You just watched the new Masters of the Universe (MotU) movie and are excited about the possibility of playing a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) set in that universe. Or perhaps you want to create your own campaign inspired by MotU or another classic cartoon show from the 80s and 90s. What options do you have?
Once upon a time—specifically in 1985—FASA published a Masters of the Universe role-playing game (nd there is a reason for those quotes). You can read about it on RPG.net and in this review, but I’ll quote the latter to save you some time:
“Unfortunately, the Masters of the Universe Role Playing Game does not live up to its name. It’s another bad licensed board game. Not only that, but it’s an incomplete, unplayable board game with some of the worst and most confusing rules ever written.”
There was also a Legends of Grayskull TTRPG using the Cortex rules announced some years back, which unfortunately never came to be when the game’s owner sold it.
So, what options do you actually have? Allow me to share a few.
Umdaar: Rebel Broadcast Edition
Evil Hat Games just published Umdaar: Rebel Broadcast Edition, a stand-alone game powered by the Fate system and heavily inspired by MotU, She-Ra, Thundercats, One Piece, and The Legend of Korra. The game looks great, the rules are a perfect fit for the genre, and it’s PWYW via DriveThruRPG so that you can check it out risk-free. However, if you like it, you can always support the company by paying for the book.
- DriveThruRPG Link: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/568102/umdaar-rebel-broadcast-edition?affiliate_id=3727
- Evil Hat Games Store: https://evilhat.com/product/umdaar/
Cartoon Action Hour
Cartoon Action Hour was designed specifically to emulate the exact type of cartoons that inspired the movie. I backed the project some years ago, and they have a dedicated setting guide called Warriors of the Cosmos that is directly inspired by He-Man and similarly themed series.
- Cartoon Action Hour https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/213819/warriors-of-the-cosmos-pack-bundle?affiliate_id=3727
- Warriors of the Cosmos: https://www.drivethrurpg.com//product/212244/cah-s3-the-complete-guide-to-warriors-of-the-cosmos?affiliate_id=3727
Blades of Power: Synth and Sorcery Roleplaying
If you are willing to wait until it is published, James Spahn of Barrel Rider Games is currently running a Kickstarter for their new game, Blades of Power: Synth and Sorcery Roleplaying. It is a TTRPG based on the D&D B/X ruleset, and it sounds like an absolute blast. Here is the description straight from their crowdfunding page:
“…a “stand-alone fantasy roleplaying game that is fully compatible with Old School Essentials and other classic B/X rules set, but designed for play that emulates the fantasy found in classic adventure cartoons of the 1980s. It’s on sunsets across apocalyptic landscapes. It’s larger-than-life heroes with fabulous magical powers. It’s our power blade in one hand and a laser-blazer in the other as you face off against the time-traveling Draconis Maximus, the vile Serpentmen of Venom Spire, and the brain-bending Denizens of the Dream-City, for the fate of the universe!”
- Kickstarter Campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/barrelridergames/retroquest
MotU 3.5
For a different take on the d20 system, there is a D&D 3.5 conversion for He-Man. I’m entirely sure this is the specific d20 system I would personally use for MotU—it is a bit more rules-heavy than what I’d prefer for this genre—but YMMV!
- Fan Conversion Link: https://ralp.net/dungeons/he-man/
Playing with Miniatures!
While not strictly a TTRPG, there is a dedicated MotU miniatures game called Masters of the Universe: Battleground. Check it out if you want to get tactical on the grid!
- Game Link: https://archon-studio.com/motubattleground
Here is a video review:
And finally, I would be entirely remiss if I didn’t say that (say it with me, everyone): you could absolutely do MotU with Savage Worlds! 😊
