A “character template” is a blueprint for a PC who can fill a specific dramatic role or function competently at a particular occupation in a given game world. By specifying many traits in advance, it reduces the work needed to create the character and guarantees that he has the abilities he needs to play his part.

Character templates aren’t just for new players! Experienced players who are pressed for time may find them a useful starting point. GMs can use them to determine the abilities of NPCs, too, but should bear in mind that character templates are intended for heroic PCs as opposed to “generic NPCs.”

First, buy the template by spending points equal to its cost. Do this instead of buying individual attributes, secondary characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, skills, etc. Next, select any options detailed in the template. Many templates give you a number of choices from subsets of advantages, disadvantages, or skills. Some also let you increase or decrease attributes and secondary characteristics (if so, these options appear with the advantages and disadvantages). After you have finished selecting the template’s options, customize it by spending your remaining character points. The template does not affect how you spend these points! You decide this – subject to GM approval, of course. If the template has fewer disadvantages than the campaign permits (see Disadvantage Limit), you may take more, up to the limit. This gives you extra points to spend. The same goes for quirks, which you should always select yourself. You also need to determine your character’s build, and details such as age and hair and eye color. Assume your tech level is that of the campaign unless otherwise indicated.

Character templates are not rules! When customizing a template, you are free to alter anything that came with it. After all, a hero plays a leading role in his saga, and starring roles are rarely typical ones. You can add, subtract, or substitute abilities – but be aware that subtracting items from an occupational template might result in someone who is regarded as incompetent by his peers.

You may wish to select more than one template, especially if the GM designs many for the campaign (see Chapter 15). For instance, you might want to take separate templates that define your job, membership in one or more organizations, ethnic origin, and place in the story. But since most templates assume you are taking just the one template, “stacking” them can be a problem. The guidelines below attempt to solve this.

When you combine templates, choose the highest level of each attribute and secondary characteristic from among the templates. Combine the advantage, disadvantage, and skill lists of all the templates, and take all required traits. If multiple templates require a leveled trait, such as a skill, meet the most difficult requirement – do not take repeated traits at higher levels (e.g., a Status 2 knight who is also a Status 1 merchant is Status 2, not Status 3). Add the point costs of all these requirements and pay it. If you have points remaining, consider customizing your character by choosing neglected options from the templates.

If you encounter conflicting advantages and disadvantages, they do not simply cancel out! This is a sign that the templates are incompatible, and that you should not take both. For instance, in most settings, it would be illogical to combine a Status -3 beggar template and Status 2 knight template to create a Status 2 beggar-knight.

You might think that two characters built on the same template would be rather alike. In practice, though, players rarely pick the same options on a given template, and almost always make different purchases with their remaining points. These choices, being the players’ own, color how the characters are played, which in turn keeps them distinct, even though they share a template.

No.

Many RPGs employ “character classes,” which superficially resemble character templates in GURPS, but there are several important differences. For one thing, you don’t have to choose a template. And if you do choose one, this does not limit your options: you’re free to customize the template, and you can spend earned points to improve your character in any way you wish. Even in a campaign where many templates are available, you are free to create your character from whole cloth – and many experienced players will wish to do so. This is fine, because templates don’t contain hidden penalties or drawbacks and aren’t specially priced package deals. Characters built on templates are 100% compatible with those created by hand, and the two can mix freely in a campaign.