A Simpler Basic Action Template

I'm really fond of using the Basic Action Template from the Action 4 book of Gurps. But I recently realized that I don't use it as written in the book, because I mostly use it for quick NPCs. So this is the method I use:

• Pick a Set of Attributes
• Add the Basic BAT skill list
• A number of Packages (here's a handy index)
  
• A few rough adjustments of skills and advantages

And that's it! You now have a quick character with a fairly robust array of skills! 

I ignore the Advantages, Disadvantages, and Slush Fund, because these aren't PC's, and they usually aren't terribly important NPC's either. They're quickly generated opposition that has most the robustness of Action 4.

I keep several sets of attributes at several point levels to choose from. I find that the BAT works best with 2 to 4 packages selected and the rest of the points in attributes. I also find that for NPC's, specializing their attributes for their job is appropriate, and having these attribute packages listed lets me create some variance in my supporting cast while giving them all about the same template

The "Basic BAT skill list" means the 10 points in skills that come with the BAT (Action 4 page 7). These useful because it covers a lot of edge case skills that you expect combatants to have. If an NPC shouldn't have one of those skills, it should be obvious, and that can be adjusted. Since I use this for far more than just action games, I also frequently end up doing things like swapping driving for hiking.

The packages are why I use this system in the first place: they cover a lot of ground, I've put a fair amount of effort into adding more packages to cover additional genres, and its becoming a thing for people to make Gurps Packages in 25 point packages. I've also made an index of sorts so that I can look over the options. 

Some adjustments need to be made at the end. The most common ones are adding combat reflexes and tweaking the skills from the Basic BAT skill list. 

Notes About Results

The characters this method creates very much have point values, and they're all about the same point value for a given number of Attribute points and packages, but they should not be viewed as equivalent to Polished Hand-Crafted character sheets made by players. They aren't using their disadvantages, which lowers their effective ability, they often have 10 or so points that would be used by the slush fund using the proper BAT, and Gurps Templates usually produce very rounded characters rather than very optimized ones. That said, the characters will be of a consistent quality, and you should be able to make a bunch of them fast.

Attribute Sets

These sets are for quickly filling out NPC stats or even stats for really quick throw away PC's. They come in three levels: 40, 70, and 100. I'm not sure why I picked those levels, but I've been using them* for a while and they're fairly useful. 

*caveat, I used versions with ST costing 5 and Will and Per being based off of 10. This made my old 120 category costs go wild, and the easiest place to adjust it to was 100 points. 

40 Points of Attributes

	ST	DX	IQ	HT	Will	Per	Speed
Physical	11	11	10	11	10	10	5.5
Quick	10	11	10	11	10	10	6
Bright	10	10	12	10	12	12	5
Handy	10	10	12	11	10	12	5.25
Big	12	11	10	10	10	10	5.25
Tough	10	11	10	11	12	10	5.5
Rounded	10	11	11	10	11	11	5.25

70 Points of Attributes

	ST	DX	IQ	HT	Will	Per	Speed
Tough	11	11	10	12	12	11	6
Resourceful	10	11	12	10	12	11	6
Athletic	11	12	10	11	11	10	6
Brainy	10	10	13	11	13	13	5.25
Rounded	11	11	11	11	11	11	6
Skilled	10	11	12	11	12	12	5.5
Big	12	11	10	11	11	11	6

100 Points of Attributes

	ST	DX	IQ	HT	Will	Per	Speed
Rounded	11	12	12	12	11	11	6
Skilled	10	12	12	11	12	13	6
Tough	12	11	11	13	13	11	6
Resourceful	10	12	12	12	13	11	6
Athletic	11	13	11	12	11	10	6
Brainy	10	11	14	12	14	13	5
Graceful	10	14	11	11	11	10	6
Observant	10	11	13	11	12	14	6

I hope you find this useful. And I hope it will let me describe NPC's to you very quickly in a fair amount of detail!