MARS Q&A

I've been fielding some questions about our forthcoming MARS planetary romance RPG, in our announcement thread and via email, so I've decided to launch this thread specifically to answer any questions that people have about the game.

So, fire away!


To reprint the answer to the most common question so far:

MARS will NOT be available via your Friendly Local Game Store. We recognize that this is a niche-interest product, and sales via distribution (especially with the 60%+ discount they require) would be too slim to make it even a break-even prospect.

The PDF will be available from RPGNow, DriveThruRPG and ENWorld. The print version will be exclusively available direct from the publisher (Adamant Entertainment)

Supplements, Adventures and the like will be PDF -- although special print collections are also possible. (We're holding off on those decisions until we can gauge the popularity of the main rulebook)

I was curious about who the chief writers are on this and if you have any of their other credits handy?

Thanks! Looks very interesting.

2WS-Steve said:

I was curious about who the chief writers are on this and if you have any of their other credits handy?

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The main writer on MARS is Lizard, author of "Iron Lords of Jupiter" (from Polyhedron #160 -- material from which appears in this game, with Paizo's permission).

I was responsible for Line Development, occasional connecting text here and there, and the section on airships. Among many other things, I'm the author of Corsair: The Definitive D20 Guide to Ships.

The combat section features material from Ian Sturrock, based on his material for Mongoose's CONAN RPG.

Thanks again.

That is a rather impressive array of talent.

Q: What happened? I mean I understand if this is in NDA-ville, but how did you get the Burroughs estate to back off?

I was wondering if you could say what classes and advanced classes are covered in the book, and if there is any fx like telepathy or weird science in the setting?

I just preordered the Hardcover, and I was also wondering how (and roughly when) the pdf would be delivered.

Thanks in Advance!

Psion said:

Q: What happened? I mean I understand if this is in NDA-ville, but how did you get the Burroughs estate to back off?

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As you suspected, negotiations of that sort are private, and nothing I can discuss publicly.

Screamwhip said:

I was wondering if you could say what classes and advanced classes are covered in the book, and if there is any fx like telepathy or weird science in the setting?

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The standard modern base classes appear, along with some of the standard advanced classes -- along with details of the roles that each play in the Martian setting. (A few class features and abilities are modified to suit the differences in technology and culture.)

The new advanced classes are:

Brute Warrior: Fighters short on fancy maneuvers and long on raw power. (A preview of this advanced class appears in the MARS Free Preview, which is currently available.

Inventor: Master of strange science --- crafter of devices which transcend the bounds of physics.

Noble: A ruler by blood or by right. Skilled at manipulating people, gathering resources, and giving orders in such a way as to have them obeyed.

Nomad: Wanderers of the wastes of Mars. Think of this as the "Martian Ranger."

Scholar: Much of the knowledge, technology, culture and history of Mars is forever lost -- it is a dying world. Scholars are those who bravely seek out traces of ancient lore wherever it might be found, daring to recover what has been lost.

Sky Corsair: Masters of the great airships that soar in the Martian sky.


There is a full system for creating the bizarre inventions of strange science.

Mental powers (and magic, for that matter) are optional in this game -- in the pulp stories which form the inspiration for the setting, strange powers of the mind, or ancient and arcane secrets from beyond time,were wielded by the enemies of the heroes – the heroes showed their superiority by triumphing over such outré forces with skill, cunning, and might. The rulebook suggests using any of the existing FX rules available from other publishers (or available for free in the Modern SRD) if you wish to include those powers.

Screamwhip said:

I just preordered the Hardcover, and I was also wondering how (and roughly when) the pdf would be delivered.

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The PDF will be emailed to the address you provided when you preordered. The release should be before mid-March.

GMSkarka said:

I've been fielding some questions about our forthcoming MARS planetary romance RPG, in our announcement thread and via email, so I've decided to launch this thread specifically to answer any questions that people have about the game.

So, fire away!


To reprint the answer to the most common question so far:

MARS will NOT be available via your Friendly Local Game Store. We recognize that this is a niche-interest product, and sales via distribution (especially with the 60%+ discount they require) would be too slim to make it even a break-even prospect.

<SNIP>

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Just wanted to clarify one thing above. The 60%+ discount above isn't the discount the FLGS gets. That percentage is split between the distributor and the FLGS.

That said, I'm really looking forward to this product. I love the whole genre and the preview pdf looks great!

This will provide many sessions of rpg fun!

Thanks,
Rich

rgard said:

Just wanted to clarify one thing above. The 60%+ discount above isn't the discount the FLGS gets. That percentage is split between the distributor and the FLGS.

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Well, to be precise, it's the discount that the distributor gets. They then turn around and sell to the FLGS, for a 40 to 50% discount, which leaves 10-20%, depending, for themselves.

Regardless, making only up to 40% of retail on this product would have us losing money. Hence, no distribution. Direct-to-consumer only.