Warriors of the Red Planet

Warriors of the Red Planet

RPG Mini Review

Rating: Excellent

Value for Money: Excellent

Authors: Al Krombach & Thomas Denmark

Mechanics: Retro 0ed D&D through the lens of the Sword and Planet genre. Class based, attribute stats, retro combat. Some specialized ship combat.

Complexity: Low-Medium 

Summary: This wonderful and accessible complete RPG captures the feeling of the Sword and Planet genre of Edgar Rice Boroughs "Princess of Mars" and other novels set in a fantastic mars. Warriors of the Red Planet has 124 pages which are jammed packed with ideas, random generators, monsters, equipment, flying ships, and tools. If all roleplaying games gave use as much content as Al Krombach & Thomas Denmark did the hobby would be 100% better for new and old players. Truly remarkable in its scope and the tools it provides. If your players wander the desert wastes of Barsoom (mars) there is a generator for that.  What is in the ruined city? They have a generator for that. What is that super science thing I have? They have a generator for that. What is that weird monster? They have a generator for that. Great tools for you to play in the assumed setting or you can build your own. I ran a campaign and it was a blast. I recommend it. Really buy the game it is worth every penny. 

You can get a copy at ...

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/171363/Warriors-of-the-Red-Planet

Class: Milimilis

The pair of painted Milimilis in gaudy clothing capered about blowing kiss and whispered sweet temptations into the ears of passing soldiers. The Milimilis’s coy pats and congratulations concealed the thief of military plans and pocket plunder. A small price to pay for the boost in the soldier’s morale.

I will be stating the Milimilis as a playable class in Labyrinth Lord AEC RPG.

The Milimilis class is a variation of the thief class. The Milimilis are by profession prostitutes but that is not all they are. They are entertainers, courtesans, spies and thieves. Due to the constantly changing nature of their profession milimilis must be chaotic aligned. The class is composed mainly of humans but any demi-human can joins its ranks. Milimilis can be of any sex and orientation.

Island sociality does not frown on their profession and is neutral towards them. But during festivals and celebrations they are hire to amuse and entertain. During more sober times of the year the wise Milimilis are consulted in the matters of love and lovemaking. They have access to all levels of society and are not bound by island hierarchy. Milimilis have their own secret language of hand gestures which is incomprehensible to others. 

Because of their profession Milimilis and its required garb they can only wear padded and leather armor and they usually conceal this. The do not use shields of any kind. They can use most weapons. They prefer weapons they can conceal. Milimilis have class specify weapons called Milimilis hairpins which deal 1d4+1 damage and are akin to a dagger. These strongly fashioned weapons can be concealed.

Requirements: DEX 12, CHA 15

Prime Requisite: CHA

Hit Dice: 1d4 or (1d6 if Advanced HD is used)

Maximum Level: 15

Additional Abilities

Milimilis gain the following abilities as they progress in levels:

Reaching 3rd Level: Milimilis can effect the morale of any demi-human or humanoid they wish. By their antics they -4 bonus or +4 penalty targets morale checks. 

Reaching 6th Level:

A Milimilis have 2d6 contacts in society that can provide information and assistance when called upon. These contacts will assist once a week. If pressed for more than that the contact will refuse being the imposition. 

Reaching 9th Level: When a Milimilis attains level 9 they can establish a house of negotiable affections and 2d6 Milimilis 1st level apprentices will come to work with the character. The apprentices are loyal as long as they are receiving training and a fair share of proceeds. If treated badly they will abandon and perhaps rob the character.

Milimilis Skills: Milimilis share many of the skills as thieves do such as Pick Locks, Pick Pockets and Hide in Shadows. They have the below three unique skills:

Secrets: A Milimilis due to ability to enter all levels of society they will know secrets and lore which may prove useful. This can take the forms of obscure knowledge or actual secrets. Once per day a successful roll results in the Milimilis recalling a secret. Note if the Milimilis is not specific as to what they are wanting to recall then the Labyrinth Lord is free to provide whatever is applicable give the situation.

Disguise: A Milimilis is adept at make-up and clothing and can make themselves appears as another person of the same race or a a different race of demi-human. 

Distract: A Milimilis can distract an individual, group or monster by performing causing them to loose initiative. Effectually foes are last in initiative and are at a -1 to hit and damage due to distraction.

Milimilis Level Progression
Experience	Level	Hit Die (1d4) or advanced (1d6)
0	1	1
1,001	2	2
2,501	3	3
5,001	4	4
10,001	5	5
20,001	6	6
40,001	7	7
80,001	8	8
160,001	9	9
280,001	10	+1 hp only*
400,001	11	+2 hp only*
520,001	12	+3 hp only*
640,001	13	+4 hp only*
760,001	14	+5 hp only*
880,001	15	+6 hp only*
* Hit point modifiers from constitution are ignored

Milimilis Skill Table
Level	Disguise	Distract	Pick Locks	Pick Pockets	Hide in Shadow	Secrets
1	25	17	12	14	12	13
2	28	23	16	17	16	17
3	32	27	18	20	18	20
4	36	31	21	23	21	27
5	40	35	26	33	26	30
6	45	45	31	43	31	37
7	55	55	36	53	36	47
8	65	65	41	63	41	57
9	75	75	51	73	51	67
10	85	85	61	83	61	77
11	95	95	71	93	71	87
12	97	97	57	95	57	90
13	99	99	60	97	60	97
14	103	101	99	99	99	99

Review: Demon Drums by Carol Severance

***Spoiler Alert***

The first in the series is the novel Demon Drums followed by Storm Caller and finally Sorcerous Sea.

A wary former woman warrior seeks peace on a remote island runs afoul with a village sorcerous. The actions of a clever island teenage girl helps the warrior escape the village sorcerous and in doing so unleashed a series of events far more dangerous than all three could have imagined. 

The book takes place in an imaginary island chain reminiscent of Polynesia. The main protagonist is a war wary warrior woman of the Shark Clan named Iuti. She is a hardened warrior and has ancient clan bonds to sharks which she can enlist for aid. 

Her clever teenage companion is Tarawe who’s hidden powers and in experience come to light through the course of the novel. 

Their antagonist is the opportunistic village sorcerous Pahulu who is particularly dangers and a cunning foe. Pahulu enlists aid from Teronin soldiers, evil magical drummers, and foul sea creatures. Her vile acts include torture and enslavement of dolphins! Pahulu is of middling power but she enough knowledge to co-opt others powers and bind it to her will.

As Iuti and Tarawe flee Pahulu across the sea towards distant islands an old friend and love interest of Iuti a shape changer of the sea named Ma’eva arrives to help their escape. Ma’eva departs and then returns through out the story.

Tarawe small talents for wind and sea magic unleash a storm to help them escape Pahulu and their minions. 

The pair make land fall and are ensnare by magical drum beats of a tribe of evil drummers who make drumheads from the skins of their victims. Iuti and Tarawe met fellow captives. The old warrior Kunan who has been hobbled and force feed to make a larger drumhead by the demon drummers. And the warrior Risak who is tattooed by the drummers and magically forced to mate with their woman.   

Eventually Kunan sacrifices himself to help Iuti, Tarawe and Risak escape with the demon drummers drumming trying to lure them back.  After encounters with Teronin soldiers and the aid of Ma’eva and his bird friend they make their way to a port city. The group conceal their identity to avoid capture. Tarawe storm grows in power and each death it deals weakens her. They find help for her from a elderly magical healer Ho’ola. Along the way they met two prostitutes a male and female referred to as Milimilis who’s clever antics, thievery and morale aid the group.

After some time they take command of ship in the harbor and convince the crew to aid them in putting an end to Pahulu and the magical storms that is threatening the entire region. They voyage back to the remote island fight monster and Teronin soldiers. Iuti slays her clans Shark god who was aiding Pahulu. Iuti defeats the demon drummers and frees Kunan spirit. In a battle of magical duals Tarawe with the help of Ho’ola defeat Pahulu. This ends the great storm. Risak, Ma’eva, their allies and the Milimilis defeat the remaining Teronin soldiers. Pahulu is now in villagers custody and powerless.

Finally the group parts ways with the Milimilis going off to heal Risak. Ho’ola returns to her city. Iuti, Tarawe and Ma’eva head off to uncharted isles.

The story is a journey to defeat evil and to come to terms which the consequences of the characters past actions. It is a tale of heroic deeds and self sacrifice. Demon Drums  beats with wonder and mystery. 

Friar Deep's RPG Reviews

Broadsword RPG
by Deep7 / 1PG

Price: Very Affordable!
Format: PDF (no printed version)
Value: Great Value for Money!
Content: Quick and Clean!

I greatly enjoyed the simple and elegantly simple game system. The focus is on play as opposed to complicated game mechanics and rules. No one is going to get bogged down in arguing over movement or who grappled whom. Also it is simple enough that user created content can be done in a matter of minutes. The only thing lacking is a how to section for the Game Master. But with luck and good judgment that can be over came. I ran a 3 night campaign and had loads of fun. The players seemed relieved at how easy it was to pick up and use.


http://www.deep7.com/