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Preview of The GURPS® BY C.J. CARELLA STEVE JACKSON GAMES GURPS Imperial Rome, Second Edition takes you to a world of adventure, intrigue, gladiators, and glory. The Roman Empire is alive with campaign options, from orgies in decadent patrician villas to battles with pirates off the coast of Sicily. As an adventurer in the Imperial Age of Rome, you can . GURPS Basic Set, Journey through the narrow streets of the greatest city Third Edition Revised and Compendium I: Character in the world. Haggle with shop owners, debate with Creation are required to senators on the floor of the Forum, or run through the use this book in a GURPS dark alleys with the infamous Roman gangs. campaign. GURPS Visit exotic provinces like Greece, Egypt, and Asia, and Imperial Rome can also be meet traveling thinkers, merchants, soldiers, and used as a sourcebook for mysterious natives – from the barbarian Celts of northern any roleplaying system. Britain to the nomadic Berbers of Africa. THE GLADIATORS: Be a slave gladiator – clash with other warriors, fend off Written by dangerous beasts, or fight a naval battle in the flooded C.J. Carella arena. Or race your chariot around the Circus Maximus, Edited by cheating death and vying for Imperial favor. Explore the Jeremy Zauder arenas of the Roman Empire, where you can prove your Cover by mettle before traveling to Rome to fight in the greatest Rowena arena of all – the Colosseum. Maps by March to war with the Roman legions, defending the Mike Naylor borders against Carthaginian invaders or the savage Huns Illustrated by of Asia. Arm yourself with new combat options for David Day, legionaries and gladiators – including martial arts rules! John Green, and Ed Northcott GURPS Imperial Rome, Second Edition has been SECOND EDITION, FIRST PRINTING completely updated with the latest historical PUBLISHED AUGUST 2000 knowledge, and features a revised bibliography ISBN 1-55634-446-5 and glossary, plus many new pieces of art. ® 9!BMF@JA:RSSSUUoY`ZfZdZnZ` STEVE JACKSON GAMES Printed in www.sjgames.com SJG01995 6048 the USA SECOND EDITION GURPS System Design 1 Steve Jackson Written by C.J. Carella Managing Editor 1 Alain H. Dawson Additional material by GURPS Line Editor 1 Sean Punch Volker Bach and Gene Seabolt Design and Production 1 Jeremy Zauder Edited by Jeremy Zauder Cover Design and Production 1 Alex Fernandez First edition edited by Jeff Koke Print Buying 1 Russell Godwin Cover art by Rowena Art Direction 1 Philip Reed Illustrated by David Day, John Green, GURPS Errata Coordinator 1 Michael Bowman and Ed Northcott Sales and Marketing Manager 1 Ross Jepson Additional illustrations by Ruth Thompson Cartography by Mike Naylor Playtesters: Graeme Davis, Timothy O. Driscoll, Jeffrey C. Gaines, Joseph Michael Hurst, The I-Men (Scott Coady, Joanne Fry, and George Stevens), Mark Johnson, Shea Judd-Hume, John Kono, Chris W. McCubbin, Tim McGaughy, Phil McGregor, S. John Ross, Brett Slocum, Daniel U. Thibault, Todd A. Woods, Stephen T. Zieger, and the Illuminati BBS. The author would like to thank Joanne Fry, Scott Coady, Joan Masters, and his parents, Carlos B. Martijena and Carmela Carella, for moral support and the Encyclopedia Britannica. The editor is grateful to Volker Bach and Loren Wiseman for sharing their knowledge of Roman history and the Latin language. GURPS and the all-seeing pyramid are registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. Pyramid and the names of all products published by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated are registered trademarks or trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, or used under license. GURPS Imperial Rome is copyright © 1992, 2000 by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. All rights reserved. Some art copyright www.arttoday.com. John Green illustrations courtesy of Dover Publications, Inc. ISBN 1-55634-446-5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 STEVE JACKSON GAMES People and Culture . .66 History of the Games . .90 Mithradates’ Massacre . .66 Combat in the Colosseum . .90 EGYPT . .67 The Gladiators . .91 CONTENTS Cities and Landmarks . .67 Other Gladiator Venues . .92 People and Culture . .67 A Gladiator’s Life . .93 INTRODUCTION ECONOMICS, JOBS, . .3 THE DANUBIAN Extracurricular Activities . .93 AND WEALTH About the Author . .3 . .39 PROVINCES . .67 The Colosseum, Rome . .93 About GURPS . .3 Status and Cost of Living . .39 Adventure Seeds . .67 Men and Beasts . .94 Starting Wealth . .39 Cities and Landmarks . .68 Spartacus’ Rebellion . .94 I. Life in Rome . .4 Money . .39 People and Culture . .68 Gladiator Classes . .95 OMAN OCIETY JOB TABLE R S . .5 . .40 GREECE AND MACEDONIA . .68 A DAY AT THE ARENA . .96 EQUIPMENT The Family . .5 . .42 Cities and Landmarks . .68 Royal Gladiators . .97 Common Roman Common Items . .42 People and Culture . .68 Adventure Seeds . .98 Greetings . .5 Housing . .42 ASIA MINOR . .69 Athletes . .100 WEAPONS AND ARMOR Roman Virtues . .5 . .43 Cities and Landmarks . .69 Blind Fighters Suicide . .6 Legionary Weapons People and Culture . .69 and Exotic Skills . .100 Roman Social Classes . .7 and Armor . .43 THE NEAR EAST . .69 Fighting vs. Animals . .100 Roman News Services . .7 Gladiatorial Weapons Cities and Landmarks . .69 CHARIOT RACING . .101 City Encounters . .8 and Armor . .44 People and Culture . .70 Dangers of Patrons and Clients . .9 BRITAIN III. History . .70 Charioteering . .101 The Legal System . .11 . .45 Cities and Landmarks . .70 A Day at the Races . .102 CITY LIFE . .12 The Early Days: People and Culture . .71 Dirty Tricks . .102 City Administration . .12 The Monarchy . .46 NEIGHBORS OF ROME . .71 Roleplaying a Race . .103 THE REPUBLIC The Streets . .12 . .46 The Germans . .71 Shops . .13 Early Roman Expansion Parthia and Persia . .71 VII. Myths Important Buildings . .13 (500-270 B.C.) . .46 and Religion . .104 Roman Homes . .15 The Greek World V. The Legions . .72 ROMAN RELIGION . .105 Graffiti . .15 (200 B.C.) . .46 HISTORY OF THE LEGIONS . .73 The Origins of Rome . .105 The Police and Fire The Punic Wars The Armies of the Predestination . .105 Departments . .16 (264-146 B.C.) . .47 Monarchy and Republic . .73 Etruscan Undead . .106 City Hazards . .17 The Wreck of Mass Combat Rules . .73 The Roman Pantheon . .107 Crucifixion . .17 the Republic . .48 A Manipular Legion . .73 The Sky Stones A Typical Day in Rome . .18 Hellenization . .48 The Triumph . .74 of Jupiter . .107 The Roman Calendar . .18 Italy During the Monarchy . .49 Cannae . .74 Godly Magic . .107 Night Life . .19 Roman Government . .50 The Imperial Legion . .75 Omens . .108 Roman Medicines . .19 The Conspiracy Manipular Legion . .75 Disregarding Omens . .110 Roman Poisons . .19 of Catiline . .51 Zama . .76 The Priesthood . .111 Education . .20 THE EMPIRE . .52 The Late Empire . .77 Eastern Cults . .111 Leisure . .21 Augustus . .52 Decline and Fall Evocatio . .111 Fashion . .21 Julius Caesar . .52 of the Roman Army . .78 Stoicism . .112 LIFE OUTSIDE THE CITY . .22 Early Emperors . .53 THE ARMY . .78 Epicureanism . .112 Typical Roman Villa . .22 Pompeii . .54 Organization . .78 Christianity . .113 Food . .22 The Zenith of the Empire . .55 A Cohortal Legion Other Christian Heresies . .113 The Roman Roads . .23 Imperial Decadence . .55 (100 B.C. – 100 A.D.) . .78 MAGIC . .114 Traveling . .23 THE LATE EMPIRE . .56 Carrhae . .79 Common Magic Inns . .23 Independent Households . .57 Cohortal Legion . .79 in Rome . .114 The Villas . .23 Roman Emperors . .58 Auxiliaries . .80 The Imperial Cult . .114 The Public Post . .24 Stilicho . .59 Pharsalus . .80 Charms and Curses . .115 Tourism . .24 The Fall of Rome . .60 Roman Tactics . .81 The Secret Magic The Roman Empire . .25 Roman Empires After 476 . .60 Roman Fortifications . .82 Campaign . .116 The City of Rome . .25 The Huns . .61 Late Imperial Army . .82 The Full Magic ROMAN TIMELINE . .62 Siege Warfare . .83 Campaign . .116 II. Characters . .26 THE LIFE OF THE ROMAN IV. Lands Point Cost . .27 SOLDIER . .83 VIII. The Roman CHARACTER TYPES . .27 and Peoples 63 . Recruitment . .83 Campaign . .117 ROMAN NAMES . .33 THE PROVINCES . .64 Adrianople . .83 Campaign Styles . .118 Common Roman Names . .33 ITALY AND SICILY . .64 Training . .84 CAMPAIGN SETTINGS . .118 Roman Nicknames . .34 Cities and Landmarks . .64 The Last Roman Armies . .84 Charietto . .118 APPEARANCE . .34 People and Culture . .64 The Roman Navy . .84 Adventure Seeds . .118 ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES, Languages . .64 Daily Life . .85 ALTERNATE HISTORIES . .120 AND SKILLS . .34 GAUL . .64 Decorations and Campaign Crossovers . .120 Advantages . .34 Cities and Landmarks . .64 Punishments . .85 The Unending Empire . .121 Disadvantages . .36 People and Culture . .65 Soldiers in Peacetime . .85 Magic Rome . .123 Skills . .36 SPAIN . .65 Other Enemies of Rome . .85 CAMPAIGN THEMES . .124 MARTIAL STYLES . .38 Cities and Landmarks . .65 Retirement . .86 New Maneuver . .38 People and Culture . .65 THE ENEMIES OF ROME . .86 Glossary . .126 Legionary Combat Provincial Administration . .65 Training . .38 AFRICA . .66 VI. The Games . .89 Bibliography . .126 Gladiator Training . .38 Cities and Landmarks . .66 ARENA COMBAT . .90 Index . .127 2 INTRODUCTION About GURPS The Roman Empire was the most impressive civilization the Western World has Steve Jackson Games is committed to full support of the GURPS system. Our ever seen. Never before – and never since – have so many different nations, peoples, address is SJ Games, Box 18957, Austin, and cultures been united under a single government. Rome is legendary for the might TX 78760. Please include a self-addressed, of its legions, its decadent nobility, and
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