''GURPS Aliens'' is a

sourcebook A sourcebook is a collection of writings on a subject that is intended to be a basic introduction to the topic presented. Academic use In American universities, a sourcebook, either a standard one or a custom collection, may function as a supplem ...

for ''

GURPS The ''Generic Universal RolePlaying System'', or ''GURPS'', is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting. It was created by Steve Jackson Games and first published in 1986 at a time when most such systems w ...

'' published in 1990.

''GURPS Aliens'' is a complete sourcebook on extraterrestrials, intended for use with ''

GURPS Space ''GURPS Space'' is a sourcebook published by Steve Jackson Games (SJG) for use with ''GURPS'' (''Generic Universal Role-Playing System''), published in four editions from 1988 to 2006. Description ''GURPS Space'' is a toolkit that enables game ...

'', ''

GURPS Horror ''GURPS Horror'' is a sourcebook for ''GURPS''. The first edition was published in 1987. Contents ''GURPS Horror'' is a ''GURPS'' supplement featuring rules for including horror in games, including guidelines for character creation and background ...

'', or ''

GURPS Supers ''GURPS Supers'' is a superhero roleplaying game written by Loyd Blankenship and published by Steve Jackson Games. The first edition was published in 1989. Contents ''GURPS Supers'' is a supplement of rules for comic-book superhero characters an ...

''. ''GURPS Aliens'' is a ''

'' supplement describing 28 alien races for use with ''

'', including the An Phar, "pig-like humanoids with a love of philosophy," the Banduch, "super-powerful psychic dinosaurs," and the Verms: "Their ambition is to eat the galaxy." ''Aliens'' came out before the more successful '' Fantasy Folk''. The supplemental rules forming about a third of the book were largely outmoded by the revised edition of ''Supers''.

Publication history

''GURPS Aliens'' was written by Chris W. McCubbin with W.G. Armintrout, William A. Barton, Steve Jackson,

Creede Lambard The historic City of Creede is (despite its official name) a Statutory Town and the county seat of Mineral County, Colorado, United States. It is the most populous community and the only incorporated municipality within the county. The town po ...

, and

Sharleen Lambard Sharleen is an English feminine given name that is a diminutive of Charles. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Sharleen Makusha (born 1997), Zimbabwean netball player * Sharleen Spiteri (born 1967), Scottish singer and songwriter * ...

, with a cover by

Michael Whelan Michael Whelan (born 29 June 1950) is an Americans, American artist of imaginative Realism (arts), realism. For more than 30 years, he worked as an illustrator, specializing in science fiction and fantasy cover art. Since the mid-1990s, he has ...

, and was published by

Steve Jackson Games Steve Jackson Games (SJGames) is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and (until 2019) the gaming magazine ''Pyramid''. History Founded in 1980, six years after the cr ...

in 1990 as a 128-page book. ''GURPS Aliens'' requires the ''

GURPS Basic Set ''GURPS Basic Set'' is a role playing game publication written by Steve Jackson, Sean M. Punch, and David L. Pulver. The first edition ''GURPS Basic Set'' box was published in 1986, a standalone third edition book in 1988, and a hardcover, two- ...

'' to use. ''GURPS Aliens'' was one of several sourcebooks published to add to the background of the ''

'' setting.

Reception

David L. Pulver David L. Pulver (born 2 November 1965 in Kingston, Ontario) is a Canadian freelance writer and game designer, author of more than fifty role-playing game rulebooks and supplements, including the award-winning ''Transhuman Space''. Early life and e ...

reviewed ''GURPS Aliens'' for ''

Challenge Challenge may refer to: * Voter challenging or caging, a method of challenging the registration status of voters * Euphemism for disability * Peremptory challenge, a dismissal of potential jurors from jury duty Places Geography *Challenge, C ...

'' #49. Pulver comments in his conclusion: "''GURPS Aliens imaginative array of extraterrestrial races coupled with its lucid organization makes it a pleasure to read and to use. I have no hesitation in giving it a whole-hearted recommendation, not only as an invaluable sourcebook for ''GURPS'', but as a useful source of ideas for any science-fiction RPG."

References

{{reflist

Aliens Alien primarily refers to: * Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country ** Enemy alien, the above in times of war * Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth ** Specifically, intelligent extrate ...

Science fiction role-playing game supplements Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1990