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Barbarians of the Ruined Earth (Standard Cover)

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This is the standard edition cover for the book by James Hanson.  You can find the Special Edition cover by James V West here.  

Barbarians of the Ruined Earth is a weird post-apocalyptic fantasy setting inspired by Thundarr the Barbarian. Throw in a healthy heap of Mad Max: Fury Road and a little Pirates of Dark Water and you’ve got yourself a Saturday Morning Cartoon Stew fueled by heavy metal!

The players take on the role of heroes (or maybe some feisty brigands or profiteers), wandering the Ruined Earth defeating evil Sorcerers, beating the crap out of mutated frog-men, bashing some raider skulls, or wandering through the stinking ruins of an Ancient Earth space shuttle hanger looking for bits of Stupendous Science! 

Blurb From the Back Cover: 

What can I say about Barbarians of the Ruined Earth that the tasty 89 full color illustrations packed into this goddamned book doesn’t already scream at you? I mean aside from the fact it uses The Black Hack, has 4 classes and 4 races (each with cool abilities, starting gear, and tables to generate unique trinkets and life events), 7 sample traps, new magic system with 30 spells, new and fun equipment for the setting, including 12 weaponized animals, hireling and vehicle rules, 14 pieces of Stupendous Science, 60 different mutations, 18 pieces of cyberware, 11 charts and tables for GM’s to use on the fly, 46 adversaries to pit your players against, a point crawl in the ruins of the Los Angeles area with 13 locations, all channeling the spirt of Thundarr the Barbarian, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Pirates of Dark Water and it’s wrapped up in a 162 page sexy package… what else is there?! Not much, I’m afraid…

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Reviews (4)
Discussions (25)
Customer avatar
Elliot S September 28, 2023 1:52 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Any chance I could get a voucher for the PDF please? I accidentally ordered the soft cover printed book without the PDF download option. (I really dislike how Drivethrurpg does this, as the printed option always seems to be above the print + PDF option!)
Customer avatar
David H August 22, 2023 12:42 am UTC
PURCHASER
Can the Death Priest's Miracles be cast once per day? If so, how do they regain Miracles, after a day of rest? Also, the Belt of Super Strength has the same description as the Scepter of Flame, except it says it can be used once per day instead of twice per day. What should the description of the Belt of Super Strength be and what is the correct number of times per day for the Scepter of Flame?
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TIMOTHY B August 22, 2023 12:16 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Seek out the facebook group. Mike is active there. I've copied your questions and one of mine over there
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David H August 22, 2023 6:23 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I don't use Facebook, could you post his reply here if he responds?
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TIMOTHY B August 26, 2023 2:44 am UTC
PURCHASER
He said he is going to update the PDF with corrections. Then we can download the new version.
Customer avatar
Alexander O February 05, 2023 7:03 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Absolutely great product, but could I get some clarification on the downloads that come with this, please? There are two, one named DIYRPG_BotRE_screenRes_complete_(1) and one named DIYRPG_BotRE_screenRes_complete_v2. They *look* almost identical, with the only difference I can find being that the v2 file appears to be a handful of KB smaller.
Customer avatar
TIMOTHY B November 06, 2022 1:34 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I did purchase the paperback version of the game and love it. Ive started doing some solo play. There's a problem with the cultist and cult leader entries. Both have cult leader special abilities listed. They are similar yet slightly different. Could you clarify these entries?
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Richard H June 26, 2023 4:52 pm UTC
PURCHASER
How well-suited to solo is it?
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TIMOTHY B June 26, 2023 7:56 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I think it works well. It's Black Hack based which is a player facing system. I like that because, for the most part, you only need to know the player character stats when you're making rolls.
Customer avatar
TIMOTHY B September 03, 2022 3:33 am UTC
PURCHASER
I love the vibe of this game.  I really want to buy it.  I have one hang-up about a complaint I've seen a couple places.  A player can start with an 18 in a stat.  That stat is immediately overpowered.  It's overpowered even rolling at disadvantage.  The sentiment seems to be that if that happens the DM just has to figure it out?  Are there enemies that cause the player to roll with a penalty + modifier?  I just need a little help to pull that trigger.
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Customer avatar
William A August 21, 2023 4:06 pm UTC
Did the publisher ever give an answer to this privately. Is it, like you said, just the OSR tenet of house ruling it.
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TIMOTHY B August 21, 2023 4:49 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I'm playing a solo game. My character has an 18 dex. It hasn't really been problematic. For example in combat she has taken plenty of damage especially against strength based attacks. Also the enemy damage ramps up fairly quickly so its a dangerous world even with that 18 dex. I really like the game.
Customer avatar
Mike E December 20, 2021 7:42 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Great review for Barbarians:)

https://painfullyhopeful.me/2021/12/17/barbarians-of-the-ruined-earth/?fbclid=IwAR0ZWb8wmDbH1k0_g-oDrMmdQXHt-e299y7IwI06ILNyttg12tbFcf71AZY
Customer avatar
Oscar C March 28, 2021 4:56 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Question: Do PC's grow in terms or damage output? Like HD goes from d8 to d10? I dont see it in the rule book but would seem logical that it did. New to TTRPGs so I am trying to figire things as I go playing solo :)
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Customer avatar
Mike E March 29, 2021 1:47 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Nope. Their damage stays consistent. Like getting a piece of Stupendous Science can increase class damage by 1 level or cause critical damage to be rolled with Advantage, etc.
Customer avatar
Marcus Vinícius D March 23, 2021 3:09 pm UTC
Hey, Mike!
First of all: CONGRATULATIONS!!! Your book is all I ever wanted in a science fantasy game! I am 43 years old and my favourite cartoon during my childhood was Thundarr.
I have question: the character sheet has a section for "Proficiencies", but I haven't found any mention to proficiencies in the book. What they are and where do I find them?
Thank you very much for this work of art!!!
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Customer avatar
Mike E March 29, 2021 1:48 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I'm glad you enjoy! If I remember right it's just where people could put their weapon and armor proficiencies, languages, etc.
Customer avatar
Yue-Bond C February 24, 2021 2:38 am UTC
Hi Mike, hope you are well. I sent you an email at DIY production regarding shipping and tracking.... not sure if you see it. Since I see you appears to be active here. Would you mind taking a look at my question? If there is a problem, I will buy it here at DTRPG as I will support your work either way! Thanks
Customer avatar
Dillard R February 18, 2021 1:47 pm UTC
PURCHASER
When rolling up STATS there is no provision for swapping two attributes...is this intentional?
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Customer avatar
Mike E February 22, 2021 6:56 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
It's up to the GM for that call. When I run games sometimes I allow that, others I don't. Other times I say XXX it and let them roll in any order:)
Customer avatar
Dillard R February 18, 2021 6:24 am UTC
PURCHASER
Do you use ranged attacks for Sorcerer's Staff (DEX)? What is the range of the Staff?
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Customer avatar
Mike E February 22, 2021 6:56 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Yup.
Customer avatar
Dillard R February 17, 2021 11:02 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Do I need Black Hack 2 or can I run this as is? Or would you recommend Black Hack 2 for additional support?
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Customer avatar
Mike E February 22, 2021 6:57 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I highly recommend supporting Black Hack but you do not need it. Black Hack 2e has some different mechanics than Barbarians but it's easily modified.
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Customer avatar
Dillard R February 23, 2021 4:40 am UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks for answering all my questions. I did come across where you talked about ranged attacks typically not going beyond Far Away. So you got me to watch Thundarr the Barbarian. Plus I am listening to The Dying Earth. So I am really getting the vibe for Barbarians of the Ruined Earth.
Customer avatar
Jeff D November 23, 2020 2:13 pm UTC
PURCHASER
@ Mike E, I just bought the PDF. How easy (or not easy?) would it be to use this product with other old school rules sets, such as Old School Essentials or Labyrinth Lord, etc. I ask because I don't really need yet another rule set but as a Thundarr fan since it was on Saturday mornings, the setting is very intriguing to me.
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Customer avatar
Mike E November 30, 2020 4:49 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi Jeff! Oh super easy. Barbarians uses the Black Hack, which still has the 6 normal D&D stats. The abilities are either ported over or, if they call for Advantage, I'd simply change it to a +2 or +4 modifier.
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Customer avatar
Jeff D November 30, 2020 5:06 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Great. Thank you!
Customer avatar
Randall O September 29, 2020 7:32 pm UTC
PURCHASER
This looks great and I'm most likely going to pick up the PDF. I love more Black Hack content!

That being said, $40 and $50, respectively, are a lot to ask for 164 physical pages, in my opinion. Typically when I spend that kind of money I get around double that.

Of course, I am speaking as a consumer and not a producer of content, so there may be very good reasons for the pricing that I am not aware of. It's just too much for me, personally.

Thank you again for writing this!
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Customer avatar
Mike E October 09, 2020 3:45 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hey Randall! Thanks for the feedback. I totally get that the price point is high for some but yeah- there are several factors... The major reason is that the book is in full color with 99 illustrations in it, which is a huge amount of art. Production-wise, I sank $6,000 into the art and another $1k into the layout...

While OBS offers a great service with allowing independent rpg publishers to print their books without the nuts upfront cost, it costs nearly $20 alone to print the book then there is the % OBS takes for their services. For each book I sell, I make roughly $11 which then I roll back into DIY to hopefully produce more cool XXX in the future :)
Customer avatar
Mike E September 14, 2020 12:58 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
James M over at Grognardia did a review of Barbarians of the Ruined Earth- wanted to share it here as well: http://grognardia.blogspot.com/2020/09/review-barbarians-of-ruined-earth.html
Customer avatar
Simon P August 23, 2020 7:44 pm UTC
PURCHASER
(I can't write a review as a publisher, so I'll write here)

An absurd, colorful, gonzo game for people who have a sense of humour and a love for post-apocalyptic adventures. The rules are very easy and there is a nice selection of character types to choose from, and none of them mirror the typical fighter-mage-thief. Just as the game and setting itself, every character is crazy and weird. My only complaint is that the game is "pretty OSR" in terms of character advancement. From what I noticed, characters gain nothing from leveling up, aside from a chance to get sightly higher stats. I only played a Black Hack game once, but if I'm correct - this is "sadly" how the system just works. I'll have to find a fan supplement that enchances leveling-up a bit, so that it will be more exciting for my "newschool" players.

Also:
- The Bestiary is amazing. I love the art and the dumb monsters/mutants/animated golem trucks.
- A lot random tables, which allow...See more
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Customer avatar
Mike E August 24, 2020 12:55 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks so much! I'm glad you dig. I get that the way OSR games level up isn't everyone's cup of tea. I'm not a fan of level bloat and a load of abilities so that is something that really appealed to me with TBH.

As far as further progression goes I give out Stupendous Science devices (magic items) and new abilities that they earn through play rather than a level ladder system. Feels more organic and rewarding to me:)
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File Last Updated:
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This title was added to our catalog on July 06, 2020.