Okay, so my GURPS fanboy moment might be a repeat today:
One of the things I like about the system is you don't automatically have to have your fellow players' backs.
Why is that good?
1) You don't have to babysit incompetent or otherwise problematic players for fear of roleplaying penalties.
2) You know how annoying it is when a video game gives you a false choice, like joining the final boss instead of fighting them but you just get "the bad ending" or even an immediate Game Over? In GURPS, it can me a legit choice without the GM having to push it on you. Though allowing for such things ought to be confirmed before it is ever an option in-game, the story may continue with the rest of the party also switching sides, retiring (temporary or otherwise) their current characters and making new ones suited to the new direction of the game. Of course, it still needs to suit the character(s) who do swap sides.
3) When another player (or at least, their character) has your back, it feels more... real.
What if everyone wants group loyalty to be enforced?
No worries; GURPS has Disadvantages the GM can mandate you take, like Sense of Duty (Adventuring Companions). In fact, you can take that Disadvantage even when it is not being mandated; if you want your character to value the rest of the party above most (maybe even everything) else, it is an easy -5 Character Points to take.
Being completely fair it is an actual option in D&D nothings stopping it from happening other than convention and inertia. I can't imagine GURPS not having the same problem with it that D&D does, namely DMs that don't want to do all the extra work of split campaigns. "Don't Split the Party" came about for that reason not actual mechanical prevention/disincentives (well I guess ambushes and enemy encounters tuned for a full party would be a disincentive but again DM choice on that one)
It will be completely hilarious when we get to Civil War and Chris and Rob are completely cordial to each other and only fighting because they think it would make an excellent campaign and is in line with their character motivation and perspectives at that point
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