Rory Hinnen rory@hinnen.us

4,200 words

Legends of Dying Mars

by Rory Hinnen

---

---

Chapter 1

Introduction

What's all this, then?

Long ago, I worked to create a modification of Legends of the Old West that supported Barsoomian adventures. It was fun work, but distance and time conspired against me. I didn't get to play the game very often.

Still, it sparked good memories. I enjoy the thick atmosphere of Barsoom, it's heroism and dark alleys, the vistas that remind me of the desert where I grew up.

Legends of the Old West have passed out of popular gaming. Games Workshop pulled it long ago, so that the game itself became a legend, and the rules something you could only find in dust piles in the used section of a local gaming store, an institution that is itself rapidly disappearing.

While there was much I enjoyed about Legends of the Old West, there was also a sense that the rules themselves were from another time. The strict I-go-You-go turn sequence, the lack of surprise made it feel very much a part of the wargaming style of the 80's. 

I decided that I would come up with my own skirmish rules. Here they are.

I recognize that they're currently a work in progress, but so far they're playing nicely for me. There's a real tension as my warband tries their best, and a romantic association with the characters. 

That said, these rules are still very incomplete. I'm working on making these feature complete and turnkey, but expect a certain amount of homegrown for the foreseeable future.

Finally, if for some reason you feel compelled to give these rules a try, I would really appreciate it if you would give me a heads up and some feedback.

---

Chapter 2

Setup

Setup

Overview

• Create a warband.
• Make up an activation pot.
  • There are a couple of ways to accomplish this:
    • A bowl of colored marbles, one for each figure on the board.
    • A bowl of poker chips with the names of the characters on each side.
    • Cards with the character names on them, or numbers that are assigned to a character, or suits.
  • Add an extra marker to indicate the end of a turn.
• Each player takes turns setting out scenery.
• Each player takes turns setting his characters out on the board, and specifies how they are currently armed.

The game is now ready to play.

#

Each player starts with 200 tanpi with which to build a warband. Tanpi is the currency of Barsoom, a gold coin that is roughly equivalent to a US dollar in the 20's.

Warbands must be composed of characters within the same grouping. With very few exceptions, mixing between different races is very rare. 

A warband has a minimum and maximum number of characters that can join it. That number can be found on the page that defines the war bands. In addition, each of the characters have limitations. You can't have a warband composed exclusively of chieftains, for instance. The limitations on characters are listed with the individual characters.

In addition to hiring the member of the warband, you can also purchase equipment for the members of the warband. The weapons have to be assigned to a particular character.

#

The activation controls which character is allowed to spend actions. Only the active character, or a character reacting to an active character, is allowed to take an action. 

Each character who is in any warband gets a marker of some kind. It can be a slip of paper with his name, an identifiable card, a marble. Any generic thing that can be drawn randomly, and still represent that character. All of the markers are put into a container, along with one extra marker that is unique. This unique marker indicates the turn is over. 

This container is put to the side, and used to activate characters randomly. There is an iOS app that I've written that you can also use as an activation pot.

#

Scenery selection is typically defined by the scenario. This doesn't mean that players can't add scenery as they desire. Scenery can also be purchased as an asset of the warband. If the scenery is purchased as part of the warband, the player places them as if they were a character.

In general, players should take turns placing scenery elements.

#

Character placement is generally specified by the scenario. 

If not outlined, then players take turn placing characters on the board. When a character is placed on the board, whatever weapons or armor he is currently using is specified.

---

Chapter 3

Rules

Turn Sequence

• Activate each character by pulling an activation marker. If the End Turn marker comes up, go to the Clean Up phase.
  • That character can now take actions. Each action has a cost. A character can spend all, some or none of their actions at this time. They may want to reserve their actions to be used later for defense
  • Possible actions:
    • Shoot: A character may spend points to discharge a weapon. They don't have to shoot at any one or thing in particular, but if they want to hit an opposing character, that opponent must be in range of the weapon.
    • Attack: A character may spend points to attack an opposing character. The characters must be in base to base contact to engage in an attack.
    • Move: A character may spend points to move. Each point spent will move them their movement distance, modified by terrain.
    • Take an Action: Jumping, opening doors, reloading weapons, all are actions that can be taken. All have an associated cost.
    • Reserve an action: A character must have action points if they wish to defend themselves against future attacks, so a character that expects to be engaged in an attack may want to reserve points to defend themselves.
• Clean up: Any dead characters can be removed, all action points are reset, any scenarios effects that need to be resolved are resolved, any victory conditions are tested, and so forth.
• 
  

#

Action Points

• A character spends action points to perform actions. Every action has a cost.
• The number listed with the character is how many action points a character starts with at the beginning of being activated.

• As a character takes damage, his action reserve goes down. Divide his action by the number of wounds. When a character takes a wound, the maximum action he has available when activated is reduced by that number.
• A character is allowed to expend a wound in order to add action points for a turn. The added action points are only available for the current turn, and the character won't regain that wound. This represents someone pushing themself so hard that they've taken damage to achieve some result, and may provide a character with that extra edge they need at a vital moment to overcome some adversary or obstacle.
• There are different ways to mark action points on a character. 2-sided markers stacked on the character card is convenient, flipping over used actions.
• 
  

#

The point of the game is to hurt the other guys more than the hurt you take. Each point of damage that's not dodged or blocked removes one wound from the character. If a player takes more damage than they have hit points, that character is out of the game. They may or may not be dead, that's determined after the game, but they cannot recover during the current session.

If a character is reduced to exactly 0 wounds, there is a chance they can recover during the current game session. Leave his activation card in the pile. When his activation turns up, he can spend all of his action to roll for recovery. Roll a d6. On a roll of 1, he has recovered from his shock and gains one wound.

#

Shoot

The cost of taking a shot is dependent on the weapon, and those costs are listed with the weapon. In order to shoot, a character must have enough action points to cover the cost of the shot.

• A player's character spends the requisite number of action points to fire.
• Verify the target is in range. 
  • If it is, roll less than or equal to the characters Shooting skill using a d6.
    • If the opponent had previously declared that they were dodging & weaving, they may roll to avoid taking damage. They need to roll less than or equal to their Dodge to avoid taking damage.
    • If the opponent fails the roll, they take damage according to the damage specified in the weapon.
• Mark off an expended shot from the weapon (if it has a ammo limitation)
• 
  

#

Attack

• If an attacking character has moved into contact with another character, and still has action available, they may elect to spend those actions as attacks.
• For each attack made, the character must expend the action listed with the weapon.
• An attack is made by rolling less than or equal to the attack value with a d6.
• If the defender has action points left, they may:
  • Spend action points to move out of contact, thereby ending the attack.
  • Spend action points to Defend, by rolling the defense or less on a d6
  • After a character has defended, if they still have action points available, and they are still in contact, they may choose to attack. The roles are now reversed.
• If the defender fails his defense roll, the attack hits, and the defender takes damage equal to the weapons strength
• 
  

#

Move

• A character can move as many inches as are listed in there stats per action
• Terrain will affect the cost.
• A character may move, take and action, and then move. The order they expend actions is completely up to them.
• 
  

#

Move 1" over dry, stable terrain 1AP

Difficult terrain get's a multiplier.

Slippery X2

Rough X2

Shallow pools X2

Deep pools X3

Difficult climbs X3

Open/close a door 1AP

Change the current weapon 1AP

Climb 1" over a stable surface (I.e., stairs or a ladder) 1AP

Block/dodge a melee attack 1AP

Dodging and Weaving 1AP

Reload a weapon 1AP

Shoot Determined by weapon

Hit Determined by weapon

#

Big Men

These are larger than life characters, who inspire and lead a band of men. Some characters start out as big men. Some characters are elevated to the status of big man by circumstance. There must always be at least one big man in each warband.

There are limits to the number of big men you are allowed to take with a warband. 

• If you take a character who is already a big man, he must be the leader of the warband, he cannot be demoted to the status of a common follower.
• If a big man is killed or incapacitated, then another character must be elevated to the status of big man.
• A big man has 2 more action points. He can share his action points with another member of his warband. They must be within 6" of the big man.
• Some big men have Fame. These are points they can use to drive the rest of their team to greater feats. Once a fame point has been spent in a given game, it isn't recovered for the duration of the game.
  • Fame can be used as a modifier to any die roll in a game, either positively or negatively. The allocation of fame can be done at any time, doesn't require the big man to take an action.
  • The character benefitting from fame must be within 6 inches of the big man to receive the modifier.
  • Once a point of fame has been spent, it cannot be recovered for the duration of the engagement.
  • Fame is handed out before the roll to be modified is made.
  • 
    

#

Equipment

Ranged weapons can also be used in melee (you can always use a pistol like a club). When rolling to shoot, Ranged weapons use Shoot to determine if a hit is successful. When used as clubs, ranged weapons use Bludgeon. Obviously, ranged weapons do not use ammo when used in melee.

Rifle

• Range: 12"
• Shoot: 4
• Bludgeon: 4
• Damage: 2
• Ammo: unlimited

Pistol

• Range: 6
• Action: 2
• Bludgeon: 2
• Damage: 1
• Ammo: 6

Sword

• Attack Action: 2
• Defend Action: 1
• Damage: 2

Dagger

• Attack Action: 1
• Defend Action: 1
• Damage: 2

Hands

• Attack Action: 1
• Defend Action: 1
• Damage: 1

---

Chapter 4

Characters

Heliumite Red Men

"The dominant race in whose hands rest the progress and civilization--yes, the very life of Mars--differ but little in physical appearance from ourselves. The fact that their skins are a light reddish copper color and that they are oviparous constitute the two most marked divergences from Anglo-Saxon standards."

A Fighting Man of Mars

Warband

A Red Men unit must take at least 3 models. You may spend tanpi 200 to recruit and arm a Red Men unit. One character must be a Leader. The number of a Red Men Warband can not exceed 15 characters. The number allowed of each type is listed with the character, the exception being the Than, you may select as many of those as you wish.

Code of Conduct

The Barsoomian fighting men follow a very strict code of conduct. Violating it is almost unheard of. The basic code is that a defender may only choose a weapon equal to or lesser than his attacker's weapon. The hierarchy is: pistol, longsword, shortsword, dagger, bare hands. Therefore, if attacked by a warrior bearing a longsword, it is acceptable to draw any lesser weapon. Drawing a pistol in this situation would bring contempt or even death from any other warrior of Barsoom.

In game terms, any warrior that violates the Code of Conduct causes an immediate increase in his opponent's Fight score by 1, and a single free Fame point. The Fame point must be used in the player's current or next turn. The increase of Fight is only applicable in engagements against the violator of the Code, it doesn't apply against other characters.

Equipment

All Red Men come with a Radium Rifle, a Shortsword, & Dagger. They may select these additional items for the following cost: 

Item Cost

Longsword 5

Radium Pistol 10

Thoat 25

Than (Soldier)

Available: 0-15

Shoot: 4

Strength: 4

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Cost: 9

Panthan (Mercenary)

Available: 0-5

Shoot: 3

Strength: 4

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Cost: 10

Padwar (Lieutenant)

Available: 0-3

Shoot: 4

Strength: 4

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Fame: 0

Cost: 10

Big Man

Dwar (Captain)

Available: 0-2

Shoot: 4

Strength: 4

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Fame: 1

Cost: 12

Big Man

Jed (King)

Available: 0-1

Shoot: 4

Strength: 3

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Fame: 1

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Fame: 2

Cost: 30

Big Man

Jed's Bodyguard

A Jed must take one Than as bodyguards. They must remain with 6" of the Jed, and do not count against the number of models comprising a Warband.

Jeddak (Emperor)

Available: 0-1

Shoot: 4

Strength: 3

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Fame: 2

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Fame: 2

Cost: 32 

Big Man

Jeddak's Bodyguard

A Jeddak must take two Padwar as bodyguards. They must remain with 6" of the Jed, and do not count against the number of models comprising a Warband.

#

Green Men

"...terrific incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man himself, for such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, would have weighed some four hundred pounds. He sat his mount as we sit a horse, grasping the animal's barrel with his lower limbs, while the hands of his two right arms held his immense spear low at the side of his mount."

A Princess of Mars

Warband

A Green men unit must take at least 3 models. You may spend tanpi 200 to recruit and arm a Green Men Warband. At least one character must be a Leader. The number of the the Green Men Warband can not exceed 12 characters. The number allowed is listed in parenthesis next to each type of fighter. The exception is the Green Warrior, of which you may recruit any number.

Code of Conduct

The Green fmen follow a very strict code of conduct. Violating it is almost unheard of. The basic code is that a defender may only choose a weapon equal to or lesser than his attacker's weapon. The hierarchy is: pistol, longsword, shortsword, dagger, bare hands. Therefore, if attacked by a warrior bearing a longsword, it is acceptable to draw any lesser weapon. Drawing a pistol in this situation would bring contempt or even death from any other warrior of Barsoom.

In game terms, any warrior that violates the Code of Conduct causes an immediate increase in his opponent's Fight score by 1, and a single free Fame point. The Fame point must be used in the player's current or next turn. The increase of Fight is only applicable in engagements against the violator of the Code, it doesn't apply against other characters.

Equipment

All Green Men come with a Radium Pistol, Longsword & Dagger. They may select these additional items for the following cost:

Shortsword 5

Radium Rifle 10

Lance 15

Thoat 25

Dead Eye

Warrior 

Available: 0-12

Shoot: 4

Strength: 4

Fight: 4

Dodge: 3

Fame: 0

Wounds: 4

Actions: 7

Jed (Chief)

(0-1)(Big Man)

Shoot: 5

Strength: 4

Fight: 4

Dodge: 3

Fame: 1

Wounds: 4

Actions: 7

Jed's Bodyguard

A Jed must take one Warrior as a bodyguard. He must remain with 6" of the Jed, and do not count against the number of models comprising a Warband.

Jeddak (Emporer)

(0-1)(Big Man)

Shoot: 5

Strength: 4

Fight: 5

Dodge: 3

Fame: 2

Wounds: 4

Actions: 7

Jeddak's Bodyguard

A Jeddak must take two Warriors as bodyguards. They must remain with 6" of the Jed, and do not count against the number of models comprising a Warband.

#

Holy Therns

Warband

A Thern unit must take at least 3 models, and at most 20. The number allowed is listed in parenthesis next to each type of fighter.

Equipment

Therns come with a Shortsword & Dagger. They may select these additional items for the following cost:

Longsword 8

Radium Pistol 5

Radium Rifle 10

Thoat 25

Red Men Slaves

Available: 0-20

Shoot: 4

Strength: 4

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Cost: 9

Religious Zeal

When within 6 inches of a Thern, Fight and Dodge becomes 4.

Holy Thern

Available: 0-3

Shoot: 4

Strength: 4

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Big Man

Sneaky

Holy Therns are above the simple social conventions of lesser Barsoomians. If they violate the Code of Conduct, they gain an extra action. This represents their complete lack of morals, and the fact that breaking the Code of Conduct is something that doesn't cause them a moment of doubt.

Hekkador

(0-1) (Big Man)

Available: 0-3

Shoot: 4

Strength: 4

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Big Man

Sneaky

Holy Therns are above the simple social conventions of lesser Barsoomians. If they violate the Code of Conduct, they gain an extra action. This represents their complete lack of morals, and the fact that breaking the Code of Conduct is something that doesn't cause them a moment of doubt.

Thern Bodyguard

The Hekkador must take three Holy Therns as bodyguards. They must remain within 6" of the Hekkador, and do not count against the number of models comprising a Warband..

#

First Born (Black Pirates of Mars)

Warband

A First Born unit must take at least 3 models, and at most 15. The number allowed is listed in parenthesis next to each type of fighter. The exception is the Than, of which you may recruit any number.

Gladiatorial Slaves

Martians who are kidnapped by the First Born from the Therns are often used in Gladatorial combat. The rate of attrition is astounding, but some manage to survive and even thrive under the harsh life of the Arena. No First Born war band may consist solely of Slaves, there must be at least one First Born.

Available: 0-10

Shoot: 4

Strength: 4

Fight: 4

Dodge: 4

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Cost:

Slaves come with a Shortsword & Dagger. They may select these additional items for the following cost:

Longsword 5

Radium Pistol 5

Thoat 25

Sneaky

Than (Prince)

Available: 0-10

Shoot: 4

Strength: 4

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Cost:

Equipment

The First Born come with a Longsword, Shortsword & Dagger. They may select these additional items for the following cost:

Radium Pistol 5

Radium Rifle 10

Thoat 25

Big Man

Sneaky

Black Pirate

Dator (King)

Available: 0-1Shoot: 4

Strength: 4

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Cost:

Equipment

The First Born come with a Longsword, Shortsword & Dagger. They may select these additional items for the following cost:

Radium Pistol 5

Radium Rifle 10

Thoat 25

Big Man

Sneaky

Black Pirate

#

Okarian

An Okarian unit must take at least 3 models, and at most 15. The number allowed is listed in parenthesis next to each type of fighter. The exception is the Green Men, of which you may recruit any number. At least one model must be a Leader.

Okarian (Yellow Man)

(0-15)

Equipment

The Okarian come with two swords, a dagger & a small shield. One of the two blades is hooked. They may select these additional items for the following cost:

Radium Pistol 5

Radium Rifle 10

Hooked Blade

If an Okarian fails to wound, he may re-roll. The re-roll is final.

If the opponent is equipped with an Okarian Shield, or is using a second weapon, this rule does not apply.

#

Earthlings

There are very few Earthlings on Mars. Earthlings can be no more than one to a side, and may attach to Red Man, Green Man, Thern or First Born unit.

Jasoomian (Earthmen)

(0-1)

Shoot: 4

Strength: 4

Fight: 3

Dodge: 3

Wounds: 2

Actions: 6

Equipment

An Earthling comes with a Dagger, Short sword and a Long Sword. S/he may select these additional items for the following cost:

Radium Pistol 5

Radium Rifle 10

Thoat 25

Jasoomian

Thier earthly muscles endow them with stupendous strength on Barsoom's lower gravity. Already reflected in the Move value, a Jasoomian does not have to make rolls for jump tests of less than 20 feet (4"/10cm).

#

Animals of Barsoom

Warband

Certain animals won't tolerate the presence of others. A unit of animals can be put together in any combination, as long as the animals will co-exist. Animal units do not need a Leader, however they don't benefit from experience, either. It's more likely that animals will be used as adversaries in a scenario than someone will build a warband of them.

Plant Men

(0-9)

Leaping Attack

The favorite ploy of the plant man is to leap over its prey, and slash down with their tail. The attack requires the plant man to have space on the other side of the attacked figure to land. If not, the attack cannot be made. If there is, conduct the fight normally, but the plant man must declare his leaping attack before rolling the Attack dice. A leaping Attack gets only a single Attack, but causes a single Strength 7 wound if the plant man wins the combat. No matter who wins the fight, the plant man is placed on the far side of the opponent's model, before determining which direction the loser backs away.

Great White Apes

(0-9)

Found Missiles

The great White Apes of Mars are scattered across the vast dead seas, often living in the ruins of old cities. The Apes are adept at throwing, and will grab nearly anything and fling them as deadly missiles.

Range

Damage

Rocks

6"

3

none

Calot (Martian Dog)

(0-12)

Bloodhound

TBD

Bodyguard

At the beginning of the game, choose one character among those in your force for the calot to protect. If John Carter is present, you must choose him. As long as the character is on the table, the calot automatically passes all Pluck tests he may have to take. If the character is killed or leaves the table, the calot reverts to the normal rules for Pluck.

Thoat (Martian Horse)

(0-12)

Giant Thoat (Green men Martian Horse)

(0-9)

Wild Thoat

Giant thoats are barely manageable.

Banths (Martian Lions)

(0-6)

Roar

TBD

Apt (Martian Polar Beast)

(0-9)

Ulsio (Martian Rats)

Sith (Giant Wasps)

(0-3)

Venom

Sith are armed with a stinger and terrible poison. If a Sith fails to wound, it must re-roll. The second roll is final.

#

These a special heroic characters who can be added to a warband. This section is currently a work in progress.

John Carter, Jeddak of Mars, Jasoomian, Hero

Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Tharks, Hero

Sab Than, Jeddak, Villian

Matai Shang, Last Hekkador of the Holy Therns, Villian

#

These a special heroic characters who can be added to a warband. This section is currently a work in progress.

Princess

Distraction

Inspring Presence

Mad Scientist

Assassin

Cultist

Beast Master

Animal Control

---

Endnotes