OURS

OURS is an acronym for Open Universal Role-Playing System, or Offenes Universal-Rollenspiel in German. OURS is a universal role-playing game system currently under development by Jörg Rhiemeier as an open alternative to GURPS.

Why OURS?

GURPS is a modular game characterized by a very open, flexible architecture. In theory, the game could be used to play any setting; but in practice, it is tied down by the Steve Jackson Games's restrictive licensing policy which effectively means that GURPS players are restricted to the settings published by SJG, or at least it is very difficult to legally publish one's own settings.

OURS, in contrast, uses an open licensing model. Anyone is allowed to build and publish a role-playing game based on the OURS ruleset and using whichever game world he or she desires.

System

The game system is still under development, so many things may change in the future, and everything in this section is preliminary.

Character creation

Characters are built by spending points on attributes, advantages, disadvantages and skills.

Attributes are Strength, Constitution, Dexterity and Intelligence. Attribute values can be positive or negative; an attribute value of 0 is the average level.

Skills are classed by base attribute(s). There are two kinds of skills: Default skills can be used if the skill value is 0 (i.e. the characters hasn't learned it) at the skill value of 0. Threshold skills can only be used if the character has learned them at a value greater than 0.

Examples: Sword is a default skill as anyone can figure out how the thing works. Computer Programming is a threshold skill as this is not self-evident.

Task resolution

OURS uses a simple 3d6 task resolution system. The basic formula is:

Success = 3d6 + Attribute(s) + Skill - 10

A success value of 1 or more means that the task succeeded.

Combat is handled by the same rule. The success score is multiplied with the weapon's damage factor to determine the points of damage.

Settings

OURS is a universal RPG and thus not tied to a particular setting. The game can be used for any setting, which the author may publish without paying royalties for using the game system. Currently, Inis Albion, a historical fantasy near-EDO setting based on The Elvenpath and located in Arthurian Britain, is under development as the first "native" setting for the game.