspirational fiction: Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse. Required books: Basic Set. Recommended books: Ultra-Tech. Suggested books: Space, Spaceships 1. Suggested Pyramid articles: More Ultra! More Tech (3/12), More Ultra-Tech Guns and Heavy Weapons (3/37), Mr Fixit (3/37), Speaking in Tongues (3/54), Things Fall Apart (3/40), Thinking Machines (3/37), Ultra-Tech Armor Design (3/96), Ultra-Tech Too (3/51). Alien Invasion Aliens attack Earth. Inspirational Fiction: Independence Day, Mars Attacks, War of the Worlds. Suggested books: Atomic Horror (3rd Edition), Horror, Mars Attacks, Monster Hunters 5, War Against the Chtorr (3rd Edition). Suggested Pyramid articles: Battle for the Earth (3/94). Cyberpunk Near-future corporate-dominated dystopia where cybernetics and hacking are common. Recommended books: Action 1-7, Cyberpunk (3rd Edition). Suggested books: Cyberworld (3rd Edition). Recommended Pyramid articles: Console Cowboys and Cyberspace Kung-Fu (3/21), Live Better With Cybernetics (3/51). Suggested Pyramid articles: Better Living Through Pharmaceuticals (3/24), Chrome Commandos (3/55), Cutting Edge Armor Design (3/85), Cyberme (3/20), Hexopersonality (3/96), Remixing the Rocker (3/85), Tactical Shooting Tomorrow (3/55), The Arrow of Progress (3/96), The Voices in My Head (3/21), Training for the Tech (3/85), We Are the 9.9% (3/62). Hard SF Science fiction which tries not to violate the laws of physics. Suggested Pyramid Articles: Cold Horizon (3/18), Free Falling (3/85), Future Soldier (3/55), Half- Way to Anywhere (3/79), Near-Future Combat Uniforms (3/51). Mecha Giant humanoid war-machines. Suggested Pyramid Articles: Mecha Operations (3/40), Modular Mecha (3/51). Space Opera Optimistic stories set in outer space, with dubious science. Inspirational fiction: Flash Gordon, Lensman, Star Trek. Suggested books: Humanx (3rd Edition), Lensman (3rd Edition), Powers, Space Atlas 1-4 (3rd Edition), Tales of the Solar Patrol. Suggested Pyramid articles: Blaster and Laser Design (3/37), Doomsday Weapons (3/9), Starmaker, Starbreaker (3/37). Steampunk Retrofuturism based on 19th century science. Recommended books: Steampunk 1-3. Suggested books: Steampunk (3rd Edition), Vehicles: Steampunk Conveyances. Recommended Pyramid articles: Order of Precedence (3/39). Suggested Pyramid articles: Across Africa With Iron and Steam (3/39), A Whisper in the Sky (3/39), Dangerous Concoctions (3/46), Fantasy Tech 2000 (3/46), Sailing the Open Skies (3/64), The Daughter of Necessity (3/46). Sword and Planet Swashbuckling adventures on worlds where much of the technology is primitive. Inspirational fiction: John Carter, Kane of Old Mars, Planet of Adventure, Viagens Interplanetarias. Recommended books: Low-Tech, Martial Arts, Steampunk 1-2. Suggested books: Planet of Adventure (3rd Edition), Planet Krishna (3rd Edition), Mars (3rd Edition). Suggested Pyramid articles: Dungeons of Mars (3/72). SUPERS In a world much like ours, a few people have extraordinary powers. Inspirational fiction: Avengers, Batman, Superman, Watchmen, X-Men. Recommended books: Powers, Supers. Suggested books: Psionic Powers, Psi-Tech. Recommended Pyramid articles: Metatronic Generators (3/46). Suggested Pyramid articles: Above the Law (3/93), Expanded Psychokinesis (3/29), High Psi (3/97), Infinite Teleportation (3/20), Knowing Your Own Strength (3/83), Small-Time Conquerors (3/2). SWASHBUCKLERS Daring heroes and dastardly villains in the early modern period. Inspirational fiction: The Three Musketeers. Required books: Basic Set or Lite. Recommended books: Martial Arts, Swashbucklers (3rd Edition). Suggested books: Action 2-4, Dungeon Fantasy Denizens: Swashbucklers, Low-Tech, Supporting Cast: Age of Sail Pirate Crew. Recommended Pyramid articles: Gaming in the Ancien Régime. Suggested Pyramid articles: Extended Action (3/53), The Spanish Prisoner (3/64). Recommended optional rules: Cannon Fodder (Basic Set), Melee Etiquette (Basic Set). WESTERN Brutal action in the late 19th century American West. Inspirational fiction: The Outlaw Josey Wales, Tombstone, True Grit, Unforgiven. Required books: Basic Set. Recommended books: Old West (3rd Edition), High-Tech, High-Tech: Adventure Guns. Suggested books: Action 1-4. Suggested Pyramid articles: Extended Action (3/53), Outlaws and Arrows (3/74), Steamboats and Locomotives of the Old West (3/74). Recommended optional rules: Cinematic Knockback (Basic Set), Chases (Action 2), Falls (Action 2), Flimsy Cover (Gun-Fu), Simplified Range (Action 2 or Gun-Fu). Weird West Western with a twist; magic, monsters, or strange technology. Inspirational fiction: Cowboys and Aliens, Jonah Hex, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Recommended books: Powers. Suggested books: Deadlands: The Weird West (3rd Edition), Horror, Powers: Totems and Nature Spirits, Steampunk 1-3, Screampunk (3rd Edition), Thaumatology, Zombies. Suggested Pyramid articles: A Westward Shambling Horde (3/74). Recommended optional rules: Assisting Spirits (Thaumatology), Paths and Books (Thaumatology).