Character: John Carter of Mars

[Susano]

Before anyone asks, I do not intend, at this time, to do any more Barsoom character sheets. At some point I may try for a generic green martian, or character sheets for banths, calots, and whatnot, but right now I don't have the time or energy. If anyone else wants to submit such items, go right ahead!


<iframe src="http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptionsbook/erb/johncarter.html" width="100%" height="800"></iframe>

[Lord Liaden]

Very impressive, Susano. You've obviously done your research, as always.

Are you still open to input? If so, I'm wondering if you really want Carter's "Took Heart At The Sound Of My Voice" ability to embrace both his extra Presence, and the Presence Aid Talent? Does seem like a bit of overkill to me. ;)

[Susano]

Very impressive, Susano. You've obviously done your research, as always.

Are you still open to input? If so, I'm wondering if you really want Carter's "Took Heart At The Sound Of My Voice" ability to embrace both his extra Presence, and the Presence Aid Talent? Does seem like a bit of overkill to me. ;)

I am open to input. I was debating the PRE effects, and ended up leaving it as is.

[Susano]

I have eliminated the Talent and left the PRE bonus. Revised character sheet has been posted.

[Supreme]

That is one faithful adaptation. I've always been a big ERB fan. And yes, Superman did indeed have an influence on Superman. Ever notice that Carter's Martian home is Helium and Superman's home planet is Krypton? There's a reason.

[Susano]

That is one faithful adaptation. I've always been a big ERB fan. And yes, Superman did indeed have an influence on Superman. Ever notice that Carter's Martian home is Helium and Superman's home planet is Krypton? There's a reason.

Thank you, Supreme.

[Susano]

I recently plugged m John Carter of Mars character sheet into Hero Designer and corrected all the of the build and math errors.

Enjoy!

JOHN CARTER OF MARS


Val CHA Cost Roll Notes
15/25 STR 5 12-/14- Lift 200 kg/800 kg; 3d6/5d6 HTH Damage [1/2]
20/25 DEX 30 13-/14- OCV: 7/8/DCV: 7/8
20 CON 20 13-
14 BODY 8 12-
10 INT 0 11- PER Roll 11-
20 EGO 20 13- ECV: 7
20 PRE 10 13- PRE Attack: 4d6
16 COM 3 12-

8 PD 5 Total: 8 PD (0 rPD)
8 ED 4 Total: 8 ED (0 rED)
4/5 SPD 10 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12/3, 5, 8, 10, 12
7 REC 0
40/50 END 0
32 STUN 0 Total Characteristics Cost: 115

Movement: Running: 6"/12"
Leaping: 15"/30"
Swimming: 4"/8"

Cost Powers & Skills
Martial Arts: Brawling
Maneuver OCV DCV Damage
3 Armlock -1 -1 Grab Two Limbs, 25 STR /35 STR for
holding on
4 Choke Hold -2 +0 Grab One Limb; 2d6 NND
4 Duck/Sidestep -- +5 Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort
5 Good, Old American [Punch]
-2 +1 7d6/9d6 Strike

Martial Arts: Swordsmanship
Maneuver OCV DCV Damage
3 Cut +2 +1 Weapon Strike
4 Ceduto +0 +0 30 STR to escape Bind
4 Froissement -1 +1 Disarm; 25 STR/35 STR to Disarm roll
5 Leaping Strike +1 +0 Weapon +v/5; FMove
5 Lunge +1 -2 Weapon +4 DC Strike
4 Parry +2 +2 Block, Abort
4 Prise de Fer +1 +0 Bind, 25 STR/35 STR
4 Riposte +2 +2 Weapon +2 DC Strike, Must Follow Block
0 Slash -2 +1 Weapon +4 DC Strike
5 Thrust +1 +3 Weapon Strike
0 Void -- +5 Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort

7 Earthman's Muscles: +10 STR, Only On Mars (+0); No Figured
Characteristics (-1/2)
10 Earthman's Muscles: +5 DEX, Only On Mars (+0); No Figured Characteristics (-1/2)
15 "Took Heart At The Sound Of My Voice": +30 PRE; Only To Inspire Friends And
Allies (-1)
10 Earthman's Muscles: +1 SPD, Only On Mars (+0)
5 Earthman's Muscles: +10 END, Only On Mars (+0)
82 Martian Telepathy: Telepathy 6d6, Invisible Power Effects (Fully Invisible; +1/2),
Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); Normal Range (-1/4) plus Telepathy 6d6, Invisible
Power Effects (Fully Invisible; +1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); Only to
Achieve +20 "Target Cannot Detect Telepathy" (-1/2), Normal Range (-1/4)
21 Unreadable Mind: Mental Defense (20 points total), Hardened (+1/4)
5 "My Own Blade Caught The Flying Weapon": Missile Deflection (Thrown Objects)
12 Reduced Gravity Leaping: Leaping +10" (3"/15" forward, 1 1/2"/7 1/2" upward), Only
On Mars (+0), Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4), END 1
2 Strong Swimmer: Swimming +2" (4" total), END 1
5 "Not Aged Apparently A Moment": LS (Longevity: Immortal)
15 "Almost Coincidentally...": Luck 3d6

Perks
10 Contact: Kantos Kan, Commander of the Helium Navy (Contact has access to major
institutions, Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Contact has very useful Skills or
resources, Contact is slavishly loyal to character) 12-
11 Contact: Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of the Tharks (Contact has access to major institutions,
Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Contact has very useful Skills or resources,
Very Good relationship with Contact) 14-
8 Contact: Thuvan Dihn, Jeddak of Ptarth (Contact has access to major institutions,
Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Contact has very useful Skills or resources,
Very Good relationship with Contact) 11-
15 Woola the Calot: Follower (75-point base)
15 Fringe Benefit: Jeddak of Jeddaks; Warlord of Mars
5 Fringe Benefit: Thark Chieftain
12 Reputation: Greatest Swordsman on Mars (all of Barsoom) 14-, +4/+4d6

Talents
20 "I Was Ever A Good Hand With Animals": Animal Friendship
6 "His Weapon Grazed My Side": Combat Luck (3 PD/3 ED)
29 Martian Telepathy: Danger Sense (immediate vicinity, out of combat, Function as a
Sense) 13-
10 Swordmaster: Deadly Blow: +1d6 (any circumstances, any HTH weapon)

Skills
25 "Finishing My Man With No Effort: +5 with HTH Combat
4 "Terrific Right [Cross]": +2 OCV with Good, Old American [Punch]
4 "With A Single Cut Struck Down Two": +2 OCV with Sweep
10 "Excellent Reasoning Facilities": +2 with Intellect Skills

3 Acting 13-
3 Climbing 13- (14-)
3 Combat Piloting 13- (14-)
0 Concealment 8-
0 Conversation 8-
0 Deduction 8-
10 Defense Maneuver I-IV
3 "My Disguise Was... Complete": Disguise 11-
3 "Manners Are Perfect": High Society 13-
2 KS: Animals of Barsoom 11-
2 KS: Myths And Legends Of Barsoom 11-
0 Language: English (idiomatic; literate)
1 Language: Marentina (basic conversation; literate, literate only)
4 Language: Martian (completely fluent; literate)
3 Navigation (Air, Land) 11-
3 Oratory 13-
0 Paramedics 8-
2 PS: Prospector 11-
2 PS: Confederate Calvary Officer 11-
2 PS: Jeddak 11-
5 "Horsemanship... Was A Marvel And A Delight": Riding 14- (15-)
0 Shadowing 8-
3 Stealth 13- (14-)
10 "All The Years I Have Roamed The Five Continents And Their Encircling Seas": Survival
(Marine, Temperate/Subtropical, Tropical, Desert, Mountain) 11-
3 Tactics 11-
3 TF: Riding Animals, Small Rowed Boats, Thoat
3 "Thoroughly Familiar With The Mechanism Of Every Known Make Of Flier On
Barsoom": TF: Martian Air Vehicles
3 Tracking 11-
9 WF: Common Melee Weapons, Early Firearms, Martian Common Melee Weapons,
Martian Small Arms, Off Hand
3 Traveler
1 1) "Lived And Fought For Years Among The Sioux": CuK: Sioux Culture And
History 11-
1 2) AK: Barsoom 11-
1 3) AK: Virginia 11-
1 4) CK: Helium 11-
1 5) CuK: Barsoom Customs And Culture 11-
1 6) CuK: Thark Customs 11-
521 Total Powers & Skills Cost
636 Total Character Cost

200+ Disadvantages
10 Distinctive Features: 'White' Skin, Black Hair, Gray Eyes (Concealable; Noticed and
Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)
10 DNPC: Carthoris 11- (Slightly Less Powerful than the PC)
20 DNPC: Dejah Thoris 14- (Normal)
15 Hunted: Assorted Enemies 11- (As Pow, Harshly Punish)
20 Psychological Limitation: Code Of Honor: "I Cannot Stand The Sight Of Cowardly
Injustice And Persecution"/Gentleman's/Martian (Common, Total)
15 Psychological Limitation: "I Love A Good Fight Too Well" (Common, Strong)
20 Psychological Limitation: Loves Dejah Thoris (Common, Total)
5 Psychological Limitation: "Never Have I Been Much Of A Ladies' Man" (Uncommon,
Moderate)
10 Unluck: 2d6
320 Gentleman of Virginia Bonus
636 Total Disadvantage Points

OPTIONS
35 "May Traverse The Trackless Voids At My Will": Extradimensional Movement (any
location in the Solar System)


Background/History:
"I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I have always been a man, a man of about thirty. I appear today as I did forty years and more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go on living forever" -- So does John Carter, Gentleman of Virginia, describe himself. And aside from his scant information, we know next to nothing about his origins, where he comes from, how old he is, or where he was born. He has lived in Virginia for some time, and has been a member of the Carter family for well over 150 years. He fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War, as a captain of a unit of calvary, afterwards heading west with an old friend to look for gold in the Arizona mountains.

Running afoul of Indians, Carter's friend is killed and he is forced to seek refuge in a small cave. While there, John is overcome by strange fumes, and collapses, to awaken naked and defenseless on the moss-covered floor of a dead sea on the planet Barsoom, better known to the people of Earth as Mars!

Captured by the ferocious six-limbed green men of Barsoom, who stand nearly 15 feet tall, John quickly wins their respect by killing a chieftain with a single punch to the jaw. Still later he kills a second green man in a duel over who will claim the beautiful Dejah Thoris, princess of Helium. Eventually winning free of the the green man, John returns to Helium with Dejah Thoris, becoming a prince of that city as well as the husband of Dejah Thoris, the most beautiful woman on all of Barsoom.

John will stay on Barsoom for ten years, before being forcibly returned to Earth. He will remain on Earth for another decade, finally returning to Barsoom by apparently willing himself there. He will only return to Earth once more, to pass on some of his story to a relative, before returning to Barsoom forever.

As you may guess, this is a highly condensed summary of the first three Mars novels. In true Pulp-Era fashion, John Carter's life on Mars is one of constant adventure, with duels, fights, captures, escapes, chases, and full-scale pitched battles. He travels all over Barsoom, meeting with just about every race still left on the planet, befriending some and fighting many more.

Personality/Motivation:
Carter is very much the idea of a proper Southern Gentleman. He does not lie, not even to save himself from certain death, will not see a woman harmed (for the most part), has no liking for cowards, liars, braggarts, or fools, will not abandoned a friend, and has a strong sense of right and wrong. He also adheres to the Martian Code, which means a man does not lie (instead he says nothing), that a man does not kill a woman (women may fight and kill woman, while men fight and kill men), and that one must meet a foe with matched weapons (i.e. if a man springs at you barehanded, can't simply shoot him with the revolver in your hand). Of course, there come times when some of these "rules" are overlooked, and Carter has not so much as lied, as not told the exact truth, and has used firearms to kill men armed with hand-to-hand weapons.

John Carter is also very much a man of action. He cannot stand to sit idle, and has a great deal of wanderlust in him. He enjoys traveling the world of Barsoom, especially as it is a dangerous place, with both men and monsters to fight at any time. Naturally, since John loves a good fight, and is hard pressed to stay out of one he sees occurring (especially of the odds aren't even), he can often be found in the thick of any conflict.

There is one important note about John, however -- he is not the sharpest tool in the shed. This is not to say he is in idiot (he's not), but that he suffers from writer-induced obliviousness at times. He can be amazingly dense, especially if women are involved. He also seems to be unable to recognize painfully obvious disguises, as well as plot points that just about scream "this is important!" Thus, his INT of 10 (some have said he should have an 8), but to reflect his ability to think in a pinch, I have given him two Levels with Intellect skills.

Quote: "I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes heroes, because, in all of the hundreds of instances that my voluntary acts have placed me face to face with death, I cannot recall a single one where any alternative step to that I took occurred to me until many hours later. My mind is evidently so constituted that I am subconsciously forced into the path of duty without recourse to tiresome mental processes. However that may be, I have never regretted that cowardice is not optional with me."

Powers/Tactics:
"Quick have I always been to decide and act" -- This sentence pretty much sums up John Carter in a fight. He tends not to think too much about what he needs to do, he simply does it. Often this means drawing his sword and leaping into the thick of things, a plan, when coupled with his impressive physical skills, is usually enough to see things through. John also feels the best defense is a good offense, and will often go on the attack at times when others might considerer waiting.

Due to his origins as an Earthman, John Carter's physical abilities on Barsoom are nothing short of astounding. He states he can make leaps of 150' in length (and 30' in height), and is stronger, more agile, and has more endurance than any (humanoid) native of Barsoom, up to and including the green men. He has killed a green man with a single punch, stunned a 15' tall white ape with a punch, fought off upwards of four (or more) armed men at once (this number will grow in later books), and will eventually become the greatest swordsman of two worlds (Earth and Barsoom).

Not only is John Carter physically skilled, but he has gained a number of unique talents during his stay on Barsoom. First of this is the ability of Martian Telepathy. John (and everyone else on Barsoom) is telepathic, although with most people this power is limited to communication purposes only. However, John can read thoughts (mostly surface ones), and has used this power occasionally to pick up important clues. This power also has alerted him to danger, although the threat must have a mind behind it. He is also utterly immune to any telepathic probes from his fellow Martians.

His skill with animals extended to the native life of Barsoom, allowing John to tame both savage thoats and make a permanent friend and ally of Woola the calot, who is utterly devoted to John and has literally traveled halfway around the world to carry out his commands. At the same time, he is also able to inspire great devotion in his friends and allies, and his simple arrival on the battlefield is often enough to hearten allied forces to fight that much harder.

This character sheet does not include any of John's weapons. He normally carries a long sword, a short sword, and at least one dagger. He may also carry a radium pistol (or two), a radium rifle, and a hatchet.

Appearance:
"...yet I well remember the tall, dark, smooth-faced, athletic man whom I called Uncle Jack. [...] He was a splendid specimen of manhood, standing a good two inches over six feet, broad of shoulder and narrow of hip, with the carriage of the trained fighting man. His features were regular and clear cut, his hair black and closely cropped, while his eyes were of a steel gray, reflecting a strong and loyal character, filled with fire and initiative. His manners were perfect, and his courtliness was that of a typical southern gentleman of the highest type."

According to Burroughs, everyone on Mars goes about "naked" wearing only a heavily decorated weapons harness of leather and metal fittings. Seeing as Burroughs was writing in the early 20th Century, his definition of "naked" may not have been the same as ours, but you never can tell.

Designer's Notes:
Here he is, John Carter of Mars, one of the first (and greatest) Pulp heroes. This character sheet is taken from the first three novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars novels: A Princess Of Mars, The Gods Of Mars, and The Warlord Of Mars. I've tried to include as much as I could, based on any comments or hints dropped in the course of the stories. Of course, I must admit that Edgar Rice Burroughs was not the world's most consistent writer. There are many points where it seems John forgets powers he's used before, or offhandedly mentions a skill he's never used before, or seems to use again. Still, the books are a rollicking ride though a world that gets more and more fantastic with each page -- Edgar Rice Burroughs may not be the greatest storyteller in the world, but he sure is inventive, with a vivid imagination. Oh, and let's give credit where credit is due, love or hate the John Carter stories, and/or Edgar Rice Burroughs' skill as a writer, it can be argued that Superman's distant roots lie in John's exploits on Mars, meaning John Carter is the distant father of the entire superhero genre.

(Captain John Carter created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)

[TheQuestionMan]

(Captain John Carter created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)
Great stuff, wish I could REP you.



LOL

QM

[Susano]

Great stuff, wish I could REP you.



LOL

QM

Thanks, QM. :)

[OddHat]

Another very good write up, though I'd say Carter's strength and jumping are really tricky to guess. Sometimes he's casually pulling metal bars out of prison windows and killing giants with a single punch; other times he's trapped at the bottom of a pit and can't remember he can jump at all. Was it in Warlord of Mars when he had a rope hanging in front of him and a braille note saying "follow the rope", and sat there for two pages saying "What could that possibly mean?"

If I used him, I might give him a bit more STR, but (to borrow your phrase) "Writer Induced Obliviousness" as a Common, Strong psych lim.

[Vondy]

Very Nice. I've always liked pulp science fantasy.

[AmadanNaBriona]

Arrgh.
Much like my tangential comment about Lankhmar on your Conan thread...

Another thing I'll look for when I dig into my storage unit is the reams and reams of notes and ilustrations I did for my Barsoom JI game back in the late 80's.

Radium gun write ups, Barsoomian fliers, just about every critter & race that appeared in the whole series (barring a couple from other planets late in the series), geography and society notes, weapon and combat notes...

We think WAY to much alike sometimes.

[keithcurtis]

Another very good write up, though I'd say Carter's strength and jumping are really tricky to guess. Sometimes he's casually pulling metal bars out of prison windows and killing giants with a single punch; other times he's trapped at the bottom of a pit and can't remember he can jump at all. Was it in Warlord of Mars when he had a rope hanging in front of him and a braille note saying "follow the rope", and sat there for two pages saying "What could that possibly mean?"

If I used him, I might give him a bit more STR, but (to borrow your phrase) "Writer Induced Obliviousness" as a Common, Strong psych lim.

I suggested something like this the first time the writeup was posted. Carter is an awesome fighter, strong, loyal and brave. But he's about as bright as the inside of a coal mine. He consistently fails to see the most obvious things in front of him. He can't remember the length of a martian year in martian days (He lived there a whole decade). He can't figure out who the jumping kid with lighter skin in his cell could possibly be. He's dense, dense, dense. But Issus, I love the guy. He always comes through in the end, even with a whole planet against him.

Keith "I still live!" Curtis

[McCoy]

May I also suggest that the disads included a code of honor, will only respond to an attack with an equal or lesser weapon, and that the Radium pistol be statted out?

[keithcurtis]

May I also suggest that the disads included a code of honor, will only respond to an attack with an equal or lesser weapon, and that the Radium pistol be statted out?

Perhaps that attitude should be rolled into the existing Martian code of honor, since only the lowest of villains would ever think of doing otherwise.

Keith "Spawn of a Calot!" Curtis

[Susano]

I'm thinking of putting some of these suggestions either into options, or into a "feedback" section of the character sheet.

[Vondy]

I suggested something like this the first time the writeup was posted. Carter is an awesome fighter, strong, loyal and brave. But he's about as bright as the inside of a coal mine. He consistently fails to see the most obvious things in front of him. He can't remember the length of a martian year in martian days (He lived there a whole decade). He can't figure out who the jumping kid with lighter skin in his cell could possibly be. He's dense, dense, dense. But Issus, I love the guy. He always comes through in the end, even with a whole planet against him.

Keith "I still live!" Curtis

"I was convinced if people were paid for writing rot such as I read in some of those magazines that I could write stories just as rotten." --Edgar Rice Burroughs.

He followed through on the rest of it though: "...as a matter of fact, although I had never written a story, I knew absolutely that I could write stories just as entertaining and probably a whole lot more so than any I chanced to read in those magazines."

His works are entertaining - despite idiot protagonists. I get a kick out of them. :D

[FenrisUlf]

Great work here. I love the Barsoom stories as well as most everything else Mister ERB did.

[The Monster]

The only thing I might add is a Damage Shield; I seem to recall times when he wove a "net of steel" around him so that none dared approach. But then the various MA skills could probably cover it, depending upon campaign and taste.

I remember reading the entire series in high school. Great fun!

[Susano]

The only thing I might add is a Damage Shield; I seem to recall times when he wove a "net of steel" around him so that none dared approach. But then the various MA skills could probably cover it, depending upon campaign and taste.

I remember reading the entire series in high school. Great fun!

Something like that might have appeared in later books.

[bigdamnhero]

Now how can I not comment on this? :D (I'm sorry I missed it the first time around.)

Great write-up of one of my favorite characters from my (ongoing) childhood! A few thoughts:

If you’re using 1 END/5 STR (heroic), then the Warlord’s going to run out of END in less than 3 turns. Given how long some of his fights seemed to go on, I would suggest seriously increasing his REC and END. OTOH, if you’re using 1 END/10 STR, it’s probably fine as is.

I might go higher than 16 COM, given the frequency with which beautiful women throw themselves at his feet. ;)

The Brawling maneuvers are well chosen, and well-named!

The Martian Telepathy is a tricky one to stat out, given that it got used so rarely and inconsistently (even by ERB standards). But I can’t think of what the right Limitation would be.

> "Almost Coincidentally...": Luck 3d6

:D At least!

By the later books, it seems like half the rulers on Barsoom owed their thrones to Carter; that might be worth an Optional Contact?

I started to suggest a Fringe Benefit: Confederate Officer. But since the stories all take place after the end of the war, that’s probably not worth much. ;) OTOH, some sort of Money Perk, both on Earth and on Mars, would probably not be out of line.

I might be inclined to give him more than 3 DEF of Combat Luck, with the Lim “Always Lets First BODY Through.”

Since you’ve defined his Danger Sense as part of his telepathy, should it come with a Lim for “Only Against Opponents With A Mind”? Against non-people threats, he always has his Luck.

> "Finishing My Man With No Effort: +5 with HTH Combat
> "Terrific Right [Cross]": +2 OCV with Good, Old American [Punch]
> "With A Single Cut Struck Down Two": +2 OCV with Sweep

I like the last one. But apart from Sweeping, he’s better at fighting bare-handed than he is with a sword? That’s not how I remember it.

> "Excellent Reasoning Facilities": +2 with Intellect Skills

An excellent compromise for a character that’s supposed to be very smart, but consistently does dumb things. I might even have given him a Psych Lim for “Frequently overlooks the obvious.”

> "Lived And Fought For Years Among The Sioux": CuK: Sioux Culture And History 11-

I don’t remember it ever coming up in the books, but should we infer from this that he also has LS: Sioux?

The 14- DNPC Frequency for the “perpetually imperiled” Dejah Thoris gave me a good laugh!

And I think I agree with McCoy that the Martian & Barsoomian Codes of Honor are different enough to warrant separate Disads.

Thanks!

[Susano]

Now how can I not comment on this? :D (I'm sorry I missed it the first time around.)

Great write-up of one of my favorite characters from my (ongoing) childhood! A few thoughts:

If you’re using 1 END/5 STR (heroic), then the Warlord’s going to run out of END in less than 3 turns. Given how long some of his fights seemed to go on, I would suggest seriously increasing his REC and END. OTOH, if you’re using 1 END/10 STR, it’s probably fine as is.

I might go higher than 16 COM, given the frequency with which beautiful women throw themselves at his feet. ;)

The Brawling maneuvers are well chosen, and well-named!

The Martian Telepathy is a tricky one to stat out, given that it got used so rarely and inconsistently (even by ERB standards). But I can’t think of what the right Limitation would be.

> "Almost Coincidentally...": Luck 3d6

:D At least!

By the later books, it seems like half the rulers on Barsoom owed their thrones to Carter; that might be worth an Optional Contact?

I started to suggest a Fringe Benefit: Confederate Officer. But since the stories all take place after the end of the war, that’s probably not worth much. ;) OTOH, some sort of Money Perk, both on Earth and on Mars, would probably not be out of line.

I might be inclined to give him more than 3 DEF of Combat Luck, with the Lim “Always Lets First BODY Through.”

Since you’ve defined his Danger Sense as part of his telepathy, should it come with a Lim for “Only Against Opponents With A Mind”? Against non-people threats, he always has his Luck.

> "Finishing My Man With No Effort: +5 with HTH Combat
> "Terrific Right [Cross]": +2 OCV with Good, Old American [Punch]
> "With A Single Cut Struck Down Two": +2 OCV with Sweep

I like the last one. But apart from Sweeping, he’s better at fighting bare-handed than he is with a sword? That’s not how I remember it.

> "Excellent Reasoning Facilities": +2 with Intellect Skills

An excellent compromise for a character that’s supposed to be very smart, but consistently does dumb things. I might even have given him a Psych Lim for “Frequently overlooks the obvious.”

> "Lived And Fought For Years Among The Sioux": CuK: Sioux Culture And History 11-

I don’t remember it ever coming up in the books, but should we infer from this that he also has LS: Sioux?

The 14- DNPC Frequency for the “perpetually imperiled” Dejah Thoris gave me a good laugh!

And I think I agree with McCoy that the Martian & Barsoomian Codes of Honor are different enough to warrant separate Disads.!


1) It should be 1 END/10 STR. I think I built this using the Heroic Template. I might just give him 1/2 END on STR.

2) This is a judgement call, I guess. He has the writer's behind him, so that helps, but he's never said to be all that handsome (unlike Tarzan).

3) Thanks.

4) I did the best with how it was used in the first three stories.

5) 4d6 of Luck?

6) I'm going from the 1st three books. If I could even find the rest for cheap, I might get them and see about doing a "book-by-book" update.

7) The Officer Perk would only help on Earth, and post Civil War. As for Money... did he have any on Earth? I mean, beyond the "assumed" wealth. As for Mars... he does have the wealth of a noble house to call on, so yes, it seems logical.

8) Good point. I'll make it 6 DEF Combat Luck. What's the commonly accepted value of “Always Lets First BODY Through”?

9) Oh... good point. What sort of Limitation would that be?

10) Good point. Right now, he's even up (the +2 OCV simply evens out the Offensive Strike's -2 OCV. I think it should be +2 HTH, +3 with Sword.

11) I intend to use some comments about "Writer Induced Obliviousness" when I rebuild his Psych Lims.

12) I'll add it. (For what it's worth.) ^_^

13) Well, she is!

14) So they are should be separated from "Gentlemen's"?

[bigdamnhero]

2) This is a judgement call, I guess. He has the writer's behind him, so that helps, but he's never said to be all that handsome (unlike Tarzan).
Good point.

4) I did the best with how it was used in the first three stories.
I don't recall it being used that differently in the later stories. It just doesn't get used that often. I wonder if some variant on NCC might be appropriate?

5) 4d6 of Luck?
Oh, I was being facetious. 3d6 is probably fine; anything above that and you start to get into Foxbat Land. ;)

6) I'm going from the 1st three books. If I could even find the rest for cheap, I might get them and see about doing a "book-by-book" update.
I'm not sure the character changes enough in the later books to break it down that far. Actually, he's not even the main character in several of the later books. But they're still well worth reading IMO.

As for Money... did he have any on Earth? I mean, beyond the "assumed" wealth. As for Mars... he does have the wealth of a noble house to call on, so yes, it seems logical.
IIRC, at the end of Book 1 there is a comment about how the gold mine he found (at the beginning of the book) left him with "more money than I could ever want" or some such.

8) Good point. I'll make it 6 DEF Combat Luck. What's the commonly accepted value of “Always Lets First BODY Through”?
PH gives it a -1/2 I believe.

9) Oh... good point. What sort of Limitation would that be?
I'd say probably not worth more than -1/4. It's not like he ran up against a lot of robots and such.

13) Well, she is!
"The Perpetually Imperilled Dejah Thoris" is the only way my wife ever refers to the character. :D

14) So they are should be separated from "Gentlemen's"?
I would think so:
Southern Code of Honor -- help the weak, show mercy, etc.
Martian Code of Honor -- must respond to an attack with an equal or lesser weapon

[Susano]

Man, John's gonna have a lot of 0-point Psych Lims. :D

[casualplayer]

Good stuff, Susano. I wouldn't say that he changes a whole lot in books past the first three. John pretty much peaks when he's declared Jeddak of Jeddaks.

Don't forget that he knows how to operate the atmosphere plants, which is a pretty rare and handy thing to know. I might be tempted to give him 2-4 DC HA Only vs. things with jaws instead of his martial punch; anyone who can punch out a Thark or white ape has a heck of a shot but it gets around him being able to punch through stone with a 9d6 martial attack. Maybe he does a Leap-Thru kinda punch instead? I mean Tharks are, like, twelve feet tall! Did you figure his planet hopping was GM fiat or should he have some kind of EDM Triggered by imminent death or maybe serial immortality/resurrection?

Is it just me or could John Carter easily be incorporated into Hawkman's serial resurrection timeline? Always reborn as an adult, no childhood to speak of, fondness for archaic weaponry, etc. Heck, Carter Hall and John Carter even look alike! Just sayin'.

[keithcurtis]

Good stuff, Susano. I wouldn't say that he changes a whole lot in books past the first three. John pretty much peaks when he's declared Jeddak of Jeddaks.

Is "Jeddak of Jeddaks" a title John Carter actually holds? I remember "Warlord", but not the others.

And actually, if he changes at all, he just gets better. By the end of the series, he had to be severely pressed to draw steel on anyone, because he felt there was little honor in it. It was tantamount to signing the other man's automatic death warrant, ie not sporting.
The last time he had a real challenge was the Okaran who controlled the big polar magnet switch. Again, as you said, before being elevated to Warlord.

Keith "A wandering panthan I..." Curtis

[input.jack]

The only other thing I might suggest adding is a small bit of Life Support. Burroughs mentions once (I think) in the introductory preface that his friend John Carter told him that he has always been an adult, and always in the prime of his life, though he had fought in several wars. This hints at LS: Aging (and probably Disease as well). Burroughs was pretty good at slipping LS vs Aging onto his characters without people noticing; few people think to add it to their Tarzan write-ups either, but its there.

Just a suggestion.

Otherwise this is dead-on accurate! Great work! :D

[FenrisUlf]

The only other thing I might suggest adding is a small bit of Life Support. Burroughs mentions once (I think) in the introductory preface that his friend John Carter told him that he has always been an adult, and always in the prime of his life, though he had fought in several wars. This hints at LS: Aging (and probably Disease as well). Burroughs was pretty good at slipping LS vs Aging onto his characters without people noticing; few people think to add it to their Tarzan write-ups either, but its there.

Just wondering, but isn't there a Philip Jose Farmer book that covers all sorts of info on Burroughs' various characters, and that also drags in a few dozen more from just about every dime novel/pulp series/superhero comic that was ever published?

I think I've seen it on the Bison Frontiers of Imagination page, but I can't recall the title.

[Susano]

The only other thing I might suggest adding is a small bit of Life Support. Burroughs mentions once (I think) in the introductory preface that his friend John Carter told him that he has always been an adult, and always in the prime of his life, though he had fought in several wars. This hints at LS: Aging (and probably Disease as well). Burroughs was pretty good at slipping LS vs Aging onto his characters without people noticing; few people think to add it to their Tarzan write-ups either, but its there.

Just a suggestion.

Otherwise this is dead-on accurate! Great work! :D

Well, I gave him this:

5 "Not Aged Apparently A Moment": LS (Longevity: Immortal)

[keithcurtis]

Just wondering, but isn't there a Philip Jose Farmer book that covers all sorts of info on Burroughs' various characters, and that also drags in a few dozen more from just about every dime novel/pulp series/superhero comic that was ever published?

I think I've seen it on the Bison Frontiers of Imagination page, but I can't recall the title.
Tarzan Alive.
And the whole Wold-Newton Universe.

Keith "PJ Farmer rocks on research" Curtis

[OddHat]

Just wondering, but isn't there a Philip Jose Farmer book that covers all sorts of info on Burroughs' various characters, and that also drags in a few dozen more from just about every dime novel/pulp series/superhero comic that was ever published?

I think I've seen it on the Bison Frontiers of Imagination page, but I can't recall the title.

Tarzan Alive.
And the whole Wold-Newton Universe.

Keith "PJ Farmer rocks on research" Curtis

Yup, Tarzan Alive and others. The Wold Newton page can be found here (http://www.pjfarmer.com/woldnewton/Pulp2.htm), and my own Modified Wold Newton Superhero Universe can be found here (http://bobtokyo.robertdorf.com/Timeline%20II.htm) and on Susano's site with somewhat nicer formatting HERE (http://surbrook.devermore.net/herosource/wold_newton.html).

[FenrisUlf]

Tarzan Alive.
And the whole Wold-Newton Universe.

Keith "PJ Farmer rocks on research" Curtis

Yup, Tarzan Alive and others. The Wold Newton page can be found here (http://www.pjfarmer.com/woldnewton/Pulp2.htm), and my own Modified Wold Newton Superhero Universe can be found here (http://bobtokyo.robertdorf.com/Timeline%20II.htm) and on Susano's site with somewhat nicer formatting HERE (http://surbrook.devermore.net/herosource/wold_newton.html).


Thanks to you both. I'll have to remember that Wold Newton link.

[gewing]

May I also suggest that the disads included a code of honor, will only respond to an attack with an equal or lesser weapon, and that the Radium pistol be statted out?



This reminds me of a parody I read.

Samurai Cat!

Miowara Tomokato. :D :eg:

[gewing]

The only other thing I might suggest adding is a small bit of Life Support. Burroughs mentions once (I think) in the introductory preface that his friend John Carter told him that he has always been an adult, and always in the prime of his life, though he had fought in several wars. This hints at LS: Aging (and probably Disease as well). Burroughs was pretty good at slipping LS vs Aging onto his characters without people noticing; few people think to add it to their Tarzan write-ups either, but its there.

Just a suggestion.

Otherwise this is dead-on accurate! Great work! :D


I remember Tarzan discussing this as he was preparing to Parachute into enemy held territory in WWII.

After he landed, I think he made a new loincloth out of Parachute silk.:D


My mind is a Sea of USELESS trivia. :(

[OddHat]

Burroughs had a fair amount of supernatural stuff floating around in his world, usually with a thin sci-fi veneer.

[bigdamnhero]

I've been trying to think what an "Earthman On Barsoom" Package Deal might look like:
7 Earthman's Muscles: +10 STR, Only On Mars (+0); No Figured
Characteristics (-1/2)
10 Earthman's Muscles: +5 DEX, Only On Mars (+0); No Figured Characteristics (-1/2)
10 Earthman's Muscles: +1 SPD, Only On Mars (+0)
5 Earthman's Muscles: +10 END, Only On Mars (+0)
10 Distinctive Features: 'White' Skin, etc. (Concealable; Noticed and
Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)

Optional:
10 Social Limitation: Unfamiliar with Barsoom culture, customs (Frequently, Minor)

The physical enhancements are pretty self-explanatory; I decided to leave out the rest of JC's combat skills. But I can't remember if the Telepathy and Mental Def are supposed to be something all Earthmen have, or if it was unique to Carter? IIRC, the only other example we have to draw from is Ulysses Paxton from Mastermind of Mars (?), but it's been awhile since I read that one. Is anyone else's memory clearer?

[Susano]

I've been trying to think what an "Earthman On Barsoom" Package Deal might look like:


The physical enhancements are pretty self-explanatory; I decided to leave out the rest of JC's combat skills. But I can't remember if the Telepathy and Mental Def are supposed to be something all Earthmen have, or if it was unique to Carter? IIRC, the only other example we have to draw from is Ulysses Paxton from Mastermind of Mars (?), but it's been awhile since I read that one. Is anyone else's memory clearer?

Everyone on Mars has telepathy, and John soon gained it as well. The Mental Def seems to be either unique to John, or unique to Earthmen (it's not clear).

[keithcurtis]

IIRC, Ulysses S. Paxton had a similar immunity (and origin).

Keith "Remembers reading that story with dismay..." Curtis

[Enforcer84]

IIRC, Ulysses S. Paxton had a similar immunity (and origin).

Keith "Remembers reading that story with dismay..." Curtis
Which one? The guy who goes into the huge martian's body?

I read (I think) all the martian books.
I like Hal Hadron (from A fighting man of Mars)
I like The Warlord's Son

[keithcurtis]

Which one? The guy who goes into the huge martian's body? No, that was Vor Daj, from Synthetic Men of Mars who is transferred into the body of Tor-Dur-Bar. Ulysses Paxton (Barsoomian name, Vad Varo) did learn the technique of brain transplant from Ras Thavas, though.
I read (I think) all the martian books.
I like Hal Hadron (from A fighting man of Mars)Tan Hadron of Hastor, a province in the nation of Helium.
I like The Warlord's SonCarthoris.

Keith "Erbophile" Curtis

[input.jack]

Well, I gave him this:

5 "Not Aged Apparently A Moment": LS (Longevity: Immortal)


Um...I...missed that.



Carry on! :D

[input.jack]

Just wondering, but isn't there a Philip Jose Farmer book that covers all sorts of info on Burroughs' various characters, and that also drags in a few dozen more from just about every dime novel/pulp series/superhero comic that was ever published?

I think I've seen it on the Bison Frontiers of Imagination page, but I can't recall the title.


From what I recall, the Phillip Jose Farmer book is a "deconstructionist" look at the characters, and was NOT to my liking. I dont care to be shown Tarzan gettin' jiggy with Great Apes as a teenager, or flinging his own poo. Thats what the Farmer book seemed to concentrate on; the worst possible scenarios for characters in those situations, completely stripping them of their dignity or heroism.

[casualplayer]

No, that was Vor Daj, from Synthetic Men of Mars who is transferred into the body of Tor-Dur-Bar. Ulysses Paxton (Barsoomian name, Vad Varo) did learn the technique of brain transplant from Ras Thavas, though.Tan Hadron of Hastor, a province in the nation of Helium. Carthoris.

Keith "Erbophile" Curtis

GEEK! Bravo! :thumbup:

Little story about the coolest 5th grade teacher ever, Miss Young. Not only was every Monday's classes pretty much dedicated to talking about NFL games and the Saturday Night Live previous, not only did the entire class play D&D as a class project, but she brought in her own complete run of Barsoom novels, the ones with Darrell Sweet covers, for the students to read and when it was obvious that there weren't enough to go around she brought in a second complete run to meet demand. Angels sing her praises.

[OddHat]

From what I recall, the Phillip Jose Farmer book is a "deconstructionist" look at the characters, and was NOT to my liking. I dont care to be shown Tarzan gettin' jiggy with Great Apes as a teenager, or flinging his own poo. Thats what the Farmer book seemed to concentrate on; the worst possible scenarios for characters in those situations, completely stripping them of their dignity or heroism.

His earlier Wold Newton stuff (Greatheart Silver, A Feast Unknown, a few others) was dark deconstructionist parody. Later, with the Grandith / Caliban sequels, and the actual Tarzan and Doc Savage books, he puts the characters back together again very well. Times Last Gift is a great little SF nod to what Tarzan might one day have become, and Escape from Loki is an excellent young Doc Savage novel that does full justice to the character. His process was a lot like Alan Moore's; he started out ripping into the stories, and ended up re-writing them as he thought they should have been done.

[Vestnik]

I remember Tarzan discussing this as he was preparing to Parachute into enemy held territory in WWII.

After he landed, I think he made a new loincloth out of Parachute silk.:D


My mind is a Sea of USELESS trivia. :(

Shouldn't Carter have some kind of Teleport Megascale Only Earth to Mars to represent how he can get there by just thinking about it? (IIRC -- I read these books when I was about 12.)

[Susano]

Shouldn't Carter have some kind of Teleport Megascale Only Earth to Mars to represent how he can get there by just thinking about it? (IIRC -- I read these books when I was about 12.)


OPTIONS
35 "May Traverse The Trackless Voids At My Will": Extradimensional Movement (any
location in the Solar System)


The first time might have been some effect of the cave. Later it seems he can go anywhere in the solar system.

[Vestnik]

Huh. Where else did he go?

[Susano]

I am vaguely aware of his going to Jupiter at the very least.

[FenrisUlf]

He returned to Earth a few times, and once he went to Jupiter with the Skeleton Men (though that was on a spaceship, I think).

[bigdamnhero]

I think he also made it to Venus in one of the later books.

[keithcurtis]

I think he also made it to Venus in one of the later books.

Not in an ERB-written novel so far as I know. I've read all the Mars (Barsoom) and Venus (Amtor) books. Though they are doubtless in the same universe. The character of Jason Gridley (and in a broader sense, the ERB as presented in various forewords himself) ties together John Carter, David Innes, Carson Napier, Tarzan and others.

John Carter has been to Earth, Mars, Deimos and Jupiter.

Keith "Read a lot of this stuff, but oddly, very little Tarzan" Curtis

[Susano]

Someday I need to see about collecting the rest of the series.

[keithcurtis]

Chessmen of Mars is probably the best and most popular.

Keith "Made and played a Jetan board" Curtis

[Lord Liaden]

Is "Jeddak of Jeddaks" a title John Carter actually holds? I remember "Warlord", but not the others.

The only time I can remember actually seeing him called that was at the very end of Warlord of Mars, when Tars Tarkas proclaims Carter's new status: "Judges," he said, "there can be but one verdict. No longer may John Carter be Prince of Helium" - he paused - "but instead let him be Jeddak of Jeddaks, Warlord of Barsoom!"


And actually, if he changes at all, he just gets better. By the end of the series, he had to be severely pressed to draw steel on anyone, because he felt there was little honor in it. It was tantamount to signing the other man's automatic death warrant, ie not sporting.
The last time he had a real challenge was the Okaran who controlled the big polar magnet switch. Again, as you said, before being elevated to Warlord.

The duel with that incredible old Okaran swordsman, Solan, was what brought out the best in John Carter's own skill. He'd been very good before then, but Solan was initially much better, even against Carter's Earthly muscles. But as Carter said: "That day in the buried chamber beneath the palace of Salensus Oll I learned what swordsmanship meant, and to what heights of sword mastery I could achieve when pitted against such a wizard of the blade as Solan." Even then Carter only defeated Solan through misdirection; but that was the last time anyone was able to stand toe-to-toe against him with naked steel.

[casualplayer]

Chessmen of Mars is probably the best and most popular.

Keith "Made and played a Jetan board" Curtis

How? I couldn't figure out how to still have access to the various levels while still keeping my plexiglass from sagging.

Tarzan is overrated. Barsoom and Pellucidar all day, baby.

[keithcurtis]

How? I couldn't figure out how to still have access to the various levels while still keeping my plexiglass from sagging.

You are likely confusing Jetan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetan) (Martian Chess) with Tri-D Chess (http://my.ohio.voyager.net/~abartmes/tactical.htm) from Star Trek. Jetan is two dimensional and played on a grid of one hundred squares.

I built a Tri D chess board once, as well. Out of cardboard. It wasn't very pretty, and required paper chits for pieces, but it did function after a fashion, and allowed me to play by the rules I got out of some old fanzine.

Keith "despite this, I'm not particularly good at any version of chess" Curtis

[keithcurtis]

The only time I can remember actually seeing him called that was at the very end of Warlord of Mars, when Tars Tarkas proclaims Carter's new status: "Judges," he said, "there can be but one verdict. No longer may John Carter be Prince of Helium" - he paused - "but instead let him be Jeddak of Jeddaks, Warlord of Barsoom!"




The duel with that incredible old Okaran swordsman, Solan, was what brought out the best in John Carter's own skill. He'd been very good before then, but Solan was initially much better, even against Carter's Earthly muscles. But as Carter said: "That day in the buried chamber beneath the palace of Salensus Oll I learned what swordsmanship meant, and to what heights of sword mastery I could achieve when pitted against such a wizard of the blade as Solan." Even then Carter only defeated Solan through misdirection; but that was the last time anyone was able to stand toe-to-toe against him with naked steel.
Thanks for the quotes. The bit with Salensus Oll was pretty much what I was trying to say, but more ineptly.

Keith "Jeddak, Jed, Jedarra, princess??" Curtis

[bigdamnhero]

I think he also made it to Venus in one of the later books.
Not in an ERB-written novel so far as I know. I've read all the Mars (Barsoom) and Venus (Amtor) books. Though they are doubtless in the same universe.
It's been a looong time since I read some of the Barsoom books; I was probably thinking of his Jupiter trip.

[casualplayer]

You are likely confusing Jetan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetan) (Martian Chess) with Tri-D Chess (http://my.ohio.voyager.net/~abartmes/tactical.htm) from Star Trek. Jetan is two dimensional and played on a grid of one hundred squares.

I built a Tri D chess board once, as well. Out of cardboard. It wasn't very pretty, and required paper chits for pieces, but it did function after a fashion, and allowed me to play by the rules I got out of some old fanzine.

Keith "despite this, I'm not particularly good at any version of chess" Curtis

Actually, I was thinking of that 3-layer board for Dragonchess that appeared in Dragon Magazine. Still wrong though. I really oughta take advantage of The Internets and verify that I know what I'm talking about before I talk, but why should here be any different than my real life?