Earlier tonight A friend hinted something radical : That I run a D&D campaign.

She's been out of town for 3 to 4 years - so she may not realize just how big a GURPS lover I am (Thats 6 foot 1 inch big....)

This all came about because I was at a convention cOmmittee meeting that was also a "White Elephant" gift exchanmge. Traditionally I dress up as the Klingon Santa when we do one of these meetings - this one was a delayed one that was supposed to take place back in December.  For the presents I contributed to the gift exchange I wrapped doubles of games or RPG books from the store...or slightly dinged ones that might not otherwise sell.

What I wrapped : SERENITY the RPG hardback, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 3.5 Players Kit package (with minis pack shrinkwrapped to it) ,  STAR TREK the CCG collectors box with decks and DOMINION theme,  DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 3.5 Players Handbook /with D&D for Dummies shrinkwrapped with it, TWO copies of BERSERKERBIRDZ board game.

So this friend of mine , lets call her Lady C., couldn't make the meeting...so 4 or 5 of us decide to take a present to her at her family's house. the meeting was over at 4:30pm....we had to wait till 6:30pm.
 We get there , she unwraps it and uts the D&D PHB Kit with minis package....she hears that her friend got the SERENITY RPG  and decides she likes that better and talks Lady M inbto trading what they got.

 Lady M says she doesn't know how to play DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, so Lady C says: "But we have a GM right here "  - looking right at me. Later, she again suggests that I run a D&D campaign or game for them.


Should I ?


 I'm thinking about it.


 Should I talk them into GURPS run with D&D trappings? (Possibly having to purchase that recent pdf written by Sean Punch/KROMM)


OR should I attempt to run a regular DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 3.5 campaign using what D&D books I have?

 After all game mastering has the same basic principles no matter the game - right? (Or is that the wrong idea?)

What do you guys think ??


OH...and I really, really like this lady. Not that its a major factor - but yeah it is. She's around the same age I am ....if she had stayed in town we likely would have been dating these past 4 years.


- Ed C.

Quote from: KoltarOR should I attempt to run a regular DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 3.5 campaign using what D&D books I have?

 After all game mastering has the same basic principles no matter the game - right? (Or is that the wrong idea?)

You will find that running 3.5 is like running a lighter version of GURPS. There are differences in the combat to be sure. But there are skills and advantages (feats).

The problem you will run into with 3.X is that to make it run like your GURPS Fantasy campaign you will need to come up with the feats and prestige classes that reflect your world. That why ultimately I went back to GURPS using 4.0. I have 10+ years of notes and template to make the process easy.

Remember when 3.0 first came out and the forgotten realms sourcebook for it was issued feats weren't just about powergaming but adding depth to your character and his background. Keep with that philosophy for that and the prestige classes and you will have fun with it.

Have you considered running BESM d20? It was specifically designed to be a point-based version of D&D 3.5. I remember GURPS 3e using a point-based system, and if GURPS 4e is the same, then maybe BESM d20 is what you're looking for.

And hey, if you want, you could replace the d20 with a 3d6 roll, though handling crits could be kinda tricky. I think they have rules for using a 3d6 in Unearthed Arcana though, so that might be covered.

It's something to think about.

Quote from: KoltarShould I talk them into GURPS run with D&D trappings? (Possibly having to purchase that recent pdf written by Sean Punch/KROMM)
OR should I attempt to run a regular DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 3.5 campaign using what D&D books I have?

Both options seem equally valid to me. Talk to them and let them choose. As you probably will be more comfortable running GURPS, I would go for the first option, though.

Quote from: ImperatorBoth options seem equally valid to me. Talk to them and let them choose. As you probably will be more comfortable running GURPS, I would go for the first option, though.

While the two can have similar character options, there is a difference in combat however. So it more than just a comfort choice. Even with GURPS Basic combat the system is deadlier and less forgiving of "charging in" than D&D. For spell casters the resource management is a lot different and flavor of spells is different as well. You could use GURPS Powers to construct a fire and forget memorization system but by then you are essentially constructing a whole new game. It would be easier to just run D&D.

Then again you don't have to deal with Attacks of Opportunity in GURPS.

Rob Conley

I also think that both options are equally valid but I would lean toward the GURPS with DnD flavor.  Since she is an inexperienced player and you are an inexperienced DnD GM I think your unfamiliarity with the DnD rules would likely slow down play considerably and the frustration and slow pace may turn her off (and with your reputation as the forum's premier Klingon chick magnet you can't have that happening).

Once she gets into the genre then you could switch to DnD.  Just my two cents.  Good luck.

The mechanics don't matter as much as making sure that the new group is happy with the choice and excited about the prospect.  
 
If you go with D&D, there are tons of resources available for free - lists of NPCs, character generators, free adventures from WOTC and elsewhere.  You don't have to make anything from scratch if you don't want to.

Have you run 3e before? If not, why not give it a try?

Seanchai

Don't do it man!  Think long-term.  Do you really want to schedule your face-to-face game sessions around her ability to jump on and play 20-minute 4e encounters on Gleemax when the two of you are married?  No, you need to make sure she starts gaming on a solid and moral foundation like GURPS.

Walkerp raises a good point.  Mixed marriages are tough and a GURPS player may not be able to live in harmony with a 4E spouse. In the alternative, if she makes you give up GURPS for her the next thing you know she'll have you cooking her dinner and running Blue Rose games for her and her buddies.

Will Koltar give up GURPS for GIRLS?*  Only time will tell...


*I was going to use another five letter word but this is a family board damnit!!

Quote from: GrimjackWalkerp raises a good point.  Mixed marriages are tough and a GURPS player may not be able to live in harmony with a 4E spouse. In the alternative, if she makes you give up GURPS for her the next thing you know she'll have you cooking her dinner and running Blue Rose games for her and her buddies.

Will Koltar give up GURPS for GIRLS?*  Only time will tell...


*I was going to use another five letter word but this is a family board damnit!!

That's why they'll compromise by using the 3d6 method from Unearthed Arcana, rather than a d20. Now everybody's a winner!

Hi!
  D&D PH Kit could be a gateway to Gurps... See if they like FRP, and if they do, say well if you wanted to make a char that can swing a sword and cast a spell, try gurps, here';s a free pdf (gurps lite) to get started, yada yada yada...

...um guys - she already has played RPGs , almost 10 to 15 years ago. Imet her in 1991....now she has moved back to town....and yeah, if the circumstances work out - I'd propose marriage to her.


 It would already be a "mixed marriage", she's African-American, I'm obviously not, also I think she tends to vote for a different batch of politicians than I do....party-wise.

She's already familiar with and has played D&D - the late 80s/early '90s version of it .(You guys know better than I would what edition that would have been)

I do think its quite a nice thing that she wants me to run a game for her and those 2 or 3 others.  IF I did - that would be my second RPG group thats mostly women. (3 girls, 2 guys would be the likely mix). She is at least hinting that way - it gives her and I a good reason to see each other more often. (She and I are both "workaholics" of a sort....and need to relax more often or let ourselves)


- Ed C.

Go with D&D.  It would be a new learning experience for both of you.

Want to see what sahe looks like?

 Take a look over at the Orange and Fluffy - she is standing next to me , hugging me in my current avatar over there.

 (Can't do that pic here)


- Ed C.