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Off to see the John Carter movie.

Meanwhile I'll leave the question: how would you go about running a game in Burroughs' Mars? What system? What would be the campaign premise?

I'm aware of Adamant's Mars line (both d20 and Savage Worlds), but right now I'd use either a TSR-era D&D hack (possibly Newt Newport's reputedly excellent Crypts & Things), or D6 (What can I say? Having played the hell out of WEG Star Wars back in the day, it just feels right).

And the premise would be the standard fantasy sandbox stuff, i.e. precious metal-loving exploration of ruins, and wilderness, and stuff, only wearing distinctly Barsoomian colors. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

My wife and I already have our tickets for the 7:20 show :)

I like the Mars of Space:1889

RPGPundit

There used to be a website, now defunct, with a section called The Frilond Campaign that had Barsoomian 3.x conversions from old White Dwarf magazine articles. Pretty good stuff as I recall, I wish I had saved some of it.

Someone made a supplement for OD&D based on TSR's 1974 Warriors of Mars miniature wargame; you can download a PDF from http://www.grey-elf.com/ (search the page for Dungeons & Dragons Warriors of Mars).

ERB's Mars is one of my all-time favorite settings and I really enjoyed the movie (even though it isn't exactly the same as the books).

My OD&D boards (see link in signature) has a section on Barsoom, specifically devoted to TSR's old Warriors of Mars miniatures rules but generally having some chatter of anything Barsoom. There are some threads about combining OD&D and Mars, if you are interested.

Quote from: isomage;520927Someone made a supplement for OD&D based on TSR's 1974 Warriors of Mars miniature wargame; you can download a PDF from http://www.grey-elf.com/ (search the page for Dungeons & Dragons Warriors of Mars).

That's actually pretty good.

I'm considering whether to tack on the AD&D 2e Psionics system, which is my favorite (and do away with magic entirely), or just reskin Magic-Users as Mentalists, and spells as psionics.

Using armor as DR and level-variable "Defense" in lieu of AC is another thing to consider.

So, without any spoilers of course, did you like it?  Was it worthy of the ticket prices these days to see on the big screen? :)

EDIT:  Nevermind, I'll check the movie thread. :)

Is anything worth the price of a north american ticket these days?

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;521241Is anything worth the price of a north american ticket these days?

RPGPundit

300 on the big screen was worth it, IMHO.

I'm gambling that Avengers is going to be worth it as well, and honestly I was glad I saw JC of M on the big screen, Clash of the Titans on the big screen, Real Steel, Star Trek, and many others. Not only that, but we often go to the 3D and IMAX 3D shows, like we did for JC of M, which was awesome. Avatar was incredible in 3D as well. My wife and I are fortunate enough to make a decent amount of money so we don't mind springing for movie tickets.

I don't think any big screen or 3d is worth dishing out the $30 or so that the average movie excursion costs in north america, certainly not for one viewing.  And then these fuckers have the gall to blame "piracy" for their poor box-office results. If going to the movies still cost you $3 instead of $30, you'd have a lot more sales.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;521371I don't think any big screen or 3d is worth dishing out the $30 or so that the average movie excursion costs in north america, certainly not for one viewing.  And then these fuckers have the gall to blame "piracy" for their poor box-office results. If going to the movies still cost you $3 instead of $30, you'd have a lot more sales.

RPGPundit

Meh, I am willing to shell out the $30 for the experience. What I think is criminal is the over $100 a ticket they charge for concerts and pro sports events, that's insane.

Quote from: RPGPundit;521371I don't think any big screen or 3d is worth dishing out the $30 or so that the average movie excursion costs in north america, certainly not for one viewing.  And then these fuckers have the gall to blame "piracy" for their poor box-office results. If going to the movies still cost you $3 instead of $30, you'd have a lot more sales.

RPGPundit

A lot of times the movie hits the multiplex for the full $10+ ticket price and then goes to the dollar theater for a more reasonable $1 to $3 ticket price. Most of that $30 excursion price you are talking about is concessions with $5 popcorn and $5 drinks (non-alcoholic, mind you).

I saw John Carter in 2D instead of 3D because I hate the funky glasses, and I thought it was a great movie. Not 100% canon with the source material, but a worthy adaptation in my opinion.

Another good option for a RPG system for Barsoom would be Amber Diceless, since Barsoom is such a cinematic setting. They use guns and swords (warfare), many characters have psychic tendencies (psyche) and both athletic maneuvers and hand-to-hand combat (strength) seem pretty common so the three main ADRP confllict resolution attributes seem to fit quite well.

Disregarding the film adaptation (just the phrase "Disney's John Carter" gives me fits), I'm actually working up a quick city or two (from Jim Ward's Strategic Review #3 article) for my 1e Greyhawk campaign.  I've got the Castle Zagyg box, with its not-so-subtly hinted-at portal to Barsoom, and damned if I'm passing up THAT kinda opportunity to screw with my players.  ;)

If I am going to go to a movie theater and spend a lot of money, them I will go to the nearby Cinema Grill and actually order a proper dinner to go with my film.

Quote from: Bradford C. Walker;521460If I am going to go to a movie theater and spend a lot of money, them I will go to the nearby Cinema Grill and actually order a proper dinner to go with my film.

The Cobb Theater right down the street from me is the same kind of place. they have a great coconut shrimp.

I'd still rather play Space:1889

RPGPundit

Went to see it yesterday. Having not read the books, but being a general sci fi/fantasy fan from the age of 5 or so (seeing Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger swung it, I think) I went in with an open mind, despite a number of negative reviews. It was 30 mins too long, the names were mostly incomprehensible and forgettable for some characters, and Disneys marketing has been utterly disastrous. It would've been better as an animated feature, and probably cost less to make (than the $250 million Disney coughed up). Twenty people (at a guess, might have been less) in a theatre 5 days after release sort of tells it's own story.

As for playing in the game setting, that might be fun, though I'd expand it to the solar system and have a whole bunch of other races. The Buck Rogers XXVC game might be a good fit (2nd AD&D rules with skills tacked on, easy fit to add psionics) as would the D6 game (Star Wars without the force). There were enough interesting bits that it seems a waste to ignore the setting. I'm guessing the demands of the ERB estate prevent anyone from making a licensed game. I'm sure Disney are regretting it now (having seen the numbers on Box office Mojo, it can only be called disastrous).

Oh, and in the UK it costs $33.15 (converted from pounds) for two adult seats in a near empty theatre with no popcorn, drinks or sweets. the only extra was a pound or so for more legroom. Might as well not have bothered.

I'd use original D&D (plus a few house rules) for a Barsoom campaign.

Quote from: finarvyn;521454I saw John Carter in 2D instead of 3D because I hate the funky glasses, and I thought it was a great movie.

I went out of my way to see it in 2D, too (weekday morning showing).  The movie was better than I was expecting, which was a nice surprise.  I wouldn't say it was great, but I didn't feel like I'd wasted my money (which is the way I felt after seeing the most recent Conan movie, and also after Immortals).  It reminded me of the way I felt about the Dune movie:  entertaining, with some good parts, but marred by disjointed storytelling and editing (and perhaps casting) choices.  And with a few "why the hell did they do that" things about it (although such elements in John Carter were fewer or less egregious than those in Dune).

On its fidelity to the source material, I'd say I was pleased that they kept a lot of the important elements of the storyline (even if they put a slightly different twist on them), but I was a bit disappointed that they felt the need to change the characters more than I thought was necessary.  John Carter the "reluctant hero" who doesn't want to fight?  And Dejah Thoris caught a mild case of the "butt-kicking hottie syndrome" that plagues modern hollywood action flicks, but not as bad as some cases of that particular disease.

But, so as not to end on a sour note, I'll repeat what I said initially: despite some nitpicks, I thought it was an entertaining movie, I enjoyed it, and it was better than I expected.

Oh, I got a laugh out of the HBO Rome casting crossover.  I noticed the lawyer was Posca, and mentioned it to my wife.  Then Caesar showed up.  Then Mark Antony!  We were laughing.  I half expected Atia to make an appearance as a Helium noblewoman.  :lol:

Quote from: Bradford C. Walker;521460If I am going to go to a movie theater and spend a lot of money, them I will go to the nearby Cinema Grill and actually order a proper dinner to go with my film.

I agree (we have a couple of Movie Taverns near us).  Seeing a movie with a pitcher of beer and a burger (or a blackened salmon, or whatever strikes your fancy) is the way to go.

$250m just to make the movie, and that's not counting marketing?

That's immoral, extravagant, and wasteful. Plenty of people could have done it (just as well) for less. I wonder if this was a covert investment into new movie making tech that will reduce the cost of similar movies in the future.

The movie itself was just ok, The Martian Cities were not like I imagined they would be, and the ridiculous Hollywood insistence of making all the aircraft perform like starships in the Star Wars movie was distracting. Likewise with the retarded coliseum fight with the Banth... just too Star Warsy for my taste and a clear sign the filmmakers lacked the capability even to envision Mars as Edgar Rice Burroughs originally envisioned.

I'm firmly convinced that the lack of new science and technology these days is directly related somehow to the lack of vision and imagination by the very people responsible for creating the new sciences and technologies. Hollywood is definitely not helping with this.

Quote from: Philotomy Jurament;521825Oh, I got a laugh out of the HBO Rome casting crossover.  I noticed the lawyer was Posca, and mentioned it to my wife.  Then Caesar showed up.  Then Mark Antony!  We were laughing.  I half expected Atia to make an appearance as a Helium noblewoman.  :lol:

Actually she voiced Sarkoja the Thark Elder woman.

Quote from: Philotomy Jurament;521825Oh, I got a laugh out of the HBO Rome casting crossover.  I noticed the lawyer was Posca, and mentioned it to my wife.  Then Caesar showed up.  Then Mark Antony!  We were laughing.  I half expected Atia to make an appearance as a Helium noblewoman.  :lol:

Now that makes me consider watching that film.

Quote from: Philotomy Jurament;521825Oh, I got a laugh out of the HBO Rome casting crossover.  I noticed the lawyer was Posca, and mentioned it to my wife.  Then Caesar showed up.  Then Mark Antony!  

I loved that! In my own private version, it really is Caesar and Marc Antony,  transported to Mars moments before their deaths.

Quote from: GameDaddy;521850I'm firmly convinced that the lack of new science and technology these days ...

LOL whut?

Quote from: RPGPundit;521675I'd still rather play Space:1889

RPGPundit

Hell, I'd rather be with like-minded people playing a tabletop RPG as well, but sometimes life gets in the way and that just isn't a viable option.

Quote from: APN;521813As for playing in the game setting, that might be fun, though I'd expand it to the solar system and have a whole bunch of other races.

ERB is way ahead of you.  ;)  He covered Jupiter and Venus, at least.  Haven't read the Venus stuff, but there's a JCoM story where he gets kidnapped and spirited away to Jupiter (and of course has lots of adventurous adventures) - quite memorable, one of my faves.

Even just on Barsoom, there's a double-handful of human subraces, some of which are "human, different skin color"...  and some which are decidely NOT.

Quote from: DestroyYouAlot;521966ERB is way ahead of you.  ;)  He covered Jupiter and Venus, at least.  Haven't read the Venus stuff, but there's a JCoM story where he gets kidnapped and spirited away to Jupiter (and of course has lots of adventurous adventures) - quite memorable, one of my faves.

The Venus books are really quite good, if you like the Mars series. The Jupiter story you mentioned is also a lot of fun.

I believe that ERB also had two books based on the Moon (Moon Maid and Moon Men) and some of his Pelucidar / Hollow World stories overlapped with Tarzan. It wouldn't surprise me if he had intended to put 'em all into a single universe somehow.

Actually, the new anthology UNDER THE MOONS OF MARS (confusing since that's the name of the SFBC book for Mars 1-3 and also the original title of the Princess of Mars when it was in magazine format) has a story where Tarzan does go to Mars.

Quote from: jeff37923;520911There used to be a website, now defunct, with a section called The Frilond Campaign that had Barsoomian 3.x conversions from old White Dwarf magazine articles. Pretty good stuff as I recall, I wish I had saved some of it.

Try the Way Back Machine.  I found Frilond there.  Can't find the Barsoom stuff, but I haven't searched thoroughly.  I did see some White Dwarf conversion work.

http://archive.org/web/web.php

Edit:  the Barsoom critters are there.  

Home > Rules & Procedures > DM Tricks >

Thanks,
Rich

Thanks for the link! Also welcome to the RPGsite.:)

Quote from: rbgard;540800Try the Way Back Machine.  I found Frilond there.  Can't find the Barsoom stuff, but I haven't searched thoroughly.  I did see some White Dwarf conversion work.

http://archive.org/web/web.php

Edit:  the Barsoom critters are there.  

Home > Rules & Procedures > DM Tricks >

Thanks,
Rich

Thank you!

Attached as PDFs are two John Carter critters.

Quote from: finarvyn;524292I believe that ERB also had two books based on the Moon (Moon Maid and Moon Men) and some of his Pelucidar / Hollow World stories overlapped with Tarzan. It wouldn't surprise me if he had intended to put 'em all into a single universe somehow.

In the Moon Maid (iirc, the first of the two stories), the set up is they contact Mars and John Carter, but the expedition to Mars crashes on the Moon instead. So those stories are from the future of the Mars books.

I'd probably run this using Unisystem myself (I ran something in the vein of a planetary romance using it once), though I'd also be tempted to use Two Fisted Tales

Quote from: jeff37923;540813Thank you!

Attached as PDFs are two John Carter critters.

You are most welcome.

Quote from: Marleycat;540805Thanks for the link! Also welcome to the RPGsite.:)

You are welcome and thanks for the greeting.  I found this forum when I googled Barsoom RPG, John Carter RPG, etc.

I mostly hang out at ENWorld for rpg stuff, but I'll get involved here too.  

Thanks again,
Rich

Quote from: rbgard;540967You are welcome and thanks for the greeting.  I found this forum when I googled Barsoom RPG, John Carter RPG, etc.

I mostly hang out at ENWorld for rpg stuff, but I'll get involved here too.  

Thanks again,
Rich

Cool, I lurk over at ENWorld mostly it's so large I get lost in there sometimes.

Quote from: Marleycat;540972Cool, I lurk over at ENWorld mostly it's so large I get lost in there sometimes.

:) I pretty much confine my interaction there to the 'Legacy' Discussion which includes OD&D thru 3.5e.  I never made the leap to 4e.

Back to Barsoom and what I've found...

Others mentioned Adamant's Mars.  There is a free preview at RPG now for the D20 version:

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/29160/MARS-Free-Preview?it=1

I own the full version.  It's very well done, but not specifically the Barsoom we know from the books.  It works based on D20 Modern with the base classes being tied to the 6 attributes (Strong Hero, Fast Hero, etc.)  I've played some D20 Modern, D20 Future and Sidewinder Recoiled.  It works for some, but I prefer base classes like regular D&D: Fighter, Thief (showing my age)...er...Rogue, etc.  

Adamant also made 2 supplements for their D20 version: Minions of Mars and Slavers of Mars.  They also sell a Savage Worlds version of the game and have about 8 supplements to support that.  From what I can tell they are only producing new Mars stuff for Savage Worlds.  All of this is available at rpgnow.

Here is another at rpg now that does critters and the like from Barsoom and calls it ERB's Mars, again D20:

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/51403/Edgar-Rice-Burroughs%E2%80%99-Mars%3A-Shadows-of-a-Dying-World-%28An-OGL-Guide-to-Monsters%2C-Races%2C-and-Beasts%29

I have the above, but haven't read too much of it yet.

Dungeon (Issue 102 - Sep 2003) / Polyhedron (Issue 161) had the Iron Lords of Jupiter as a planetary romance set of D20 rules.  Haven't played it but it looks good.

I plan to run a D20 version of a Barsoom campaign for my kids.  Haven't completely decided, but I think I'll use D&D classes using the Unearthed Arcana variant for armor class and damage reduction to make it a bit more gritty.  

Thanks,
Rich

Hi Gang, I posted links to some of the resources I've found, but I'm awaiting mod approval.

oooohhhh! Thanks for the reminder. Have to order some U.S. Cavalry for my summer Barsoom games!

On Thursday night at 7 at GenCon only two spots left for: RPG1232652
    
Title:   Jeddak of the Outer Worlds
Description:   A Barsoomian adventure. Searching for John Carter, a small contingent of union cavalry must make a trek to a distant forgotten city to locate an ancient relic to ensure their safe return to Arizona.

... and done!

*2x *IMX-503  In Stock *Union Cavalry $9.99          $19.98
*1x PGH-7050 In Stock  Gold Rush Miners  $8.99       $8.99
*1x PGH-7051 In Stock  *California Mission Indians & Padres  $7.99     $7.99

34 U.S. Cavalry, 22 Mounted, 12 on foot
26 Gold Rush Miners, 4 Mules
18 California Natives on foot, 1 Oxcart with a pair of Oxen, and 9 Franciscan Monks/Priests

Price including shipping, $46. It'll take a whole weekend to paint them all though. Good for my old west games too! Woot!

Quote from: rbgard;541269Hi Gang, I posted links to some of the resources I've found, but I'm awaiting mod approval.

Mod approval??

Quote from: RPGPundit;541916Mod approval??

Yes, when I posted the next window said it needed approval (administrator or moderator, I don't remember which).  Can you do an approval?  

Thanks,
Rich

Quote from: rbgard;542731Yes, when I posted the next window said it needed approval (administrator or moderator, I don't remember which).  Can you do an approval?  

Thanks,
Rich

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.  Start a thread on the Help forum, and hopefully Brett (our tech mod) will be able to understand the problem.

RPGPundit

Adament Entertainment did a Mars sourcebook for Savage Worlds. It's 'Barsoom but not' in the same way that D&D is 'Lord of the Rings but not'.

Quote from: RPGPundit;542952I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.  Start a thread on the Help forum, and hopefully Brett (our tech mod) will be able to understand the problem.

RPGPundit

Well, I'll give it another try so I know I didn't do something wrong.

Barsoom resources I've found some of which have been posted already.

1.  Sean K. Reynolds' D20 stats:
 
http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/barsoom/index.html

2.  Dragonsfoot forum thread:

http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14703

3.  Maps of Barsoom:

http://www.erbzine.com/mag28/2807.html

4.  Giants in the Playground forum thread:

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=13031606

5.  OD&D site Barsoom thread:

http://odd74.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=mars&action=display&thread=270

6.  RPG.net forum archive:

http://forum.rpg.net/archive/index.php/t-290575.html

7.  Somebody's blog review of Adamant's Mars:

http://rollforinitiative.blogspot.com/2010/12/barsoom-d20-modern-cool.html

8.  Some wargame variant rules for Barsoom stuff:

http://www.erblist.com/erbmania/tangor/fr3marsvenus.html

9.  Somebody's forum about Barsoom:

http://www.thepiazza.org.uk/bb/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=7414

10. True20 forum thread for Barsoom rpg:

http://true20.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=320

11. Warriors of the Red Planet, looks like an OD&D version:

http://warriorsoftheredplanet.blogspot.com/

12. Yahoo group for Barsoom gaming:

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/BarsoomGaming/

13.  Cool Barsoom miniatures (look for wasteland mutants):

http://www.bronzeagemin.com/index.html

14.  Frilond site using the way back machine.  Has WD updated to D20:

http://web.archive.org/web/20080914130900/http://home.gwi.net/~rdorman/frilond/rul/dm/index.html

15.  RPG.net (maybe same posts as no. 6 above) Barsoom thread:

http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?389162-Why-has-nobody-made-a-quot-Barsoom-quot-RPG

16.  Adamant's MARS products on rpgnow.com.  They have the basic rulebook for D20 modern and two other supplements.  I have all three and like them.  The rest of the MARS stuff is for the Savage Worlds rules.  Looks like they are producing new MARS stuff for Savage Worlds.  I haven't used Savage Worlds, but I have heard good stuff about it.

http://www.rpgnow.com/index.php?cPath=272_4256

17.  Skirmisher Publishing's Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Mars: Shadows of a Dying World (An OGL Guide to Monsters, Races, and Beasts):

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/100712/Edgar-Rice-Burroughs%E2%80%99-Mars%3A-Shadows-of-a-Dying-World-%28An-OGL-Guide-to-Monsters%2C-Races%2C-and-Beasts%29

I own this one as well.  A boatload of critters for Barsoom in OGL/D20.

18. Iron Lords of Jupiter from Dungeon (Issue 102 - Sep 2003) / Polyhedron (Issue 161).  Worth owning even if you don't want to game in Barsoom.

19.  Boardgamegeek's page for SPI's John Carter of Mars:

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3369/john-carter-warlord-of-mars

20. enworld.org where I started a similar thread:

http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-legacy-discussion/324064-barsoom-gaming-links.html#post5927360

21. I'll be buying this:

http://www.amazon.com/John-Carter-Two-Disc-Blu-ray-Combo/dp/B007MDB71O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338347223&sr=8-1

rbgard, thank you for all the cool links! :D

Quote from: Drohem;543757rbgard, thank you for all the cool links! :D

You are most welcome!

There's a FATE 3.0 hack called Spirit of the Red Planet (http://spiritoftheblank.blogspot.com/2012/04/sword-and-planet-spirit-of-red-planet.html) that should get released soon.

This post from my blog might be of some interest.

Carcosa is ancient Barsoom (http://apolitical.info/teleleli/?p=2406)

Quote from: rbgard;54367221. I'll be buying this:

http://www.amazon.com/John-Carter-Two-Disc-Blu-ray-Combo/dp/B007MDB71O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338347223&sr=8-1

That was pretty good! I liked Princess of Mars (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1531911/) as well, available to view on Netflix now.

Quote from: GameDaddy;543876That was pretty good! I liked Princess of Mars (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1531911/) as well, available to view on Netflix now.

Agreed.  I saw it on netflix a couple of months ago.

Oh, god, no!  That one from 2008 sucked green donkeys.