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Saturday, November 2, 2019

IHMN: John Carter of Virginia

"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; that some day I shall die the real death from which there is no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear death, I who have died twice and am still alive; but yet I have the same horror of it as you who have never died, and it is because of this terror of death, I believe, that I am so convinced of my mortality."

John Carter of Virginia, ex-Confederate Captain of Cavalry, gold prospector, Prince of Helium, Jeddak of Jeddaks and Warlord of Mars. Arguably, John Carter is the greatest swordsman of his time, regardless of the extra strength and dexterity his Earth muscles give him on Barsoom (Mars). Let's face it, John Carter is a freaking force of nature and beware the bad guy that gets between him and his princess.


On Mars, Carter encounters both formidable alien creatures resembling the beasts of ancient myth, and various humanoids. He finds his true calling in life as a warlord who strives to save the planet's inhabitants. He wins the hand of the Martian princess, Dejah Thoris of Helium.

 John Carter and his fighting buddy, Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark.

His nephew Edgar Rice Burroughs describes Carter as standing 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and has close-cropped black hair (though it often grows long on his quests and adventures) and steel-grey eyes. Burroughs describes him as immortal. In Carter's journal it is revealed that Carter can remember no childhood, having always been a man of about thirty years old. Many generations have known him as "Uncle Jack," but he always lived to see them grow old and die, while he remained young.

New Talent: Jumping (same as Levitate but not a Mystical Power)

Name: John Carter of Virginia, Prince of Helium, Jeddak of Jeddaks and Warlord of Mars
Move: 9"/6"
Pluck: 2+
Leadership: +3
Speed: 2
Fighting Value: +5
Shooting Value: +3
Talents: Duelist (Sword), Fearless, Immortal (Campaigns Only), Fortitude, Jumping, Inspirational, Intuitive, Intervention, Iron Will (no Martian can penetrate his mind), Leadership +3, Lightening Draw (FV), Martial Artist (+1 to Speed in Fights), Sword Master, Tough
Basic Equipment: Long Sword (Large sword and requires only one hand), short sword (sword), dagger (fighting knife) and radium pistol. May purchase a radium rifle for 24 points and has the option of adding the Hunter Talent for 5 points.
Armor: 8
Cost: 142

I have not included the cost of Immortal (10 points) in the above. If you are playing a campaign game you better add it . . . if you have thoats or other riding beasts, you can pay the appropriate points for the Talents Cavalryman and Trick Riding is so desired.

John Carter can join any company and lead any Martians as long as they are good guys!

 Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium and wife of John Carter of Virginia.

Special Rule: Dejah Thoris.
If Dejah Thoris is in base to base contact of an enemy figure, or if an enemy figure moves within one inch of Dejah Thoris, John Carter MUST move toward the enemy and attempt to kill him or her (count as knocked out because John Carter would never kill a women) or it or whatever threatens his princess. If Dejah Thoris is killed (THE HORROR!) John Carter automatically gets the Beserker and Numb Talents (the pain and anguish of losing his princess) for free but loses Fortitude and his Leadership drops to +2. No matter what the scenario, John Carter now ignores it and any objectives and is now locked into the "Last Man Standing" scenario and will now attempt to kill every enemy figure in the game. You don't mess with Dejah Thoris.

A word of caution: We have not play tested John Carter yet and I actually toned down some of his skills based on his journals since we want a play balanced and entertaining game. We will be having a Barsoomian Battle soon and I will let everyone know how the Warlord of Mars did!

2 comments:

  1. This project is looking amazing Neil - are you nearly ready to play test?

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    Replies
    1. We are play testing tomorrow afternoon with a new race of Martians which have actually been introduced in "The War of the Witches" but just determined last Monday that they are really on Mars. Another front has been opened!

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