Designer's Notes: GURPS Cliffhangers, First Edition
The original edition of GURPS Cliffhangers was a 96-page supplement released in late 1989. It was my first book, following hot on the heels of several magazine articles stemming back to 1984.
The book grew from my interest in things pulpish. The original boxed edition of the GURPS basic set had artwork on the back that consisted of interlocking hexagons with small line art drawings in them, showing the range of GURPS flexibility as a roleplaying system. The art included an image of an Indiana Jones-like character with an idol under one arm and a pistol under the other, facing off against a menacing jungle cat. I purchased my first GURPS Basic Set based solely on that image, determined to run a 1930s adventure campaign. Funny how small decisions lead to big things!
After several months of introducing my friends to the new RPG with the funny name, one of them suggested I contact Steve Jackson Games and propose doing a GURPS Pulps supplement. After several weeks and several false starts, I did so. After waiting patiently for months to hear a reply, I got a phone call from Steve Jackson (in the midst of playing GURPS Humanx, actually). A contract was soon signed, and GURPS Pulps became GURPS Cliffhangers (a suggestion from editor Mike Hurst). The book was released in 1989, and was long out of print when a Second Edition was solicited and released in April 2002.
Good copies of the First Edition seem hard to come by, considering that the early Steve Jackson Games spines tended to break with much use. They're often seen on eBay in fair condition for around $50. Second Edition, however, contains everything from First Edition, and then some. The original work is generally only of interest as a collectible.
The final portion of the First Edition included a sample adventure, entitled The Black Diamond. It was originally intended to follow up Cliffhangers with a series of 32-page adventures that serialized the search for the black diamond introduced in the core book. The adventures would range from South America to the Balkans, and would be releases every other month. Unfortunately, due to the Secret Service raid on Steve Jackson Games it was decided to put the project on indefinite hold.
Contrary to some rumors circulating around gaming cons, there was never any hard feelings or "falling out" between SJ Games and I. The decision not to follow up with Black Diamond was a mutual one. Steve Jackson even phoned me to discuss the situation, and we decided to cancel the contract and hold off on publishing the 32-page adventures until SJ Games was on its feet and the market could handle the small adventures.
Will the supplements ever be released? Who knows. The first of the four adventures is already written, the second fully outlined, the third and fourth sketched out. It's possible that one day they may show up in print, online, or just being run at a con. Like any good adventure story, this one too, is to be continued . . .
Entire Contents Copyright 2002 Brian J. Underhill. All Rights Reserved. Last Updated: October 22, 2002