Post by gloriousbattle on Sept 27, 2010 20:24:25 GMT -6
I am presently enjoying Doc's Barsoom D&D rules, but I would like to see more added to it, possibly from outside Burroughs, but stuff that seems generally compatible.
While Barsoom is the only fantasy version of Mars to get treated to a game and a few D&D encounter tables, there are at least a few other major authors who had a go at fantasy fiction versions of the red planet. I think that these author's Martian writings are compatible with Burroughs as they share several of the same tropes:
1. Mars is a dying world, older than Earth.
2. Mars has a mysterious past, that may include lost cities and even star travelling ciivilizations.
3. Martians are somewhat inscrutable to Earthmen.
Here are four from off the top of my head and some of their creatures:
C.S. Lewis: Out of the Silent Planet
Eldils: godlike / angelic beings. Dark ones only exist on Thulcandra/Earth (or do they?).
Hrossa: Warriors, rather otter-like, wielding spears.
Seroni (Sorns): Tall, brilliant scholars.
Pfifltriggi: Workers and engineers.
Clark Ashton Smith: The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis
Aihais: Martian tribesmen.
Yorhis: Priests of Yoh-Vombis, degenerate and evil creatures, related to Aihais, but worshipping dark, underworld gods.
Ignarh: ?
Leeches of Yoh-Vombis: A bit like D&D cloakers, but evidently capable of controlling anyone who gets all wrapped up in them (sorry. ;D)
Necromantic Ones: We don't really know, but evidently some pretty rough customers, probably the gods of Yoh-Vombis "It called me to the depths beyond, where dwell the noisome, necromantic Ones, of whom the leeches, with all their powers of vampirism and diabolism, are but the merest minions . . . ."
H.G. Wells: The War of the Worlds
Tripod Martians: Of course. Big and underdeveloped physically, but enormous brains, and extremely technological.
IIRC, the tripod martians also had a lesser humanoid race that they kept as a food source, and possibly as slaves.
Robert A. Heinlein: Red Planet
Bouncers: Possibly young Martians, these are semi-intelligent, excellent voice-mimics, and can become very loyal pets. Other Martians seem to regard them protectively, and with a sort of awe.
In addition, Heinlein had Martians who roll themselves into a ball to deliver a sort of ultimate insult ("I deny your existence") and who are powerful psionics with the ability to make other beings cease to exist.
There is also a sort of spirit-Martian that may exist on another plane, may be a sort of Martian ghost or may just be a psychic trick of H's other more psychic Martians.
***
Anyway, I'd be interested if anyone has written any of these creatures up for D&D? I may take a hand at this myself. It seems like it would be relatively easy to turn Mars into a decent world for a long-standing D&D campaign with some of these additional creatures, and it might be fun to see if it was possible to fit them into the same world, while still keeping it consistent.
Also, what to do for treasure list for Barsoom or other "Scientific Romance" versions of Mars?
Thanks
While Barsoom is the only fantasy version of Mars to get treated to a game and a few D&D encounter tables, there are at least a few other major authors who had a go at fantasy fiction versions of the red planet. I think that these author's Martian writings are compatible with Burroughs as they share several of the same tropes:
1. Mars is a dying world, older than Earth.
2. Mars has a mysterious past, that may include lost cities and even star travelling ciivilizations.
3. Martians are somewhat inscrutable to Earthmen.
Here are four from off the top of my head and some of their creatures:
C.S. Lewis: Out of the Silent Planet
Eldils: godlike / angelic beings. Dark ones only exist on Thulcandra/Earth (or do they?).
Hrossa: Warriors, rather otter-like, wielding spears.
Seroni (Sorns): Tall, brilliant scholars.
Pfifltriggi: Workers and engineers.
Clark Ashton Smith: The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis
Aihais: Martian tribesmen.
Yorhis: Priests of Yoh-Vombis, degenerate and evil creatures, related to Aihais, but worshipping dark, underworld gods.
Ignarh: ?
Leeches of Yoh-Vombis: A bit like D&D cloakers, but evidently capable of controlling anyone who gets all wrapped up in them (sorry. ;D)
Necromantic Ones: We don't really know, but evidently some pretty rough customers, probably the gods of Yoh-Vombis "It called me to the depths beyond, where dwell the noisome, necromantic Ones, of whom the leeches, with all their powers of vampirism and diabolism, are but the merest minions . . . ."
H.G. Wells: The War of the Worlds
Tripod Martians: Of course. Big and underdeveloped physically, but enormous brains, and extremely technological.
IIRC, the tripod martians also had a lesser humanoid race that they kept as a food source, and possibly as slaves.
Robert A. Heinlein: Red Planet
Bouncers: Possibly young Martians, these are semi-intelligent, excellent voice-mimics, and can become very loyal pets. Other Martians seem to regard them protectively, and with a sort of awe.
In addition, Heinlein had Martians who roll themselves into a ball to deliver a sort of ultimate insult ("I deny your existence") and who are powerful psionics with the ability to make other beings cease to exist.
There is also a sort of spirit-Martian that may exist on another plane, may be a sort of Martian ghost or may just be a psychic trick of H's other more psychic Martians.
***
Anyway, I'd be interested if anyone has written any of these creatures up for D&D? I may take a hand at this myself. It seems like it would be relatively easy to turn Mars into a decent world for a long-standing D&D campaign with some of these additional creatures, and it might be fun to see if it was possible to fit them into the same world, while still keeping it consistent.
Also, what to do for treasure list for Barsoom or other "Scientific Romance" versions of Mars?
Thanks