Any chance we may see an OGL planetary romance rpg from Paizo? Maybe a full-length version of Iron Lords of Jupiter?
In the genre I have only read the John Carter books and it just seems like such an awesome game model.
Perhaps build it on D20 Modern, or just expand Iron Lords of Jupiter, or even something built from the ground up. What is Lizard up to these days?
What do you say Paizans?

I love the John Carter series, such good fun. The Iron Lords of Jupiter mini-setting in Polyhedron made me want to play there!

I vote for Iron lords of jupiter as well.

From the various threads on the boards I have gathered that all Dungeon/Polyhedron content is property of WotC. So that means that Paizo will just have to do a new OGL Sword and Planet RPG!
We have three voices already in this thread, after only a few days, that just screams "mandate" to me! Get on the stick Paizo! I want to be blasting calots (yes, I could never appreciate Woola) with my radium pistol by August!
I have decided to reread at least the first three John Carter books in preparation.
Oh yeah, I also just read that Pixar is working on an animated version of John Carter of Mars for 2009. Yippee! Just hope there are no crappy Top-40-Smashmouth-crap songs on the soundtrack.

I have placed a "Red Planet" and a "Green Planet" in the solar system of the Pathfinder universe, for the explicit purpose of using the planets as settings for just this sort of a product somewhere in the future. The first step will be an adventure set on a fantasy Mars analogue, followed by by a jaunt to the humid jungles of a Venus analogue.

A stand-alone RPG? That's a risk of a different color, but it's not outside the realm of possibility once we've got Pathfinder launched and have settled into a nice little non-magazine RPG publishing business.

--Erik

Very nice Erik, I can't wait for those Pathfinders to start coming out. I would love to have a stand-alone, cinematic, OGL game for this at some point, but in the meantime I am happy to settle for Pathfinder ;).

I have placed a "Red Planet" and a "Green Planet" in the solar system of the Pathfinder universe, for the explicit purpose of using the planets as settings for just this sort of a product somewhere in the future. The first step will be an adventure set on a fantasy Mars analogue, followed by by a jaunt to the humid jungles of a Venus analogue.

That is an awesome idea. I was a little too late to really appreciate that era of space fantasy, but I dipped in a bit with some of the ER Burroughs stuff and the Reglathium novels I mentioned in another thread. I'm also a big fan of the dimension-hopping, epic fantasy series like Philip Jose Farmer's World of Tiers or Roger Zelazny's Amber series.

As far as a stand-alone RPG, isn't there an open version of the d20 Modern ruleset something like that could be based on? I have to say, while it sounds really cool, I'm more interested in seeing D&D/fantasy adventures, mainly because I have a hard enough time getting people together to play just the one game ;)

I wanted to dig up this old thread because I've recently been getting back into the concept of space fantasy and remembered how fond I was of Iron Lords of Jupiter when I first read it.

Has anybody seen this?

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=6786

There is currently a Mars D20 game on the market. Done, in part, by the writer of the "Iron Lords of Jupiter", writer.
Although based on the D20 Modern, it does have enough uniqueness that I've found it to be an interesting play and and well representive of the "sword and planet" genre.

I'm not sure of the guidelines on posting information on competive companies on this messageboard. So, anyone interested in this game can get the details by emailing me.

I have placed a "Red Planet" and a "Green Planet" in the solar system of the Pathfinder universe, for the explicit purpose of using the planets as settings for just this sort of a product somewhere in the future. The first step will be an adventure set on a fantasy Mars analogue, followed by by a jaunt to the humid jungles of a Venus analogue.

A stand-alone RPG? That's a risk of a different color, but it's not outside the realm of possibility once we've got Pathfinder launched and have settled into a nice little non-magazine RPG publishing business.

--Erik

Please....please...please.....

I'm almost certain there's an ancient space ship underneath that Seven Swords of Sin City.

--Erik
There's only two ways to get from earth to the sword and planet planet, right? ;)

John Carter was either teleported to Barsoom or did some form of astral projection that recreated his body on the planet. Kane got to Mars through a teleportation accident. Carson got to Burroughs Venus by miscalculatining the trajection of his spacecraft. In Lin Carter's series the main character got to one of the moons of Jupiter by going through an ancient teleportation device located in a Cambodian jungle.

There was also a series, in the 70's I belive, where the main character found himself in a new body, on an alien world, after an attempt to download his mind into a computer system. you could consider this a formof teleportation that only shifted the mental abilities of the character and left all the physical.

So it would seem that teleportation or spaceship are the two most common ways to travel from earth to an alien world.

It was the Gor books by John Norman. I'm half-embarassed to have read a few. I really liked the fantastic elements of the world he had envisioned; the whole "slave girl" thing was too wanky for me.

It was the Gor books by John Norman. I'm half-embarassed to have read a few. I really liked the fantastic elements of the world he had envisioned; the whole "slave girl" thing was too wanky for me.

Your right. It was that series. I remember getting as far as the fifth book. The whole slavery/sex plot became so overbearing that I gave up on it.

I had to get to the Priest Kings just to find out what they were, then I jetted too.
I've lost sooooooooooo many PolCorrect points by admitting to reading those books.

I had to get to the Priest Kings just to find out what they were, then I jetted too.

I've lost sooooooooooo many PolCorrect points by admitting to reading those books.

Be glad it was just PC points. If you search the web you'll find whole groups of people who have lost their humanity to those books.

I'm totally for the idea of Planet Stories RPGs. But I agree with Mr. Mona. It's a big risk. Here's the question. Would it be as risky to offer a "special issue" of GameMastery with some "new races and classes" that broke from the usual setting and was sortova' bargain PHB for this sort of gaming? Provide a tenative sample setting and whatnot but which doesn't put too many eggs in the basket? That way if it does great future products can be produced. If it does poorly then at least the folks who want one can buy it with no great loss. At least you could take everyone's temperature with something like that. It seems like popular enough an idea.

Probably next year or some time in early 2009 we will release an adventure set on one of the planets orbiting Golarion's star. If that sells well, we will do a couple more adventures in the same vein. If those do well we will certainly schedule a planetary romance Pathfinder Chronicles sourcebook that gives an overview of the entire star system, rules for playing characters of various alien races, new technology, etc.

Honestly, I think you put "mind witches" on Venus and set that up as a place for people who want to use psionics deeply in their game, so the product would appeal to the psionics-focused audience, which isn't tiny.

In many ways this is the RPG book I'd most like to publish and work on, but we've got a LOT of basic ground to cover before we get there, and an uncertain aura regarding the upcoming rules changes.

So this is definitely something I'd like to do, but folks are going to have to prove that there's an audience for it. Buying the relevant Planet Stories novels (Moorcock, Northwest Smith, Brackett, Kline) will certainly help, and is greatly appreciated by yours truly.

--Erik

Probably next year or some time in early 2009 we will release an adventure set on one of the planets orbiting Golarion's star. If that sells well, we will do a couple more adventures in the same vein. If those do well we will certainly schedule a planetary romance Pathfinder Chronicles sourcebook that gives an overview of the entire star system, rules for playing characters of various alien races, new technology, etc.

Honestly, I think you put "mind witches" on Venus and set that up as a place for people who want to use psionics deeply in their game, so the product would appeal to the psionics-focused audience, which isn't tiny.

In many ways this is the RPG book I'd most like to publish and work on, but we've got a LOT of basic ground to cover before we get there, and an uncertain aura regarding the upcoming rules changes.

So this is definitely something I'd like to do, but folks are going to have to prove that there's an audience for it. Buying the relevant Planet Stories novels (Moorcock, Northwest Smith, Brackett, Kline) will certainly help, and is greatly appreciated by yours truly.

--Erik

*drools*

Please, regardless of rules involved, keep that awesome Paizo flavor.
Now I'm gonna do the happy dance.

From what I hear about 4th edition, (with monsters that go from mooks to elites and low level PC that can do something every round) this may the most pulp friendly version of DnD yet.

And when you think about it, if you substitue "magic item" with "lost relic" and magic with psionics, DnD starts to make sense. Your old "Magic Shoppe' are now rare relics found out in the desert ruins.

Throw in some ray guns and you are good to go.

Just to confirm, I ran a funky one-shot that combined Castles and Crusades, d20 Grim Tales/Slavelords of Cydonia, d20 Mars and Iron Lords of Jupiter.

I hadn't so much fun in a long time. :)

Currently I have all the Planet Stories books up to "The Swordsman of Mars" by Otis Adelbert Kline.

So far I have read the entire Michael Kane trilogy by Michael Moorcock and thought it was pretty good. Currently I'm reading R.E.Howard's "Almuric" and LOVING it!

I know I have my work cut out in reading all this stuff but I got my subscription a little late. Plus these are pretty quick and fun reads anyway.

I'm saving Leigh Brackett for last is it seems like its probably the series that I will like the most and I will therefore want to savour reading the most.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that if/when any interplanetary adventures come out I will be impatiently waiting to get my dirty paws on it.
These stories really get my imagination pumping. In fact I may just start jotting some notes down for a mini red planet campaign myself.

I also wanted to thank Erik and the rest of Paizo for brining these books back. They really are little gems that have been dusted off and have provided me with some great reading entertainment. Keep em coming!

Thanks, Savage! It's really a thrill to put out these books, and it's especially gratifying to hear from readers how much they are enjoying them.

Thanks for the feedback, and thanks especially for subscribing!

Just wanted to note that, if folks want to see a blend of Pathfinder and Planet Stories, Pathfinder #14 has a big chapter in it outlining the worlds of Golarion's solar system, parts of which are very much indebted to the pulps (as well as to hard SF, steampunk, and all sorts of other weirdness). Check it out!

Be glad it was just PC points. If you search the web you'll find whole groups of people who have lost their humanity to those books.

Come on, you're making it sound like one of those wacko cults out there. The Gor books were strange (and are still being published), but they're not thaaaaaaat bad. There is a lot worse out there in all fields of fiction.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that if/when any interplanetary adventures come out I will be impatiently waiting to get my dirty paws on it.

These stories really get my imagination pumping. In fact I may just start jotting some notes down for a mini red planet campaign myself.

I also wanted to thank Erik and the rest of Paizo for brining these books back. They really are little gems that have been dusted off and have provided me with some great reading entertainment. Keep em coming!

Just wanted to echo Savage's thoughs about interplanetary adventuring, and the planet stories line. I'm not a subscriber to any of the Paizo lines (I firmly believe in supporting my local merchants whenever possible, even if it does delay my getting of certain books), though I have the entirety of the Planet Stories line and a good chunk of the Pathfinder chronicles.

Any chance we could get a Critters / Characters book statting up some of the beasties and major players from the Planet stories books for Pathfinder? (specifically thinking of the Blue Giants of Mars, The Hounds of Skaith {and all of the other controlled mutations found on Skaith} for critters and Eric John Stark, Setne Inhetep & Rachel for Characters)

Any chance we could get a Critters / Characters book statting up some of the beasties and major players from the Planet stories books for Pathfinder? (specifically thinking of the Blue Giants of Mars, The Hounds of Skaith {and all of the other controlled mutations found on Skaith} for critters and Eric John Stark, Setne Inhetep & Rachel for Characters)

Negotiating rights for things like that can be a long and harrowing process, though the upcoming Pathfinder Adventure Path #22 has a famous critter you'll undoubtedly recognize. On the whole, though, it's far better to do creatures and settings INSPIRED by other folks' work rather than trying to license them directly... it gives you more freedom (and money) with which to make the best possible product.

Leo_Negri wrote:

Any chance we could get a Critters / Characters book statting up some of the beasties and major players from the Planet stories books for Pathfinder? (specifically thinking of the Blue Giants of Mars, The Hounds of Skaith {and all of the other controlled mutations found on Skaith} for critters and Eric John Stark, Setne Inhetep & Rachel for Characters)

Negotiating rights for things like that can be a long and harrowing process, though the upcoming Pathfinder Adventure Path #22 has a famous critter you'll undoubtedly recognize. On the whole, though, it's far better to do creatures and settings INSPIRED by other folks' work rather than trying to license them directly... it gives you more freedom (and money) with which to make the best possible product.

Banth? Please Banth? :-)

I'd like a Pathfinder Banth. This may sound strange coming from me of all people, but I found the monsters of Barsoom 3PP PDF was too psionic heavy.

Kathulos wrote:

Be glad it was just PC points. If you search the web you'll find whole groups of people who have lost their humanity to those books.

Come on, you're making it sound like one of those wacko cults out there. The Gor books were strange (and are still being published), but they're not thaaaaaaat bad. There is a lot worse out there in all fields of fiction.

"Goreans as the Klingons of the D/s world. There are the cool things of the Klingons, Honour, martial prowess, weapons etc. Then you see the guy in full makeup and spouting Klingon and boasting of drinking bloodwine and eating Gakh. You then see people who take it waaaaayyyy to far." - Some guy I know.

Banth? Please Banth? :-)

Ruh?

Go to Here, let me fix my link.

Go to Here, let me fix my link.

Yes, that *is* the banth I'm looking for. ;-)

A stand-alone RPG? That's a risk of a different color, but it's not outside the realm of possibility once we've got Pathfinder launched and have settled into a nice little non-magazine RPG publishing business.

Here's to that day!

Probably next year or some time in early 2009 we will release an adventure set on one of the planets orbiting Golarion's star. If that sells well, we will do a couple more adventures in the same vein. If those do well we will certainly schedule a planetary romance Pathfinder Chronicles sourcebook that gives an overview of the entire star system, rules for playing characters of various alien races, new technology, etc.

Mmmm... Multi-planet pathfinder gaming? Mighty interesting! We may need some special vessels for interplanetary travel :P

Yes, well, I'm thinking that probably isn't going to happen in 2009, after all.

Yes, well, I'm thinking that probably isn't going to happen in 2009, after all.

Maybe you should consider moving time travel up in the priority list a little...

What happened with our "get more subscribers" campaign? (I'm not asking for specifics, mind you, just a feel.) I joined, but I haven't brought anybody with me, that I know of.

Yes, well, I'm thinking that probably isn't going to happen in 2009, after all.

Is it still a possibility for the near future, though? Or is the main focus going to remain on Golarion and the Inner Sea region until it's been thoroughly explored? Would a module or small module arc (like Price of Immortality) be a reasonable experiment to test the market on Akiton and, after psionics are supported, Castrovel?

We're going to do a PFS scenario set on Akiton. Nothing planned for the planets in the print products yet, but we will get to them within the next year or two, I imagine. It's something we'd all like to do.

The subscriber drive is going pretty well, actually. We've had sustained growth since the visual redesign of the line, and that continues to this week. I'd like to see a LOT more subscribers, though, and have some ideas along those lines that I'd hope to execute in the next little while.

We're going to do a PFS scenario set on Akiton.

Best. News. Ever!

The subscriber drive is going pretty well, actually. We've had sustained growth since the visual redesign of the line, and that continues to this week. I'd like to see a LOT more subscribers, though, and have some ideas along those lines that I'd hope to execute in the next little while.

I wish I could subscribe, but haven't been able to yet. Currently, I'm supporting the line by buying them when I see them at Barnes & Noble and special ordering them at independent bookstores. I assume both increase the chances of both types of stores carrying the line in the future.

Yes, well, I'm thinking that probably isn't going to happen in 2009, after all.

So, how are the chances of that happening on 2010?

A PFS scenario set on another planet! hmmmmmm! Eric, ask Josh about my 35 voice in the void proposal....Man what was uncouth a year ago is now a go. Josh Frost I'll get you!!!!!!!!!! :)
disclaimer: My scenario was nerfed due to a better proposal (obviously Rob's), and weakness in my writing. But I have to stroke my ego.
Also Frost about my submission

I wish I could subscribe, but haven't been able to yet. Currently, I'm supporting the line by buying them when I see them at Barnes & Noble and special ordering them at independent bookstores. I assume both increase the chances of both types of stores carrying the line in the future.

Yes, that's a great way to support the line too, and we absolutely appreciate it!