For players interested in purchasing GURPS books to help with this game, I recommend the following (IN THIS ORDER):

(1) GURPS Basic Rules
(2) GURPS Compendium I: Character Creation
(3) GURPS Martial Arts

Later on, you may find it helpful to purchase:
(4) GURPS Supers

I may add to this list.  If you have any suggested books, please let me know.

I recommend the following for understanding the Matrix Universe:

(1) The Matrix Trilogy
(2) The Animatrix (In particular, the Second Renaissance shorts)
(3) Enter the Matrix (Video Game written by the Wachowski Brothers)
(4) I also suggest reading the scripts, as this is a great way to pick up the "lingo" of the Matrix world that you miss if you just watch the films.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:50, Tue 16 Mar 2004.

PLEASE NOTE:  My games do not slow down for slow players, and I always have a waiting list.  Those who are not consistent with posts may soon find their characters in a world of hurt...or worse.

ALSO NOTE:  If you are having any difficulties with the game rules, GURPS, or anything else, don't let this slow you down.  Simply ask me any questions you have and continue to post as best you can.

REGARDING CHARACTER SHEETS: Some of you are still having trouble with character sheets.  If that is the case, I will allow the following:  (1) Tell me you are having difficulty and simply use points toward your attributes.  Unused points can be carried over until after the first adventure.  I have given you enough starting skills that technically you don't need to buy skills right away.  So just pick attributes, save the points, and let's go!  (2)  If you are really concerned, just ask and I will do your attributes for you.

If you have not already done so, please include a description of your character in the "Character Description" section.  For a couple of examples, please see Caine and Grid.

And by all means, if you have not done so, choose a portrait before posting.

Since most of you are more familiar with the d20 games and not 3d6 games, I just wanted to show you a probability chart showing the percentages of rolls.  Of course, in a d20 system there is a 5% chance you will roll any of the numbers.  Keep in mind that this is not the case in a 3d6 game:



Looking at this, you will see that 50% of the rolls fall between 9 and 12, and the other 50% are spread throughout 3-8 and 13-18 in an algorithmic progression.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:52, Thu 22 Apr 2004.

For anyone having trouble downloading the GURPS Lite rules, the website moved (to account for 3rd edition apparently).  This has been updated on the Hyperlinks Notice Board.

Here is a very generic format for a character sheet:

Player Name:

Handle:
Character Name:

ATTRIBUTES

ST - [ST] - [Point Cost]
DX - [DX] - [PT Cost]
IQ - [IQ] - [Pt Cost]
HT - [HT] - [Pt Cost]

Attribute total Point Cost: [#]

ADVANTAGES

[List advantages and point cost]

Advantages total: # (#)  [Parentheses indicate Downloaded/Matrix value from the Matrix skill points]

DISADVANTAGES

[List disadvantages and point cost]

Disadvantages Total: # (#)

SKILLS

[This list represents basic skills downloaded automatically.  You may adjust them up with skill points and add further skills.  Please note:  Any basic skill prowess learned by downloading (unless noted otherwise) automatically carries over into the real world, as it is simply a learned skill, not a skill practiced in the Matrix.]

Guns
Thrown Weapons
Karate
Judo
First Aid
Computer Operation
Computer Programming
Electronics Operation/Repair
Demolition
Driving
Motorcycle
Piloting

[List skills and Point costs]

Skills Total: # (#)

FOCUS SKILL:  (1)3/1 [This is a set figure for beginning players.  You may not adjust it with points.]

MANEUVERS

[List maneuvers and point costs (you might not have any at this point)]

If any of you have pictures or portraits you want IN ADDITION TO the pictures on the portraits offered at the web site, please let me know.  I can add the pictures to the web site and the character profile I will put there for each of you.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

For those of you new to GURPS, I highly suggest you go to "General Forums" in the "Heaven" category.  There you will find a section on GURPS which helps give a basic runthrough of various GURPS issues (such as how battle is conducted and other important walkthroughs).  It also provides links to various other GURPS information.

GURPS Resources

I don't know who has what in the way of GURPS rulebooks, so I want to give you a list of the books that I draw from:

GURPS Basic Set
GURPS Compendium I
GURPS Martial Arts
GURPS Special Ops
GURPS Black Ops
GURPS Supers
GURPS Modern Firearms
GURPS Conspiracy X

As I mentioned, many of the battle skills/maneuvers/advantages will be pulled from the following:

Basic (of course)
Martial Arts (including Cinematic "Chambara" skills)
Comp I: Including Esoteric Skills
Supers: (to develop certain future skills)

And I am looking at the Chi Magic since it seems to fit with the Matrix idea.

The first 5 pages of the Martial Arts book can be found at this web site:

http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/b.../img/martialarts.pdf

The reason I include is that it includes the entire table of contents, so you can see the styles and various types of things included, and you can ask me about anything in particular you think your character would be interested in.

Some quick searches online will also show you many variations and home brew versions that are helpful if you don't have the official book.

<blue>IMPORTANT NOTICE:  I have spent many hours contemplating the system and skills that will be utilized as Code Breaker Skills, and the following site briefly explains how they work and the various different skills available:
Code Breaker Skills

This method is modeled in large part after the Psi Powers method outlined in the GURPS books.  I spent a long time trying to balance them by CBP cost and powers gained.  If you have any comments or suggestions, please let me know.

These are not completely finalized.  I put them up for your review and comments on the OOC board, but I want them finalized by the time this first mission is completed.

IMPORTANT:  The way Focus will be handled is now going to be completely different.  It will be like any other Code Breaker Skill (as described at the site).  You receive an automatic Focus Speed of 3 upon character creation and may use this skill as many times as you want while jacked in until your Fatigue reaches 0.