BRP Interplanetary

Ok, I think I'm getting my brain to reluctantly get to grips with the concept now. So, is the intent of the book to provide a detailed-enough-for-play setting (the solar system) or more of a framework from which to design one's own background?

[Simlasa]

'Planetary Romance' was what I cut my SF teeth on way back when... reading ERB's Pellucidar and Mars series...

As I recall they never really explain how John Carter ended up on Mars... it had somewhat occult overtones... it definitely wasn't a spaceship.

Much as I'd like to see a bonafide Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon setting come to life I think I'm more excited about Interplanetary...
Moorcock's Kane stories and Lin Carter's Green Star stories oughtta fit well under this tent also...

[seneschal]

Don't rule out spaceships entirely. ERB's own Carson of Venus series (Pirates of Venus, 1932) had the hero launching himself heavanward in a bona fide rocketship. In the later John Carter of Mars novels (Skeleton Men of Jupiter), Martian airships became capable of interplanetary travel. And ERB's The Moon Maid features antigravity ships capable of reaching the moon.

And while Burroughs' focus is on nubile alien princesses rather than gee-whiz gadgetry, his series do introduce some nifty hardware: radium guns, antigravity ships, battleship-mounted disintegrator cannon, longevity serums, flying harnesses.

The Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon newspaper strips (especially the latter) inhabited the same niche in popular culture. Once he crashed on Mongo, Gordon was more concerned with rescuing Dale Arden, avoiding the unwanted affections of various unscrupulous nubile alien princesses, and swashbuckling adventure against an encyclopedia's worth of [fill-in-the-blank]-men than he was understanding the wonders of the galaxy.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by the Bromgrev

So, is the intent of the book to provide a detailed-enough-for-play setting (the solar system) or more of a framework from which to design one's own background?

As noted in the outline that started this thread, there is a background. Each of the planets of this solar system will get several pages of description.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by seneschal

Don't rule out spaceships entirely. ERB's own Carson of Venus series (Pirates of Venus, 1932) had the hero launching himself heavanward in a bona fide rocketship. In the later John Carter of Mars novels (Skeleton Men of Jupiter), Martian airships became capable of interplanetary travel. And ERB's The Moon Maid features antigravity ships capable of reaching the moon.

And while Burroughs' focus is on nubile alien princesses rather than gee-whiz gadgetry, his series do introduce some nifty hardware: radium guns, antigravity ships, battleship-mounted disintegrator cannon, longevity serums, flying harnesses.

Read my outline above. Weird tech, space vehicles, and vehicular combat are a part of the sourcebook.

I'm just trying to clarify that the thrust of this book is planetary romance, not space opera. Though there are some areas that both cover, Interplanetary isn't about a doughty core of lantern-jawed heroes rocketing across the solar system to defend Earth from alien death rays.

[GreatBear]

It sounds great Jason. I've wanted to do BRP Barsoom for about 25 years and never got around to it. Adamant Entertainment's MARS was a good effort but being d20 I'll never play it.

RE: John Carter Shaped Hole in RPG hobby. Many people me included have tried to talk to ERB Inc. about the license. TSR actually did a TARZAN RPG but it didn't go anywhere. ERB Inc. are not really interested in dealing with small time RPG publishers. You have to start talking in the millions before they'll give you the time of day.

[Simlasa]

I'm glad it isn't a licensed version of ERB's settings... that frees it up a lot, content wise, and keeps anyone from having to pay exhorbitant licensing fees.

If this really comes off it's gonna be pretty darn great...
I've already got a minds-eye full of swashbuckling sabre fights on skyships zipping over alien ruins and strange jungles full of dinosaurs... with some half-naked green princess eagerly waiting rescue.

[Rurik]

Originally Posted by Simlasa

...with some half-naked green princess eagerly waiting rescue.

Yes! Whoever half imprisioned those green princesses in clothes was dastardly indeed. Not to fear though, they shall soon be freed!

Seriously though, this sounds like a fun setting and I am looking forward to it.

[Simlasa]

Yeah, I can't say I've read any examples of the genre that weren't overtly sexist... I'm sure that can be overcome without too much trouble, but I still want to rescue a green princess...

[GreatBear]

In the descriptions of Mars, Jason, you should be sure to note the unusually high Princess population.

While we're waiting on DBRP and JD sourbook, anybody interested in this genre really should check out Gareth-Michael Skarka/Adamant's MARS RPG of Planetary Romance. It is D20 and I'm firmly of the opinion that d20 sucks. But he did a great job threading the maze to create a Mars that feels like Barsoom and other pulp Red Planets, but doesn't require the ERB stamp of approval. It would be very cool if there could be some kind of arrangement to produce dual stat BRP/d20 adventures.