Pyramid #3/17: Modern Exploration

It's time to draw a dotted red line to adventure! This month, Pyramid – the PDF magazine for roleplayers – sets its sights on "Modern Exploration." This globetrotting guide includes: "The Map's Dark Spaces," an unusual world where the Age of Exploration occurred almost a century early! Cross-time travelers from the GURPS Infinite Worlds setting can explore the enigmas of this unusual alternate timeline, or this world can serve as a stand-alone campaign where international explorers use steam-powered contraptions to track down mysterious artifacts. "The Black Box," a modern-day conspiracy that assembles teams to deal with "impossible" global problems – and then claims the fruits of those missions. Are they working toward a goal more sinister than the problems they solve? "Mummy Amulets," a collection of powerful, Egyptian-inspired artifacts that should spice up any tomb-raider's trip. Written by Graeme Davis (author of GURPS Vikings), these magic items are suitable for all GURPS campaigns featuring the restless dead. "Shovel Bums," a look at a real-world profession that provides the perfect excuse to travel, investigate, and explore. This article includes information on these archaeologists and their methodology, GURPS templates, plus a short framework for using these heroes as the basis for a cinematic campaign. In addition, Pyramid has plenty of treasures that make a magazine fun – a collection of "Curious Coins" that form an interesting puzzle for heroes to discover, Murphy's Rules with Greg Hyland, Steven Marsh's Random Thought Table, and other odds and ends. There's never been a better time for exploring the world than right now! Written by Steven Marsh / Kelly Pedersen / Graeme Davis / Ken Spencer / J. Edward Tremlett