Most of my playing group is not all that familiar with GURPS. because of this, I offer to build characters for the players. A two edged sword for sure. My building the characters for them doesn't really help them get to know GURPS better, but It does save time at the table.
When I build a character for a player, I try to offer them three variations on a theme, based on information they have given me about what they want to play. Sometimes this is just a couple of weapon choices, or a different spell list. It might be different perks and power-ups. Or maybe it is an added lens. This helps give the player a bit of ownership of the character.
Here are the options for a player looking for a barbarian character. I chose to go with added lenses. This was done to help separate the character from the knights in the group.
Name:
Race: Human
Attributes [190]
ST 18 [63] (ST includes +1 from 'Extra ST')
DX 13 [60]
IQ 10
HT 13 [30]
HP 27 [17]
Will 10
Per 12 [10]
FP 13
Basic Lift 72
Damage 1d+2/3d
Basic Speed 7 [10]
Basic Move 8 (Basic Move includes +1 from 'Gigantism')
Ground Move 8
Water Move 1
Social Background
TL: 2 [0]
Languages: Common (Native) [0].
Advantages [105]
Barbarian Damage Resistance (2) (Tough Skin) [6]
Barbarian Damage Resistance (Crushing) (2) (Limited (Crushing only); Tough Skin) [2]
Combat Reflexes [15]
Extra ST (1) (Affects displayed ST score; Size) [9]
Hard to Kill (2) [4]
High Pain Threshold [10]
Lifting ST (1) [3]
Outdoorsman (4) [40]
Trading Character points for Money ($1000) [2]
Very Fit [15]
Perks [2]
Weapon Bond (Two-Handed Sword) [1]
Disadvantages [-40]
Bloodlust (12 or less) [-10]
Gigantism [0]
Low TL (-1) [-5]
Overconfidence (12 or less) [-5]
Phobia (Machines) (12 or less) [-5]
Sense of Duty (Adventuring companions) [-5]
Social Stigma (Minority Group) [-10]
Quirks [-5]
_Unused Quirk 1 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 2 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 3 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 4 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 5 [-1]
Packages [0]
Barbarian (Dungeon Fantasy) [0]
Barbarian Advantages (Dungeon Fantasy) [0]
Skills [48]
Animal Handling (Dogs) 10 [2]
Brawling 13 [1]
Camouflage 14 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Climbing 12 [1]
Disguise/TL3 (Animals) 8 [2]
includes: -2 from 'Gigantism'
Fishing 16 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Forced Entry 13 [1]
Hiking 12 [1]
Intimidation 10 [2]
Lifting 12 [1]
Mimicry (Animal Sounds) 12 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Naturalist (Earth) 12 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Navigation/TL3 (Land) 14 [2]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Observation 11 [1]
Running 12 [1]
Stealth 13 [2]
Survival (Woodlands) 15 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Swimming 13 [1]
Throwing 14 [4]
Tracking 15 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Two-Handed Sword 17 [16]
Weather Sense 10 [2]
Wrestling 13 [2]
Stats [190] Ads [105] Disads [-40] Quirks [-5] Skills [48] = Total [300]
Hand Weapons
1 Greatsword LC:4 $800 Wgt:7
Swing Dam:3d+3 cut Reach:1,2 Parry:13
Thrust Dam:1d+4 cr Reach:2 Parry:13
Armor & Possessions
1 Canteen $10 Wgt:3
1 Double Mail Hauberk $1040 Wgt:88
2 Iron Spike $2 Wgt:1
1 Mail Coif $55 Wgt:4
1 Torch $3 Wgt:1
A nice solid barbarian, nothing fancy, but still effective. I haven't done any background or chosen any quirks, leaving that for the player.
The Second option is actually a swashbuckler, with a barbarian lens.I did this for the weapon master and the speed. While working through the Swashbuckler template, I made sure to keep the barabarian aspect of the character in mind.
Name:
Race: Human
Attributes [160]
ST 13 [30]
DX 15 [100]
IQ 10
HT 13 [30]
HP 13
Will 10
Per 10
FP 13
Basic Lift 34
Damage 1d+1/2d+1
Basic Speed 7.5 (Basic Speed includes +0.5 from 'Extra Basic Speed')
Basic Move 8 (Basic Move includes +1 from 'Extra Basic Move')
Ground Move 8
Water Move 1
Social Background
TL: 3 [0]
Cultural Familiarities:
Languages: Common (Native) [0].
Advantages [143]
Acute Vision (1) [2]
Ambidexterity [5]
Barbarian Damage Resistance (Crushing) (1) (Limited (Crushing only); Tough Skin) [1]
Combat Reflexes [15]
Extra Attack (1) [25]
Extra Basic Move (1) (Affects Move) [5]
Extra Basic Speed (+0.5) (Affects Speed) [10]
Extra Enhanced Parry (Broadsword) (2) [10]
High Pain Threshold [10]
Luck [15]
Outdoorsman (1) [10]
Signature Gear (Matched Broadswords) ($2,500) [5]
Striking ST (2) [10]
Weapon Master (Broadsword) (one specific weapon) [20]
Perks [3]
Dual Ready (Broadsword/Broadsword) [1]
Off-Hand Weapon Training (Broadsword) [1]
Weapon Bond (Broadsword) [1]
Disadvantages [-50]
Code of Honor (Pirate's) [-5]
Greed (12 or less) [-15]
Impulsiveness (12 or less) [-10]
Overconfidence (12 or less) [-5]
Sense of Duty (Adventuring companions) [-5]
Vow (Never refuse a challenge of combat.) [-10]
Quirks [-5]
_Unused Quirk 1 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 2 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 3 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 4 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 5 [-1]
Packages [0]
Barbarian Advantages (Dungeon Fantasy) [0]
Swashbuckler (Dungeon Fantasy) [0]
Swashbuckler Advantages (Dungeon Fantasy) [0]
Swashbuckler-Barbarian (Dungeon Fantasy) [0]
Skills [49]
Acrobatics 15 [4]
Brawling 16 [2]
Broadsword 20 [20]
includes: Extra Enhanced Parry (Broadsword)
Carousing 13 [1]
Climbing 14 [1]
Fast-Draw (Knife) 16 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Combat Reflexes'
Fast-Draw (Sword) 16 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Combat Reflexes'
First Aid/TL3 (Human) 10 [1]
Fishing 11 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Outdoorsman'
Gambling 9 [1]
Gesture 10 [1]
Intimidation 9 [1]
Jumping 15 [1]
Naturalist (Earth) 9 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Outdoorsman'
Scrounging 10 [1]
Search 9 [1]
Stealth 14 [1]
Streetwise 10 [2]
Survival (Woodlands)10 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Outdoorsman'
Swimming 13 [1]
Throwing 15 [2]
Tracking 10 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Outdoorsman'
Wrestling 15 [2]
Stats [160] Ads [143] Disads [-50] Quirks [-5] Skills [49] = Total [300]
Hand Weapons
2 Thrusting Broadsword LC:4 $2400 Wgt:6
Swing Dam:2d+6 cut Reach:1 Parry:16
Thrust Dam:1d+5 imp Reach:1 Parry:16
Armor & Possessions
1 Heavy Leather Leggings $60 Wgt:4 Location:legs
1 Heavy Leather Sleeves $50 Wgt:2 Location:arms
1 Legionary Helmet $150 Wgt:6 Location:skull, face
1 Lorica Segmentata $680 Wgt:26 Location:torso
Again, background and quirks are left for the player. The image of a duel wielding barbarian is pretty iconic. The swashbuckler template added a lot of dimension to the character.
The final option for the player is a barbarian from the far east.
Name:
Race: Human
Attributes [162]
ST 17 [63]
DX 13 [60]
IQ 10
HT 13 [30]
HP 22 [9]
Will 10
Per 12 [10]
FP 13
Basic Lift 58
Damage 1d+2/3d-1
Basic Speed 6 [-10]
Basic Move 7 (Basic Move includes +1 from 'Gigantism')
Ground Move 7
Water Move 1
Social Background
TL: 3 [0]
Cultural Familiarities:
Languages: Common (Native) [0].
Advantages [130]
Chi Mastery Damage Resistance (1) (Chi; Tough Skin) [3]
Chi Talent (1) [15]
High Pain Threshold [10]
Luck [15]
Outdoorsman (4) [40]
Rapid Healing [5]
Recovery [10]
Signature Gear (Poleaxe) ($1,000)
Trading CHaracter points for money ($500) [1]
Trained By A Master [30]
Perks [3]
Sacrificial Parry (Polearm) [1]
Weapon Bond (Polearm) [1]
Disadvantages [-50]
Disciplines of Faith (Chi Rituals) [-10]
Easy to Read [-10]
Gigantism [0]
Phobia (Crowds) (12 or less) [-15]
Sense of Duty (Adventuring companions) [-5]
Social Stigma (Minority Group) [-10]
Quirks [-5]
_Unused Quirk 1 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 2 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 3 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 4 [-1]
_Unused Quirk 5 [-1]
Packages [0]
Barbarian (Dungeon Fantasy) [0]
Barbarian-Martial Artist (Dungeon Fantasy) [0]
Skills [60]
Animal Handling (Dogs)10 [2]
Blind Fighting 10 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Chi Talent'
Body Control 11 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Chi Talent'
Breaking Blow 9 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Chi Talent'
Camouflage 14 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Climbing 12 [1]
Disguise/TL3 (Animals) 8 [2]
includes: -2 from 'Gigantism'
First Aid/TL3 (Human) 10 [1]
Fishing16 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Forced Entry 13 [1]
Hiking 12 [1]
Intimidation 10 [2]
Judo 13 [4]
Karate 13 [4]
Kiai 12 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Chi Talent'
Mimicry (Animal Sounds) 12 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Naturalist (Earth) 12 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Navigation/TL3 (Land) 14 [2]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Observation 11 [1]
Parry Missile Weapons 12 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Chi Talent'
Polearm 17 [16]
Power Blow 9 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Chi Talent'
Pressure Points (Human) 9 [1]
includes: +1 from 'Chi Talent'
Running 12 [1]
Stealth 13 [2]
Survival (Swampland) 15 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Swimming 13 [1]
Throwing 14 [4]
Tracking 15 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Outdoorsman'
Weather Sense 10 [2]
Stats [162] Ads [130] Disads [-50] Quirks [-5] Skills [60] = Total [300]
Hand Weapons
1 Poleaxe LC:4|4|4 $1087.5 Wgt:15
Swing/cut Dam:3d+5 cut Reach:2,3* Parry:12U
Swing/cr Dam:3d+5 cr Reach:2,3* Parry:12F
Hook Dam:1d+2 cut Reach:2,3* Parry:9U
Armor & Possessions
1 Cloth Armor Suit $300 Wgt:24
1 Light Scale Suit $1230 Wgt:108
This guy knows just enough about the power of chi to hurt himself. Given time he will be a force to be reckoned with.
I know which one I would want to play. Which one would you choose?