Editing GURPS (section)

== Concept ==

Role-playing games of the 1970s and 1980s, such as ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', generally used random numbers generated by dice rolls to assign statistics to player characters. In 1978, Jackson designed a new character generation system for the microgames ''[[Melee (game)|Melee]]'' and ''[[Wizard (board game)|Wizard]]'' that used a point-buy system: players are given a fixed number of points with which to buy abilities.<ref name="dragon">{{Cite journal |last=McMillan |first=Brad |date=January 1980 |title=The Dragon's Augury |url=https://archive.org/stream/DragonMagazine260_201801/DragonMagazine033#page/n53/mode/2up |journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] |publisher=[[TSR (company)|TSR, Inc.]] |issue=33 |pages=53}}</ref> (The [[Hero System]] first used by the ''[[Champions (role-playing game)|Champions]]'' role-playing game published two years later also used a point-buy system.)<ref name="WD83" />

''GURPS'''s emphasis on its generic aspect has proven to be a successful marketing tactic, as many game series have source engines which can be retrofitted to many styles.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hite |first=Ken |title=Nightmares of Mine |publisher=[[Iron Crown Enterprises]] |year=1999 |isbn=1-55806-367-6 |edition=1st |pages=171 |author-link=Ken Hite}}</ref> Its approach to versatility includes using real world measurements wherever possible ("reality-checking" is an important part of any ''GURPS'' book).

''GURPS'' also benefits from the many dozens of worldbooks describing settings or additional rules in all genres including science fiction, fantasy, and historical. Many game designers began their professional careers as ''GURPS'' writers, including [[C. J. Carella]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pen & Paper RPG Database: C. J. Carella |url=http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=879 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005013848/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=879 |archive-date=2007-10-05 |access-date=2012-04-19 |publisher=Pen & Paper}}</ref> [[Robin Laws]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pen & Paper RPG Database: Robin D. Laws |url=http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=513 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181216/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=513 |archive-date=2007-09-30 |access-date=2008-04-19 |publisher=Pen & Paper}}</ref> [[S. John Ross (game designer)|S. John Ross]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pen & Paper RPG Database: S. John Ross |url=http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=1019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930200952/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=1019 |archive-date=2007-09-30 |access-date=2012-04-19 |publisher=Pen & Paper}}</ref> and [[Steffan O'Sullivan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pen & Paper RPG Database: Steffan O'Sullivan |url=http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=1111 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050830160941/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=1111 |archive-date=2005-08-30 |access-date=2012-04-19 |publisher=Pen & Paper}}</ref>