Strength of an Earthling on Barsoom

[Finarvyn]

I'm re-reading A Princess of Mars and was thinking about some of the feats that John Carter can do. I thought it would be fun to use physics to convert Earthling stats to Barsoom rather than just making a wild guess.

OD&D doesn't really define stats much but AD&D does, so I cheated and used the AD&D Strength chart. Mars has a gravity of roughly 0.375 that of the Earth, so an Earthling should be able to lift roughly 3x the amount on Mars that he can on Earth. That formed the basis of my chart. I looked at the weight that can be lifted for each number in the strength chart, multiplied it by three, and then looked back at the chart to see what revised strength would be appropriate. I estimated decimals at first, then decided to stick with intiger values for stats. I also had to extrapolate above the top of the chart since it only went to 25 (not that I ever expect to use strength values that high).

Here's what I got. The first number would be the "rolled" stat, and the second one the "adjusted to Barsoom" stat. I suppose that the three stats which would be affected would be STR, DEX, and CON, but maybe folks will discuss this.

1 ---> 3
2 ---> 4
3 ---> 6
4 ---> 7
5 ---> 10
6 ---> 14
7 ---> 16
8 ---> 17
9-12 ---> 18
13-14 ---> 18/01-50
15 ---> 18/51-75
16 ---> 18/76-90
17 ---> 18/91-99
18 ---> 18/100
18/01-50 ---> 18/100
18/51-75 ---> 19 ---> Hill giant
18/76-90 ---> 20 ---> Stone giant
18/91-99 ---> 22 ---> Fire giant
18/100 ---> 23 ---> Cloud giant
19 ---> 24 ---> Storm giant
20 ---> 25 ---> Titan
21 ---> 26 ---> off the AD&D scale!
22 ---> 27
23 ---> 29
24 ---> 32
25 ---> 35

I'm not sure if this chart has any value, but I had fun making it. ;D

[thorswulf]

Well, I think if it isa nice way to see how others tackle thorny questions like this. I have toyed around with the idea of a Starguard rpg based on OD&D and MA. The problem is how do you treat aliens with enhanced strength in a normal gravity versus their own native planet with a 2G or more gravity. I'm thinking of Orilla in particular, as they are pretty burly and the chart actually does reflect it pretty well!

[Finarvyn]

Yeah, I think that the secret is to assume that "average" means typical for that species on their home world. Then you adjust according to where they are currently.

Another thing I considered is putting in percentage stats for all numbers (kind of like in HackMaster) so that I could have been more accurate with my numbers. Too much bother, however.

I probably should have looked at my own chart for a way to simplify it. If I was running a game I probably would cheat and ignore my own chart, preferring instead to give a standard bonus. "Um ... okay, assume you have +3 to STR, DEX, and CON."

That kind of thing is a lot quicker than actually looking at my own chart.

[isomage]

For what it's worth, an article in issue #27 of The Dragon (Giants in the Earth, by Lawrence Schick and Tom Moldvay) gives John Carter a Strength of 18/00 on Earth and 20 on Barsoom.

[Finarvyn]

Jul 31, 2011 2:50:05 GMT -6 isomage said:

For what it's worth, an article in issue #27 of The Dragon (Giants in the Earth, by Lawrence Schick and Tom Moldvay) gives John Carter a Strength of 18/00 on Earth and 20 on Barsoom.

Clearly they were wrong.

Honestly, I'd forgotten about that article. Thanks for the catch and I'll have to hunt it down to see if they have any other Barsoomian goodness therein!

[Deleted]

Jul 27, 2011 13:09:13 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

I'm re-reading A Princess of Mars and was thinking about some of the feats that John Carter can do. I thought it would be fun to use physics to convert Earthling stats to Barsoom rather than just making a wild guess.

I'm not sure if this chart has any value, but I had fun making it. ;D

I always thought that realism had a tricky balance in fiction and gaming. On one hand you want something fundamentally realistic so that readers can relate to it, but on the other hand you want something fantastic in order to make it worth their time to read.

What's interesting to me is that Burroughs tried really had to make "realistic" explainations for science stuff that was beyond 1912 technology. Levitation rays which were a secret color, etc.

[DungeonDevil]

When creating a Jasoomian (I think that's the term), while on Barsoom:

[for OD&D]

STR 3d6+2
DEX 3d6+2

all other stats normal.

Because of their tremendous strength on Barsoom, Earthmen can kill with a punch. Target must roll a save (use "Staves & Spells" column, p. 20) or die; successful save deals 2d6 damage (any damage dropping target's hp to below 1 is considered 1). A hit with an edged weapon on a target will either decapitate or bisect target (insta-kill) if roll is 15% more than score required to hit.

When it comes to SAK! ("Jump!"):

JC's leap=30' into the air and 100' away (and later, 150'.)
(standard leap [4'] up * 7.5 )
(standard standing long-jump [10'] * 10)...or * 15
roll D6:
1............*10 (100', 30.48 m)
2............*11 (110', 33.528 m)
3............*12 (120', 36.576 m)
4............*13 (130', 39.624 m)
5...........*14 (140', 42.672 m)
6...........*15 (150', 45.72 m)

Just tinkering with some ideas--take 'em or discard 'em at leisure.