Crisis On Barsoom (Mars).

The inscrutable and cerebral, some would say, evil, white Barsoomians have, in their 'wisdom', chosen to hasten the end of Barsoom's civilization. To this end they have been busy sabotaging the air force and the radium supplies. It might well be that the White Barsoomians are also aware of recent events on Earth where Blusia is preparing an expeditionary force to Barsoom. John Carter has forced this information from a white Barsoomian captive.

Blusia is one of the first of Earth's countries to harness the power of newly discovered ethernesia. This fuel can propel the space ships through the ether. The Blusians, smarting from a recent humiliating defeat by Hermany has decided to channel its energies elsewhere. Astronomers have clearly shown the presence of canals on Mars. It is time to spread the benefits of Blusian culture to a new world.

The Blusian Expeditionary Force consists primarily of the Blusian Foreign legion and supported by zouaves, two armored cars, machine guns, field artillery and lancers. The exact numbers of troops is a closely guarded secret.

John Carter has no reservations about fighting Earthmen. he had done that very thing once before, on Earth and in defence of his homeland. Now his homeland was Barsoom. Handicapped, though he was, be the recent sabotage John Carter determined to unite as many people of Barsoom as he could. Green Men were allied to Red Men. He had even enlisted four regiments of Synthetic Men. These last were tremendously strong, although lacking in initiative, combat skill and intelligence. Once they had been hideously ugly but extra large and strong. Now their creator had improved their, once deformed faces into handsome good looks. It was a shame he had not made them less dim witted.

Jon carter had also found the best animal communicators he could find and he was determined to use the vicious banths Barsoomian lions) and white apes against the imminent interlopers.

A NOTE ON THE WARGAME FIGURES.

As usual the game will be in 54  mm. I have taken some liberties with the Warlord of Mars series to make the game a possibility as I will not have time to convert a whole army. The Red Martians will be portrayed by any 'red skinned' troops I have; basically this means American Indians, Aztecs and ancient Egyptians! Unlike in Barsoom, the majority of the Red Martians will lack radium pistols and rifles. This is not too out of place as the Barsoomians seem to prefer using swords anyway. I'll have one unit of converted figures with both swords and pistols. My woodland Indians and some individual conversions will serve as possessing radium rifles.

I have decided to make long arm and artillery long ranges unlimited. This reflects the enormous range attributed by Burroughs to the radium rifles and also the lower gravity increasing the range of all weapons. Although the Martians/Barsoomians will have less ranged weapons they will have greater strength, which will mean they can destroy armored cars.

For Green Men I am stretching things by using orcs. These aren't quite as imposing as 15 foot high Green Martians but they will be stronger than the average humanoids.

The synthetic men will have very low initiatives so they will always go last in close combat (somewhat like zombies). The exception will be their officer who will not be synthetic. The synthetic men will have two wounds each and be very tough so they will be hard to kill. Their weapon skill will be poor so they won't be that great at killing even though they are strong. It will mean they will be effective at holding up enemy units for a long time. They could also destroy armored cars.

The Earthmen will be made from AIP, Detail, DSG and Timpo, among others. The majority will be Foreign Legion.

I am still converting figures so it might be another week before the game is played. Stay tuned for photos over the next few days.

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