Mark Hunt has been a solid member of the TTRPG community and the industry for a long time. He began gaming in the 70s and eventually became the owner of Gangbusters, which was originally a TSR product. However, his most recent work was actually writing an article for Scientific Barbarian #6 on how to run your post-apoc game like Thundarr the Barbarian! Check it out below!

Hi Mark, we don't really know each other, but I'm a little familiar with your work. In particular, I know that you've done a lot to bring back Gangbusters. Was Gangbusters your first TTRPG experience or maybe the first one that really "grabbed you"?

My introduction to the world of tabletop role-playing games didn't begin with Gangbusters; instead, it was the B/X D&D edition of 1981 that left a lasting impression on me. Despite dabbling in 0D&D in 1979, it was the B/X version that truly struck a chord.

I assume that you also played some Dungeons and Dragons, but what's been your experience with sci-fi/ post-apoc TTRPGs?

I've dabbled in a wide array of tabletop role-playing games over the years, including Metamorphosis Alpha, Simian Conquest, Gamma World, MCC (Mutant Crawl Classics), Rifts, Morrow Project, and many more. Each game, with its distinct setting and mechanics, has found its way to my table for at least one session, contributing to a diverse and enriching gaming experience.

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For Scientific Barbarian #6, you've written an article titled How To Play Thundarr the Barbarian in Your Favorite RPG. Can you also tell us about that? Were you a Thundarr fan back in the day? I watched Thundarr for the first time just a couple years ago and absolutely loved it.

I opted to develop a framework for replicating different aspects of the TV show in various D&D game systems, rather than attempting an all-encompassing conversion. Within this framework, I've incorporated feats, skills, and practical examples to emulate the activities showcased in the TV series. Having been a devoted fan of Thundarr since its early days, I still find joy in revisiting the series through occasional reruns.

How collaborative was the process of writing that article? Were you revising it based on Jim's feedback or chatting with Tim Snider since he wrote a Thundarr-inspired adventure (title Dominion of Disaster)?

Having a discussion with Jim about his preferences, I delved into the task with a mostly unrestricted creative license, as long as the article remained on the specified subject. Working with Jim was a delightful experience; he proved to be an excellent collaborator. While I haven't had the opportunity to converse with Tim Snider about the adventure, I'm an avid admirer of his work.

Thanks for being so kind to answer my questions, Mark! Is there anything I didn't ask you about that you'd want to share? What other work should people check out? Is there a good place to contact your online?

Explore the world of Gangbusters and incorporate it into your regular gaming routine! Join me on the Gangbusters fan page on Facebook, where I regularly share content and participate in discussions about the game. I'm actively working on the Expert version of Gangbusters, set to launch by Garycon next year! Thanks for having me, and I look forward to the possibility of meeting you in person at Garycon next year if you're planning to attend.

Thanks for chatting with me, Mark. That’s super exciting to hear about the future of Gangbusters! I won’t be able to be at GaryCon 2024, but hope to be there in 2025. I hope others take the opportunity to meet you though! You’re a wonderful influence to the hobby.

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