GURPS Troubleshooters (Campaign)
Introduction
Picture a world much like our own but where the supernatural is present and tangible. It's not too difficult because enough writers and filmmakers have done it by now it's common enough to be a trope. Usually an ill-equipped group of would-be heroes stumbles upon some ancient evil and half of them end up in the morgue before the wounded survivors manage to banish or kill the thing. Sometimes it's a better equipped detective and his old Army buddy. In a few rare circumstances it's an actual military unit. The protagonists risk life and limb and sanity to repeatedly face down powerful adversaries and indescribable horrors. On the rare occasions they win, they are not even allowed to bask publicly in the glory: for all this must be kept secret from mankind, lest yadda yadda the end of the world.
But what if the supernatural was so prevalent that it couldn't be kept secret? Such a world would need experts to deal with fanatical cultists and the vile things they would summon, not to mention hauntings, possessions, and the occasional lycanthrope. When there's something strange in your neighborhood, like a demon knocking at your door or a family of ghosts haunting your house, who can you call?
Troubleshooters, Inc. is the first paranormal investigative agency licensed by the state of California. Operating from an old firehouse in the city's downtown, this motley crew of psychics, magicians, and former government operatives perform a unique service for citizens who find their lives intruded upon by ghosts, ghouls, vampires, demons, and various other creatures of the night. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, no job is too big, no fee is too big!
Campaign Background
Campaign name: GURPS Troubleshooters
Starting year: 1951
Genre: Horror
Realistic or cinematic? Grittematic
General theme of campaign: Characters are employees of a paranormal investigation service licensed by the State of California.
Are there multiple planes of existence? Yes.
Campaign Background
Campaign’s base city, nation, empire, or planet: Los Angeles, California.
Society/government type: Representative Democracy
Control Rating: CR4
- Exceptions to general CR:
Tech level: TL7
- Exceptions to general TL: As a result of their patron, Troubleshooters sometimes have access to advanced (if experimental) technology.
Information for PCs
Starting point value allowed for PCs: 150
Disadvantage limit: -50 (See additional -25 points of required disadvantages listed below, for a total of -75)
Quirk Limit: -3
PC races allowed: Human
Especially appropriate professions: Art Appraiser. Barber. College professor. Dancer. Experimental chemist. Fashion designer. Gadgeteer. Historian. Investor. Jeweler. Kickboxer. Ludographer. Mercenary. Newspaper reporter. Occupational therapist. Private investigator. Quiz show champion. Researcher. Stunt performer. Thief. Undertaker. Veterinarian. Writer. Xylographer. Yoga instructor. Zoologist.
Starting Wealth: $10,000 (Only 20% of which is available for adventuring gear. See B26.)
Starting Wealth levels allowed: Average [0]
Starting Status levels allowed: Status 0 [0]
Languages available: English and Spanish are commonly spoken throughout Los Angeles, but there is a substantial Chinese population downtown. The majority of people speak at least broken English, whether they will admit to it or not.
Cultural Familiarities available: American and Latino cultures dominate, but 1930s Los Angeles is a melting pot of ethnicities, so any historically extant culture appropriate to the character is allowed. Note that this can be important to influence and reaction rolls, so is not a detail to overlook.
Advantages, Disadvantages, and Skills
Required advantages, disadvantages, and skills:
Troubleshooter Package:
- Patron (Secret) [20]
- Equipment: No more than starting wealth (+50%)
- Frequency: 12 or less, (x2)
- Minimal Intervention, -50%
- Secret), -50%
- Duty (Troubleshooter) (15 or less; Extremely hazardous) [-20]
- Sense of Duty (Troubleshooters) [-5]
- 4 points in Occultism and 1 point in Hidden Lore of your choice.
Especially appropriate Advantages: Business Acumen, Charisma, Common Sense, Occultist, Smooth Operator.
Especially appropriate Disadvantages: Discipline of Faith, Sense of Duty.
Especially appropriate Skills: Accounting, Administration, Area Knowledge, Current Events, Driving, Exorcism, Hidden Lore (any), Occultism, Research, Savoir-Faire (Business), Search, Swimming, Writing.
Disallowed advantages, disadvantages, and skills: Allies. Alternate Form. Duplication. Permeation. Shapeshifting. Super Luck. Unkillable. Limitations on Magery are disallowed.
Appropriate Patrons, Allies or Contacts:
Special Abilities Allowed for PCs
Exotic/supernatural traits:
Cinematic skills:
Are PC mages allowed? Yes. See Magic in GURPS Troubleshooters.
Are any of the spells from Chapter 5 off limits? Yes. See Magic in GURPS Troubleshooters.
Are PC psis allowed? Yes.
Are any of the powers from Chapter 6 off limits? Yes. See Psionics in GURPS Troubleshooters.
Are PC gadgeteers allowed? Yes.
Are there special limits on gadgeteering? No.
Unusual Background cost(s) for these abilities: Gadgeteers must be trained differently than other engineers (or maybe they're just weirder), and therefore both versions require Unusual Background (Gadgeteer) [-5]. Magic-users and psychics also have their own unusual background requirements. See Magic in GURPS Troubleshooters and Psionics in GURPS Troubleshooters for details.
Legal or social restrictions on these abilities: Troubleshooters, Inc. is corporation licensed in the State of California, therefore the sale of occult services is not restricted by law. Troubleshooters do not have legal immunity and therefore must abide by all local, state, and federal laws. The open display of magical or psychic powers, as well as the public appearance of supernatural creatures, is likely to strike terror into the hearts of the mundane. As a result, those with special powers may find themselves variously suffering from Social Stigma, Reputation (good or bad), and other disadvantages. These effects are usually only temporary and disappear by the time the affected persons have moved on to some other distraction. However, supernatural events have been known to cause trauma in individuals and communities, and violent assault by frightened peasants is not unknown. Troubleshooters should exercise caution at all times.
Rulebooks and Resources for Character Creation
GURPS 4th edition Basic Set
GURPS 4th edition High Tech
GURPS 4th edition Magic. Ritual Magic rules and spell lists.
GURPS 4th edition Psionic Powers