Co-hosts Che Webster (Roleplay Rescue (https://roleplayrescue.com/)) and Patrick Mullen (processinggurps.com (https://processinggurps.com/)) talk about GURPS (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/) - the Generic Universal Role-Playing System published by Steve Jackson Games (http://www.sjgames.com/) - and using it to run long-form roleplaying campaigns. We discuss topics arising from using the game system aimed at intermediate users of the rules who wish to progress towards deeper and more immersive role-play in whatever fictional worlds they imagine.
The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/) system from Steve Jackson Games (http://www.sjgames.com/). This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.
GURPS (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/) is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy (http://www.sjgames.com/general/online_policy.html).
GURPStalk logo by MJ Hiblen.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
What Does It Mean to Play In-Character, As-Character?
Che and Pat unpack the distinction between actor stance—where decisions flow from character psychology, not player logic—and other stances like author, pawn, and director.
Using the recent death of Valens in Che's Karameikos campaign as a case study, they explore how a dwarf scholar's curiosity and obsession with ancient dwarven history led him through a warning-marked door and towards his demise. Eighteen sessions without a death—then one that felt earned because it was true to who the character was.
They also dig into player Matt's celebrated portrayal of Valens, Pat's interrogation scene playing as Lukas, and why emergent character action beats prescribed narrative every time.
Thanks for listening and supporting the show.
GOT A QUESTION?
Ask us via voice message:
speakpipe.com/gurpstalk (https://speakpipe.com/gurpstalk)
Ask us via an email:
gurpstalk@pm.me (mailto:gurpstalk@pm.me)
Want a GURPStalk t-shirt or sticker? --> T-Shirts by Roleplay Rescue | TeePublic (https://www.teepublic.com/user/roleplay-rescue)
OR https://www.teepublic.com/user/roleplay-rescue (https://www.teepublic.com/user/roleplay-rescue)
PAT'S BLOG:
Processing GURPS – Enabling Longform, Immersive TTRPG play using GURPS (https://processinggurps.com/)
OR
https://processinggurps.com/ (https://processinggurps.com/)
RPR PATREON: patreon.com/rpgrescue (https://patreon.com/rpgrescue)
THANKS:
Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:
https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ (https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/)
Logo by MJ Hiblen:
https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ (https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/)
DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:
The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/) system from Steve Jackson Games (http://www.sjgames.com/). This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.
GURPS (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/) is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy (http://www.sjgames.com/general/online_policy.html).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
21 Sept 2026
Beyond The Forge
Can theme and character arc belong to simulationists too?
Che and Pat dive into the contested legacy of the Forge movement and argue that emergent story lives just fine without narrativist gatekeeping.
They critique the GNS model's dominance, share war stories about players being told they're "doing it wrong," and explain why "author stance" leaves them both exhausted. Pat draws from his Dire Passages and Star Trek campaigns to show how setting themes and timelines can guide play without prescribing beats. Plus, they lay out the six priors shaping their long-form GURPS sessions and weigh in on why they play games instead of collecting them.
This one's for anyone who's ever been told their table doesn't count.
GOT A QUESTION?
Ask us via voice message:
speakpipe.com/gurpstalk (https://speakpipe.com/gurpstalk)
Ask us via an email:
gurpstalk@pm.me (mailto:gurpstalk@pm.me)
Want a GURPStalk t-shirt or sticker? --> T-Shirts by Roleplay Rescue | TeePublic (https://www.teepublic.com/user/roleplay-rescue)
OR https://www.teepublic.com/user/roleplay-rescue (https://www.teepublic.com/user/roleplay-rescue)
PAT'S BLOG:
Processing GURPS – Enabling Longform, Immersive TTRPG play using GURPS (https://processinggurps.com/)
OR
https://processinggurps.com/ (https://processinggurps.com/)
RPR PATREON: patreon.com/rpgrescue (https://patreon.com/rpgrescue)
THANKS:
Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:
https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ (https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/)
Logo by MJ Hiblen:
https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ (https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/)
DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:
The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/) system from Steve Jackson Games (http://www.sjgames.com/). This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.
GURPS (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/) is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy (http://www.sjgames.com/general/online_policy.html).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
7 Sept 2026
Kriegspiel
What happens when you scale GURPS from tabletop combat to empire-level wargaming?
Pat dives into his new Kriegspiel project — a structured, macro-level wargame tied to his ongoing Star Trek campaign. Players take on roles like Starfleet Task Force commanders, Klingon Regional Governors, and intelligence or diplomatic chiefs, with mechanics rooted in GURPS Realm Management and mass combat systems.
Che and Pat explore the broader value of collaborative worldbuilding through player action, contrasting the Kriegspiel approach with games like Microscope.
Thanks for listening to and supporting the show.
GOT A QUESTION?
Ask us via voice message:
speakpipe.com/gurpstalk (https://speakpipe.com/gurpstalk)
Ask us via an email:
gurpstalk@pm.me (mailto:gurpstalk@pm.me)
Want a GURPStalk t-shirt or sticker? --> https://tee.pub/lic/kpgigrK23l4
PAT'S BLOG:
Processing GURPS – Enabling Longform, Immersive TTRPG play using GURPS (https://processinggurps.com/)
OR
https://processinggurps.com/ (https://processinggurps.com/)
RPR PATREON: patreon.com/rpgrescue (https://patreon.com/rpgrescue)
THANKS:
Jon from Tale of the Manticore for the music:
https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ (https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/)
Logo by MJ Hiblen:
https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ (https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/)
DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:
The material presented here is our original creation, intended for use with the GURPS (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/) system from Steve Jackson Games (http://www.sjgames.com/). This material is not official and is not endorsed by Steve Jackson Games.
GURPS (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/) is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and any GURPS art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy (http://www.sjgames.com/general/online_policy.html).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
4.9 / 5
9 ratings
Contact GURPStalk
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
