GURPS Martial Arts - Home

CHARACTER TEMPLATES
Below are templates for character types especially suitable
as PCs in Martial Arts games. To use a template, simply
pay its point cost, choose any options left open on the template,
and note what abilities this gives you. To customize
your PC, spend your remaining points – and any additional
points from quirks or personal disadvantages – on whatever
you like (subject to GM approval). See How to Use Character
Templates (p. B258) for details.
Each template sets aside points for a martial-arts style but
doesn’t list the individual abilities to spend them on. To customize
the character, choose a style from Chapter 5 and
spend these reserved points on its components, as explained
under Components of a Style (pp. 141-143). The template’s
“Customization Notes” section suggests
especially suitable styles, along
with appropriate “style lenses” from
Choosing a Style (pp. 144-146).
Only Contender (p. 32), Instructor
(pp. 34-35), Monk (p. 36), and
Student (pp. 38-39) portray “career”
martial artists. All of the remaining
templates give traits for heroes who
work at occupations where martialart
experience could be useful. These
don’t depict typical members of
those professions, but unusual people
who’ve chosen to invest a lot of
time in martial-arts training, either
for reasons of personal philosophy
or to impress potential employers.
The base templates assume a 100- to 150-point realistic
game. However, each has one or two “lenses” that convert it
into a template suitable for a 200- to 250-point cinematic
campaign. The GM should use the higher end of these point
ranges if he wants the PCs to be naturally gifted and welltrained,
as the templates keep attributes modest (between 10
and 13) and focus on skills. As well, the Instructor template
is intended for a master – someone who is by definition better
than most martial artists – and calls for closer to 200
points in a realistic game or 300 points in a cinematic one.
Remember that templates are neither required nor prescriptive.
You can use them “as is,” alter them, or ignore
them and create a PC from whole cloth. But even if you
choose to ignore them, they’re worth skimming for ideas that
could help you with your character concept.
Assassin
Stiletto
100 points
You’re a silent killer. You might be a ninja, a government
agent, a hired hit man, or a dangerous nutcase with an agenda.
Whatever your motivations, you’ve chosen the martial
arts as your tool. Unarmed combat is valuable for taking out
targets that would never let a weapon get near, while “traditional”
weapons – bows, knives, etc. – are quieter and less
random than firearms or explosives. The trick is to get close
enough . . . and you’re an expert at that.
Attributes: ST 10 [0]; DX 12 [40]; IQ 12 [40]; HT 10 [0].
Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP
10 [0]; Will 12 [0]; Per 12 [0]; FP 10 [0]; Basic Speed 5.50
[0]; Basic Move 5 [0].
Advantages: 20 points chosen from among DX +1 [20], IQ +1
[20], Per +1 to +4 [5/level], Acute Senses (any) 1-5 [2/level],
Alternate Identity (Illegal) [15] or Zeroed [10], Cultural
Familiarity [1/culture], Danger Sense [15], Honest Face
[1], Night Vision 1-9 [1/level], Perfect Balance [15],
Peripheral Vision [15], Style Familiarity (any) [1/style], or
Style Perks [1/perk].
Perks: Style Familiarity (own style) [1].
Disadvantages: -20 points chosen from among Duty (Agency,
clan, or guild; Extremely Hazardous; 12 or
less) [-15] or (15 or less) [-20], Greed [-15*],
Intolerance (Nation or other large group) [-5],
Obsession (Assassinate a particular target)
[-5*], Secret (Professional assassin) [-20],
Sense of Duty (Clan or guild) [-5], or Social
Stigma (Criminal Record) [-5]. • Another -20
points chosen from among Bloodlust [-10*],
Callous [-5] or Low Empathy [-20], Code of
Honor (“Stay bought”) [-5], Light Sleeper [-5],
Loner [-5*], Nightmares [-5*], No Sense of
Humor [-10], Paranoia [-10], or Trademark
[-5, -10, or -15].
Primary Skills: Either Disguise (A) IQ+2
[8]-14 or Stealth (A) DX+2 [8]-14. • Also spend
20 points in the skills and techniques of a
combat style (see Chapter 5).
Secondary Skills: Pick four of Forced Entry (E) DX+1 [2]-13;
Climbing (A) DX [2]-12; Camouflage or Savoir-Faire
(Servant), both (E) IQ+1 [2]-13; Acting, Electronics
Operation (Security), Fast-Talk, Holdout, Lockpicking,
Shadowing, or Traps, all (A) IQ [2]-12; or Poisons (H)
IQ-1 [2]-11.
Background Skills: Choose three of Area Knowledge (any) or
Savoir-Faire (Mafia), both (E) IQ [1]-12; or Armoury
(Melee Weapons or Missile Weapons), Explosives
(Demolition or Fireworks), or Streetwise, all (A) IQ-1
[1]-11.
* Multiplied for self-control number; see p. B120.
Lens
Cinematic (+100 points): Add 80 points chosen from among
Blunt Claws [3], Combat Reflexes [15], Cultural
Adaptability [10], Damage Resistance 1-2 (Partial,
Hands, -40%; Tough Skin, -40%) [1-2], Enhanced Time
Sense [45], Extra Attack 1 or 2 (Multi-Strike, +20%) [30
or 60], Forceful Chi 1-4 [15/level], Gizmos (Only for style,
-20%) [4/level], Heroic Archer [20], Innate Attack
[Varies], Social Chameleon [5], Striker (Crushing) [5],
Trained by a Master [30], or Weapon Master [20-45]. You
must take either Trained by a Master or Weapon Master!
• Add 20 points in your style’s cinematic skills (and prerequisites);
Invisibility Art, Light Walk, and Lizard Climb
are useful for stalking victims.
CHARACTERS 31