GURPS House Rules

Combat

Active Defenses

Retreat to Cover: if standing adjacent to cover (1 step), you can make a sideways Retreat to cover as an active defense instead of having to retreat backwards away from foe. The initial attack is not hindered by the cover, buy you still get the normal retreat bonus. Any additional attacks made against you that turn might be affected by the cover.

Duck 'n Cover: if you are standing behind partial cover, you can make a Dodge and Drop active defense to get the normal retreat bonus, but you only have to crouch or kneel behind cover instead of having to drop prone. The initial attack may not be hindered by the cover, buy you still get the normal retreat bonus. Any additional attacks made against you that turn might be affected by the cover.

Darkness & Visibility

Light Level
Based on either the time of day or availability of a light source, to determine the current light level (most beneficial).

Mid-morning thru Afternoon	Magical Light	Morning/Evening	Lantern/Torch	Sunrise/Sunset	Dusk/Twilight	Early/Late Night	Midnight	Total Darkness*
0	0	-1	-3	-4	-6	-8	-9	-10

*Total Darkness: underground, magical darkness or windowless interiors with no lighting.

Weather
Determine the most severe weather penalty and apply to the light level.

Drizzle or Light Rain	Heavy Cloud Cover	Heavy Rain	Fog or Smoke, by density
-1	-2	-3	-1 to -9

Enhanced Vision
Those with Night Vision, Infravision or Dark Vision, will be less penalized for the light level, but will still have their vision obscured by weather condition.

Effects

• Reduces chances of spotting objects or individuals (see below).
• Penalty to all melee and ranged attacks.

Lanterns, Torches & Magical Light

These artificial sources of light provide an enhanced light level within a 4-yard radius area of effect, but the benefit quickly diminished outside that area, with a -1 to visibility for each yard beyond the radius of light.

Spot Checks

This is a visual perception roll made to notice an object or individual, modified by:

• Light Level & Weather
• Size Modifier of target
• Range Modifier
• Cover & Concealment
• Enhanced Vision: Acute Vision, Telescopic Vision, etc.