Could you play Thundarr the Barbarian with the Ironsworn Game Engine?
Lords of Light, Yes!
I was cleaning out the attic and discovered a box of old projects. Among the sketches and printed images from the Internet was a series of test drawings of the Princess Ariel from Thundarr the Barbarian.
Some of us were lucky to grow up in the 1980s when Saturday mornings were dedicated to watching cartoons. Among the cartoons in the early 1980s was Thundarr the Barbarian. Despite its name, Thundarr the Barbarian was set in the future. The intro of the cartoon sets the scene for you. “In the year 1994, from out of space comes a runaway planet, hurtling between the Earth and the Moon, unleashing cosmic destruction! Human’s civilization is cast in ruin! Two thousand years later, Earth is recivilized with a strange new world rises from the old: a world of savagery, super science and sorcery. But one man bursts his bonds to fight for justice! With his companions Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel, he pits his strength, his courage, and his fabulous Sunsword against the forces of evil. He is Thundarr, the Barbarian!”.1
The mention of or references to any companies or products in this article is not a challenge to the trademarks or copyrights concerned. Thundarr the Barbarian was created by Ruby-Spears Productions and is copyright Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Could we use Ironsworn?
As avid supporters of Ironsworn, we wondered ‘Could you play Thundarr the Barbarian using the Ironsworn game engine?’ Does a Mok ride a reptile-horse? Yes, you can definitely play a campaign set in the world of Thundarr the Barbarian using Ironsworn or The Untrodden Ways. Everything is a journey. Thundarr or Ariel were always swearing a vow to save someone.
Unlike Masters of the Universe (He-man), Thundarr never lost its science fiction roots. He-man became very ‘super hero’ with its colorful cast of characters on Eternia. By contrast, Thundarr is firmly grounded in science fiction weapons and plots. Use these futuristic barbarian oracles to plan out your adventure.
Super Science and Locations
Over the course of two television seasons, Thundarr, Princess Ariel, and Ookla traveled to many places across the globe. Their nights were illuminated by the cracked moon. Their days were filled with thrilling adventures. New Earth is divided among many smaller kingdoms requiring you to negotiate your way across borders, through strange towns, and into futuristic cities.
Thundarr also has Planet of the Apes surprises baked into it. Lost history is the normal on New Earth. Depending on the location, you could find a labyrinth of old skyscrapers or pieces of the Statue of Liberty.
Set thousands of years in the future, there is also hyper-science created technology (weapons, ships, flying cars, etc.) and cities. If you are a fan of Ironsworn: Starforged, the cataclysm may be why humanity left Earth. You could easily bring sci-fi, space elements into a futuristic barbarian campaign.
Sorcery and Magic
Magic on Thundarr the Barbarian is more smack-boom and less ritual. Only wizards and sorcerers can use magic and require training. To modify the stock Ironsworn magic system, you could assume that once a ritual has been performed, the magic user never has to learn it again.
Using Ariel as an example, she learned magic as an apprentice. Today she can fling magic around for devastating effects like animating statues, creating energy constructs, and healing.
Take a point of momentum away for each time the character employs the Magic Ritual move. Give consequence to the use of magic that doesn’t require a ritual.
Common Magic Spells
- energy enclosures
- energy shields
- energy blasts
- energy net
- energize and animate machinery
- element shifting
Additional Roleplaying Game Resources
If Thundarr the Barbarian proves to be a hit with your campaign, consider other 80s cartoons like
Blackstar
Astronaut John Blackstar falls through a blackhole. He acquires an energy sword and a flying dragon.
The Herculoids
On an alien planet, a family and their collection of domesticated creatures must defend themselves from local and off-world harm.
Your First Campaign in a Futuristic Barbarian Setting
If making a homebrew Thundarr campaign is in your future, consider this starting point for your adventure.
Watch Secret of the Black Pearl on YouTube or buy the entire season of Thundarr the Barbarian for your home collection.
At the end of the episode, our favorite trio ride off into the murky sunset with the pearl destroyed and the wizard vanquished (or so we believe). Your village elders have sworn to find more of the black pearls. ‘Lords of Light’, the glory and honor will be all yours. That Princess seemed to know what she was talking about so you decide to follow their trail into the wilderness.
Roll for Undertake a Journey. Use the Futuristic Barbarian oracles to pick the perils you will face on this adventure. Could the wizard still be alive? Imagine your action. Pick your move. Roll your dice. See where the oracles take you.
References
- Wikipedia
- 1 Thundarr Fandom Wiki
- Artwork created using photos from Pexels.com and Morguefile.com including CarolinaJG, dmscs, jdurham, keeshu, abolfazl-salehi, brett-sayles, cottonbro, immortelleana, tima-miroshnichenko