''GURPS Swashbucklers'' 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 ...
by
Steffan O'Sullivan, 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 1988 to provide a swashbuckling setting 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 ...
'' (''Generic Universal Role-Playing System'').
Contents
''GURPS Swashbucklers'' is a ''
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 ...
'' supplement containing special rules for campaigns involving musketeer and pirate characters, including an overview of the years 1559-1815, and rules for sailing ships.
In his 1991 book ''Heroic Worlds'',
Lawrence Schick
Lawrence Schick is a game designer and writer associated with role-playing games.
Early life and education
Schick attended Kent State University
Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio. The university al ...
noted that the book includes "such helpful sections as 'How to be French.'".
Publication history
''GURPS Swashbucklers'', a 96-page softcover book, was written by
Steffan O'Sullivan, with a cover by
Jean Elizabeth Martin and illustrations by
Donna Barr
Donna Barr (born August 13, 1952) is an American comic book author and cartoonist. She is best known for ''The Desert Peach'' and '' Stinz''.
She was born in Everett, Washington, the second child in a family of six siblings.
Life and educatio ...
, 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 1988.
In his 2011 book ''Designers & Dragons'', games historian Shannon Appelcline noted that ''GURPS Swashbucklers'' was one of the smaller subgenre books published after the first broad genre ''GURPS'' books.
SJG published two more editions of ''GURPS Swashbucklers'':
*a 96-page second edition in 1989, again designed by Steffan O'Sullivan; and
*an expanded 128-page third edition in 1999, designed by Russell Godwin, Brian J. Maloney and Steffan O'Sullivan.
The "Denizens" series for ''GURPS Dungeons Fantasy'' also included a ''Swashbucklers'' book.
Reception
In the December 1989 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 #152,
said: "Extensive background notes define the historical setting, but they fall short of really bringing the fictional worlds of pirates and Musketeers to life. As a basis for establishing swashbuckling campaigns it does a good job, but more detailed development of the individual settings is really needed to bring out the true potential of the genre."
In the April 1989 edition of ''
Games International
''Computer Games Magazine'' was a monthly computer and console gaming print magazine, founded in October 1988 as the United Kingdom publication ''Games International''. During its history, it was known variously as ''Strategy Plus'' (October 19 ...
'' (Issue 4),
James Wallis called the cover art and interior illustrations "amateurish", but lauded the "sheer density of background information." He noted that the "Adventures" section was only two pages long, containing "four lacklustre brief outlines, all requiring much work before being playable in any form." He also felt that both the "Swashbuckling" and "Pirate" chapters contained too much information about famous characters and not enough "actual day-to-day life." Wallis gave the book an average rating of 3.5 out of 5, saying, "In sticking too closely to the factual, Steffan O'Sullivan lets the romantic atmosphere of life in the French court or on the open seas escape
..''GURPS Swashbucklers'' is not swashbuckling enough."
References
{{reflist
Swashbucklers
A swashbuckler is a genre of European adventure literature that focuses on a heroic protagonist stock character who is skilled in swordsmanship, acrobatics, guile and possesses chivalrous ideals. A "swashbuckler" protagonist is heroic, daring, ...
Historical role-playing games
Historical Swashbuckler role-playing games
Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1988