
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,252
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Dungeons of Doria
- 1–6 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2023

1979
Rules assistance for John Carter: Warlord of Mars
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
John Carter: Warlord of Mars is a board game released in 1979 for 2–6 players, 60–360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Mark Herman and Eric Goldberg and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Point to Point Movement.
The Game simulates the legendary world of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Barsoom. Players are involved in Barsoomian epics in the role of one hero or one of his companions, and strive to perform as nobly as those heroes of the past. There are evil villains to be met, Martian wildlife to be tamed, great treasures unique to Barsoom to be gained and lovely lasses to be wooed and won. Players do not strive for victory points, but for greater glory, high romance and their attendant acclaim. There are two major parts to the game, the Dueling game and the strategic game. Man-to-man combat, and then the campaign type game (Strategic) where players take on the roles of heroes and villains, a delicate blend of negotiation and action is needed to succeed in this sci-fi epic.
John Carter: Warlord of Mars supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for John Carter: Warlord of Mars is 60–360 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists John Carter: Warlord of Mars for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
John Carter: Warlord of Mars has a complexity rating of 3.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
John Carter: Warlord of Mars belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Wargame. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Point to Point Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of John Carter: Warlord of Mars are: Mark Herman and Eric Goldberg. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists John Carter: Warlord of Mars as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.