HERO System and GURPS

[Falcon]

Okay, I have recently purchased the HERO System core rules for the sole purpose of learning the mechanism to be used in FOA (and possibly paid more for that than FOA will cost at launch). Anyway, on first glance the system bears a more than passing resemblance to SJG's GURPS. I just wondered if there is some sort of connection between the two systems that anyone's aware of.

[Brian Lewis]

Okay, I have recently purchased the HERO System core rules for the sole purpose of learning the mechanism to be used in FOA (and possibly paid more for that than FOA will cost at launch). Anyway, on first glance the system bears a more than passing resemblance to SJG's GURPS. I just wondered if there is some sort of connection between the two systems that anyone's aware of.

Historically Hero System came out before GURPS. There has been some cross pollination along the way. The Hero System was originally for Superhero games only (Champions) then developed into a more universal system. GURPS was designed as a universal system.

[Hamilton]

Mr. Lewis is correct.

I only played the HERO System, but only with the 1st and 3rd Editions.  I have been catching up on the 5th Edition and playing it with a group of friends. 

As for GURPS, they are similar in that they both use Character Points to create characters and that Stats or Attributes determine base target numbers (to some extent).  They both play well, though I don't exactly like newer edition of GURPS for the Modern or Sci-Fi settings.  Just my taste, I prefer "cinematic realism" over realism.  Meaning that a character can take several hits from bullets or swords before going down, vice one hit from a bullet or sword.  The latest edition of GURPS is on the realistic side, with modern rifles performing about 8d6 worth of damage, enough to kill an average character (with no armor; 12 body points) outright; whereas with the older system, a rifle would be about 2d6 to 3d6 worth of damage.

Some history of GURPS.  GURPS first started out as Man-to-Man (though I have been informed it had started before that as another name, which I cannot remember); a melee combat system.  A short time later, GURPS first edition was released, more suited for fantasy at the time.  But then afterwards, additional books were released such as Horror and Auto-Dual.  And what would you know, a Phased Approached.


Really, I think it is a matter of preference as they are both good systems.  It is like choosing between a Ford and a Chevy.