Modiphius US

John Carter of Mars: Core Rulebook

John Carter of Mars: Core Rulebook - Main image
$27 $45 In stock

Category: John Carter

"My attention was quickly riveted by a large red star close to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I felt a spell of overpowering fascination—it was Mars, the god of war, and for me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone night it seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me to it…" 

Edgar Rice Burrough’s John Carter of Mars: Adventures on the Dying World of Barsoom transports you to the Red Planet of Barsoom, an arid, dying land of ancient civilizations and fearsome creatures. Begin your adventures of romance and heroism using a pulp-action inspired variant of the 2d20 System. Take on the role of heroes as you travel, battle, and romance your way across the wondrous and dangerous world of Barsoom. Play as John Carter, Princess Dejah Thoris, the fearsome Thark warrior Tars Tarkas – or create your own heroes from an exciting variety of options. 

  • An overview of Barsoom and its peoples, perfect to introduce new players to the wondrous world of John Carter of Mars. 
  • Detailed chapters on Barsoomian technology, creatures and cultures. 
  • A new talent focused, narrative variation of the 2d20 System including a step-by-step character generation system designed to create heroes from a variety of backgrounds and concepts. 
  • Create a wide variety of characters such as a Dashing Red Martian Duelist, a Brilliant First Born Scientist, a Savage Beastmaster, a Courageous Airship Officer, even Earthborn characters, so players can follow in the bounding footsteps of John Carter himself! 
  • A detailed narrator's section filled with information on how to run genre-and-setting appropriate campaigns, including information about the great and terrible secrets of Barsoom. 
  • Three eras of play based on the adventures of John Carter himself. Adventure during the Dotar Sojat era, or adventure during the time where Carter became a Prince of Helium and in the years after when he was believed dead, or fight alongside Carter and his allies during the later Jeddak of Jeddaks era. 
  • An introductory adventure, the Mind Merchants of Mars, to get players and narrators started on their adventures and immersed in the world of Barsoom

Reviews

“The quality is top notch … a lot of the artwork is really good … definitely worth a purchase.” The Gaming Gang 

“Modiphius have done a great job of bringing this game to life and doing so in a manner that is very playable as an RPG.” British Fantasy Society 

“The easiest, most cinematic iteration of 2d20 is the perfect fit for a setting which appears longingly outdated yet is fascinating to adventure in.” RPG NET

 "This game captures the epic, planetary romance feel of the original stories … you will relish the chance to live on Barsoom. A fun addition to your game collection, perfect for when you need a well-constructed, exciting yet light-hearted game.” DriveThruRPG.com

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Customer Reviews (4.8 / 5 · 5 reviews)

Eva ★★★★★

The core rulebook captures Burroughs' pulpy tone perfectly, with art that makes Barsoom feel alive. I’m already planning a campaign around the Heliumite factions, since the setting details are that well fleshed out.

Hannah V. ★★★★★

The description alone hooked me—that vivid opening about the red star pulled me straight into the story. It’s a short read, but the writing is dense enough that I finished it in one sitting and still felt satisfied.

Claire ★★★★★

The red star artwork on the cover immediately drew me in, and the lore excerpts between the rules make the setting feel alive. The character creation system flows smoothly, letting you build a Martian warrior in under twenty minutes.