GURPS settings

[badcat]

In one of my favorite games elves and dwarves were just humans modified by tyrannical mages to fit certain functions, ie dwarves were miners, elves were woods-runners, etc. The only game effect was modified stats and skill bonuses, about on a par with Stormbringers' nationality modifiers. Elves and dwarves in name only. I don't think the Tolkein clone syndrome is all that common, really. There are only so many different takes on humanoids, after all.

[Simlasa]

I like Tolkien fine... I'm just tired of all the 'twee' copies I've seen... the elves always having the same sorts of culture (Windsack Morningdew invites you to his enchanted treetop abode) and the vaguely Gaelic/Scandanavian motifs...
At one point I tried playing World Of Warcraft with my friends and it was like being trapped at a Renaissance fair(e)... if one more person says, 'Well met' to me I'll scream!

On the other hand, if the races were a LOT more like the original folklore... or something like the setting for the Leviathan/Chronopia games... that would be appealing to me... much less 'twee'... and yet possibly familiar enough to draw people in...

I remember some old ad from a White Dwarf (before it became an catalogue) that mentioned a game where the elves were scary and had no souls... don't remember the name but THAT intrigued me.

[Triff]

Originally Posted by Aycorn

I think the basic mechanics are pretty easy to convert. I have some notes somewhere I can post.

GURPS conversion notes would be welcome! :-)

SGL.

[Enpeze]

Originally Posted by Lord Twig

There seems to be a lot of ire directed toward Tolkien. Why is that?

Its not directed toward Tolkien personally or against his books. (these were not great fantasy but ok) Its rather against the fact that 90% of todays fantasy (book and roleplaying) is infested with Tolkiens creatures. It seems that some writers are thinking that Fantasy without elves and orcs is not Fantasy. Such shallow attitudes restricts creativity and hinders the genre to develope more interesting and diverse settings, if you know what I mean.

Originally Posted by Lord Twig

A unique setting would be good, but if you get too far out there people won't be able to relate. Look at Tailslantia.

Whats wrong with Talislanta? Its a a well done setting, IMO.

Originally Posted by Lord Twig

People understand what an Elf and Dwarf are. It is a fantasy element that can add a level of comfort to those new to the setting. That said there is no reason you can't play with them a little. Change things up.

A thousand years humankind was without Tolkinesque Elves and Dwarfs in their mythological stories and they loved them too and were also comfortable to those. No need to reintroduce Tolkien creatures today in nearly every Fantasy book.

[tal]

Originally Posted by Triff

GURPS conversion notes would be welcome! :-)

SGL.

There is conversion notes in the back of Gurps Cthulhupunk between Gurps 3rd Ed. and CoC.

[Simlasa]

Originally Posted by Enpeze

Its not directed toward Tolkien personally or against his books. (these were not great fantasy but ok) Its rather against the fact that 90% of todays fantasy (book and roleplaying) is infested with Tolkiens creatures. It seems that some writers are thinking that Fantasy without elves and orcs is not Fantasy. Such shallow attitudes restricts creativity and hinders the genre to develope more interesting and diverse settings, if you know what I mean.

Exactly!

It's to the point that when you say 'fantasy' to someone the picture that comes up in their head is elves and dwarves and orcs... and the genre is so much richer and deeper than that.
I know Chaosium needs people to buy into the system but I'd hope they could be a bit more creative than to jump on the same old, overcrowded, bandwagon.