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Post by ritt on Jul 22, 2014 0:08:01 GMT -6
I just scored a good-condition copy of the GB box set (With an extra rulebook and the original dice) at a con auction for TEN. STINKING. BUCKS.
Really looking forward to reading and possibly even running this. What little I've read of it so far has incredibly tight rules with an AWESOME experience point system.
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Post by Finarvyn on Jul 22, 2014 4:47:49 GMT -6
Congrats! It's a great system!
As you've noted, rulebooks from that era were big on brevity and featured really tight rules. Gangbusters is no exception. Indeed, when you realize just how much stuff is crammed into those few pages ... well, it's pretty neat.
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Post by oakesspalding on Jul 22, 2014 21:59:28 GMT -6
Yeah, I remember owning a copy (or maybe my little brother did). But it was just another game back then, along with all the now classic offerings such as Boot Hill and the original Top Secret. Not sure if anyone wants to spend the time on this, but what in particular made it a great system?
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Post by ritt on Jul 23, 2014 10:25:41 GMT -6
I love the laser-like focus of the experience point rewards system. Want to improve as a cop? You gotta make cases and get felony convictions. Knowing who the killer is and just executing him vigilante style gets you approximately jack and sh*t. Want to improve as a criminal? You got to bring home the bacon to your gang... all the fancy personality and big plans mean nothing until you deliver. Gumshoes have to crack cases, and reporters have to get exclusives. A lot of modern games spend pages on "Obsession mechanics" and "Drives" and so-such, GB just nails it with a few simple charts. Violence that does not advance your goals is just stupid empty risk that will get you fitted for a wooden kimono for nothing.
So far I'm seeing a lot in this system that's really ahead of the curve for 1982.
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Post by Finarvyn on Jul 23, 2014 10:46:31 GMT -6
I agree that the XP system is part of the allure of the game, plus the fact that the rules give information on how to handle all sorts of underhanded crime options.
The base combat system is pretty similar to Top Secret, I think. If you like/hate TS combat you will probably feel the same way about GB combat. Most things run by percentiles, etc.
I also like the fact that the rules are written so that you can run a gangster campaign, or an FBI/G-Men campaign, or a detective campaign ... sure, I could take another game and tweak it to do this but I feel that GB is set up already with those options in mind.
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