''GURPS Russia'' is a role-playing game supplement by
S. John Ross, 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 1998 for the ''
GURPS'' (''Generic Universal Role-Playing System'') rule set.
Description
This book enables
gamemasters to design a ''GURPS'' campaign set in medieval Russia. Chapters include:
* Life in medieval Russia: Life in a Russian village, city life, social organizations, Cossaack society, notable locations, geography, and climate.
* Russians: Creating
player characters, and equipping them.
* Russian history
* Religion
* Fantasy Russia: Various mythical locations, with descriptions of folklore, magic, and notable legendary figures
* Bestiary, including domestic, feral and supernatural creatures
* The Russian Campaign: How to design and implement a campaign setting in medieval Russia
Twelve ideas for adventures are also included, some using strictly historical background, others using mythical fantasy.
Publication history
In the 2014 book ''Designers & Dragons: the '80s'', game historian Shannon Appelcline noted that after Steve Jackson Games published the unusual ''
In Nomine
In Nomine is a title given to a large number of pieces of English polyphonic, predominantly instrumental music, first composed during the 16th century.
History
This "most conspicuous single form in the early development of English consort musi ...
'' in 1997, SJG decided to try broader experiments: "''GURPS Russia'' (1998), which released on February 28, was the most controversial experiment. Because retailers were unwilling to order a game on medieval Russia in more than token numbers, Jackson released ''GURPS Russia'' through a new 'straight line' program that made it available only through SJG's website. There was considerable anger and distress over this, from fans and retailers alike. As Jackson expected, the book did well, and it was later reprinted for release through the standard distribution network."
''GURPS Russia'' is a 128-page book designed by
S. John Ross, with additional material provided by Romas Buivydas,
Graeme Davis Graeme or Graham Davi(e)s may refer to:
*Graeme Davis (game designer) (born 1958), role-playing games author, and novelist
*Graeme Davis (mediaevalist) (born 1965), academic medievalist
*Graeme Davies (1937–2022), New Zealand engineer and academi ...
,
Steffan O'Sullivan
Steffan O'Sullivan is the author of several role-playing game books.
Career
Steffan O'Sullivan was a ''GURPS'' writer whose projects included ''GURPS Swashbucklers'' (1990) and '' GURPS Bunnies & Burrows'' (1992). He designed the ''FUDGE'' role-p ...
, and Brian J. Underhill, with interior art by Heather Bruton,
Eric Hotz
Eric Hotz is a graphic artist and illustrator.
Early life and education
He was born in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada and studied at Simon Fraser University, Langara College, and Capilano College, mainly studying archaeology, art history, fine ...
, and Ramon Perez, and cover art by Gene Seabolt. SJG published it in 1998.
Reception
In the August 1998 edition of ''
Dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
'' (Issue #250),
Ray Winninger
Ray Winninger is a game designer who has worked on a number of roleplaying games, including the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. He is the former Executive Producer for the Wizards of the Coast ''Dungeons & Dragons'' studio.
Care ...
called this "quite a bit better than the average ''GURPS'' historical sourcebook." Winninger found some of the historical material dry, and suggested that replacing some of it with more material on "designing and running Russian campaigns would have made for a much better book." Despite this, he concluded that "''GURPS Russia'' still boasts plenty of useful tidbits between its covers."
Reviews
*''Backstab'' #9
*
References
{{reflist
Russia
Historical role-playing games
Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1998