GURPS is more granular than TimeWatch (GUMSHOE) in the categorization of abilities, so I whipped up this list to help me use TimeWatch adventures in GURPS. For instance, when you see a clue in a TimeWatch (or GUMSHOE) adventure listed for a particular ability, these are the skills or other traits it might translate to in GURPS. If you see a character in a TimeWatch book with the published stat, here is a quick-and-dirty way to convert that to GURPS terms.
This is a follow-up to my similar post about comparing TimeWatch time travel mechanics to GURPS rules. (This crosswalk assumes you are following the GURPS rules on Timesickness in GURPS:IW, where GURPS FP makes sense to represent TimeWatch’s Chronal Stability.)
Unfortunately for me, I noticed there is already a “G2G” (Gumshoe to GURPS) conversion over at Arkham Antiquities (PDF) after I already did this work so I thought I would post mine anyway, in case my attempt helps someone.
Quick Stat Conversion Rules
To quickly transfer ratings from a TimeWatch human or human-like character into GURPS. (Inexact! Use as a rule-of-thumb only!)
Hit Threshold: (TimeWatch Hit Threshold * 1.5) + 2 round up= GURPS Dodge
- Example: Hit Threshold 5 becomes Dodge 10
Health: ((TimeWatch Health -6 ) / 2 rounding up) + 11 = GURPS Health
- Example: Health 11 becomes Health 14
Chronal Stability: TimeWatch Chronal Stability + 6 = GURPS Fatigue Points
- Example: Chronal Stability 6 becomes 12 Fatigue Points
for all OTHER abilities:
Investigative Ability:
(TimeWatch Other Investigative Ability * 2) + 12 = GURPS Skill
- Example: Notice 2 becomes Observation 16
General Ability:
(TimeWatch Other General Ability / 2) + 12 = GURPS Skill
- Example: Unobtrusiveness 6 becomes Invisibility Art 15
Armor: Note: For humans, it’s probably better to swap out the relevant body armor for the equivalent equipment in a GURPS book, but if you really want to do something quick-and-dirty for the “natural” armor of monsters/creatures:
TimeWatch Armor * 3 = GURPS DR
- Example: Armor 3 becomes DR 9
TimeWatch Investigative Abilities
This crosswalk table shows you what GURPS skills you might think of when presented with a TimeWatch ability.
Anthropology ➡️ Anthropology, Archaeology, Sociology
Architecture ➡️ Architecture
Authority ➡️ Leadership, Savoir-Faire (Military, Police)
Bureaucracy ➡️ Administration, Law (various), Finance, Accounting, Diplomacy
Charm ➡️ Sex Appeal, Carousing, Fast-Talk, Empathy
Falsehood Detection ➡️ Detect Lies, Perception, Body Language, Psychology, Empathy
Forgery ➡️ Forgery, Counterfeiting
Hacking ➡️ Computer Operation, Computer Programming, Computer Hacking, Cryptography, Mathematics (Applied), Electronics Operation (various), Electronics Repair (various)
High Society ➡️ Savoir-Faire (High Society), Current Affairs (High Culture, others), Fashion Sense, Connoisseur (Wine, Liquor, Food, Jewelry, etc.)
History (Ancient) ➡️ History (era), Hidden Lore (any)
History (Contemporary) ➡️ History (era)
History (Future) ➡️ History (era)
Intimidation ➡️ Intimidation, Will
Medical Expertise ➡️ First Aid, Physician, Physiology, Diagnosis, Pharmacy (Synthetic), Electronics Operation (Medical), Esoteric Medicine, Veterinary
Military Tactics ➡️ Soldier, Strategy, Tactics, Military Rank, Savoir-Faire (Military), Expert Skill (Military Science)
Notice ➡️ Observation, Perception, Criminology, Forensics, Search, Lip Reading, Body Language
Outdoor Survival ➡️ Survival (various), Fishing, Navigation (Land), Naturalist, Weather Sense/Meteorology, Hiking, Skiing, Swimming, Climbing, Mimicry (Bird Sounds, Animal Calls), Falconry, Animal Handling (various), Animal Empathy, Riding (Horse), Packing, Teamster, Traps
Paradox Prevention ➡️ Expert Skill (Cliodynamics), Chronolocation
Reassurance ➡️ Diplomacy, Fast-Talk, Carousing, Empathy
Research ➡️ Research, Current Affairs (various), Speed-Reading
Science! ➡️ Science!
Spying ➡️ Electronics Operation (Electronic Warfare, Security, Surveillance, Media), Lockpicking, Expert Skill (Computer Security), Photography, Lip Reading, Intelligence Analysis, Shadowing, Stealth, Camouflage
Streetwise ➡️ Streetwise, Panhandling, Urban Survival, Scrounging, Holdout, Status (negative)
Taunt ➡️ Fast-Talk, Public Speaking, Psychology, Propaganda
Timecraft ➡️ Expert Skill (Cliodynamics), Expert Skill (TimeWatch), Electronics Operation (Parachronic), Electronics Repair (Parachronic), Engineer (Parachronic), Body Sense, Chronolocation
Trivia ➡️ Hobby Skill (Historical Trivia [era]), History (any)
General Abilities
This crosswalk table shows you what GURPS skills you might think of when presented with a TimeWatch ability.
Athletics ➡️ Acrobatics, Aquabatics, Bicycling, Body Sense, Breath Control, Climbing, Hiking, Jumping, Lifting, Parachuting, Running, Scuba, Sports (any), Swimming, Throwing
Burglary ➡️ Electronics Operation (Security), Electronics Repair (Security), Lockpicking, Explosives (Demolition), Forced Entry, Filch, Pickpocket, Search
Chronal Stability ➡️ Temporal Inertia
Disguise ➡️ Acting, Disguise, Makeup, Body Language
Health ➡️ Health
Medic ➡️ First Aid, Physician, Physiology, Diagnosis, Pharmacy (Synthetic), Electronics Operation (Medical), Esoteric Medicine, Veterinary
Preparedness ➡️ Gizmo, Gadgeteer
Reality Anchor ➡️ Temporal Inertia
Scuffling ➡️ Axe/Mace, Boxing, Brawling, Broadsword, Cloak, Fast-Draw (any), Flail, Force Sword, Garrote, Immovable Stance, Jitte/Sai, Judo, Karate, Knife, Kusari, Main-Gauche, Polearm, Pressure Points, Pressure Secrets, Push, Rapier, Sabre, Shield, Shortsword, Smallsword, Spear, Staff, Sumo Wrestling, Tonfa, Two-Handed Axe/Mace, Two-Handed Flail, Two-Handed Sword, Whip, Wrestling
Shooting ➡️ Artillery (any), Beam Weapons (any), Blowpipe, Bolas, Bow, Crossbow, Dropping, Fast-Draw (any), Forward Observer, Gunner (any), Guns (any), Lasso, Liquid Projector (any), Net, Sling, Spear-Thrower, Throwing Art, Thrown Weapon (any)
Tinkering ➡️ Armoury (any), Computer Operation, Computer Programming, Computer Hacking, Electrician, Electronics Operation (any), Electronics Repair (any), Engineer (any), Flint Knapping, Machinist, Mechanic (any), Smith (any), Gadgeteer
Unobtrusiveness ➡️ Camouflage, Observation, Perception, Shadowing, Stealth, Urban Survival, Streetwise, Invisibility Art, Light Walk
Vehicles ➡️ Airshipman, Battlesuit, Bicycling, Boating (any), Crewman, Driving (any), Freight Handling, Mechanic (any), Piloting (any), Seamanship, Shiphandling (any), Spacer, Submariner, Teamster (any)
What’s Missing From TimeWatch? GUMSHOE?
Since GURPS is more expansive, what are the areas of GURPS for which there is no parallel in the GUMSHOE system? These are characters or skills that TimeWatch/GUMSHOE will not model well.
This is relevant because if you have GURPS characters built around some of these concepts, they may never have any clues directed at them when you are running a TimeWatch (or possibly GUMSHOE) adventure.
- horror-specific skills like Arcane Lore, Occultism, Weird Science
- skills and abilities related to magic
- skills related to bards and performers: Music, Performance, Fire Eating, Fortune Telling
- skills focused on working with animals
- creative skills like Poetry, Writing, Musical Composition, Bone Carving, Leatherwork, Artist (any), Jeweler
- skills related to commerce like Merchant, Market Analysis
- non-science academic specialties like Economics, Politics
- skills related to plants: Farming, Gardening, Herb Lore
- communication skills like Gesture, Teaching, Typing, Writing
- body self-control skills like Dreaming, Autohypnosis, Meditation, Body Control, Kiai
- hobby/flavor skills like Game (any)
- everyday skills like Housekeeping, Sewing, Cooking
- secondary skills related to specific contexts like Heraldry, Knot-Tying
- an Area Knowledge-like system
- construction-related skills like Masonry (although possibly this is Tinkering)
- offensive mind-control skills like Brainwashing, Hypnotism, Enthrallment
- skills that allow you to exist in a hostile environment by operating special equipment or knowing something like NBC Suit, Battlesuit, Diving Suit, Vacc Suit, Hazardous Materials
Requires Concentrate 