HârnMaster
Encyclopedia
HârnMaster is a fantasy
role-playing game
based in the fantasy world of Hârn
. The system, like the world, was designed primarily by N. Robin Crossby
.
There are now multiple versions of HârnMaster available through the original publishers and through various third-party vendors. Each version has different strengths:
The original high-realism HârnMaster was published by Columbia Games
and is now long out of print.
HârnMaster Core Rules was published by Columbia Games
and later supplemented by HârnMaster Religion, HârnMaster Magic, HârnMaster Barbarians, and HârnManor (a set of rules for developing consistent medieval manors for use as role-playing settings or as settings for collaborative fiction
). The Core Rules were well-suited for a gamist style of play, but many players felt it suffered from some complexities that interfered with play.
HârnMaster Core was seen by some as an oversimplification of the original. Some fans appreciated the change as it made play move faster at the expense of realism. Others preferred the realism of the original. Original author N. Robin Crossby
responded with the even more detailed HârnMaster Gold.
HârnMaster Gold Player's Edition and GM's Edition are published by Kelestia Productions
and is known for exceptional realism. It is best suited for a realist style of play, and is not well-suited for those who prefer a fast-paced game.
Many players wanted a still faster, better-balanced game with more social options for characters. Columbia Games
HârnMaster 3rd Edition fixed many of the difficulties of the Core Rules while remaining compatible with the Magic, Religion, and other expansions. It is suited for a faster-paced game than HârnMaster Gold.
In addition to the multiple versions of HârnMaster published by Kelestia Productions
and Columbia Games
, there are numerous house rules available through the dedicated fan community.
Attributes are also used as a basis for the skill system, which is the core mechanism for combat and non-combat task resolution. The Hârnmaster system provides no character classes, instead using a character's background (which is generated in great detail) to determine his initial skills. A character generally begins play with several sets of skills:
Each skill is improved independently, in response to use in play or to study and training. There are no theoretical limitations on what skills a character can learn; a priest or wizard is free to learn combat skills of any type, and a knight or soldier is free to focus on knowledge skills or stealth and thievery. In practice, skill acquisition and advancement can be limited by in-game circumstances, such as the availability of a teacher or social norms (non-noble characters, for instance, are prohibited from owning certain weapons- making it difficult for non-noble characters to attain proficiency with these weapons).
While attributes are rated on a 3-18 scale, skills are rated from 1-95 and attempts to use skills are resolved with a 1d100 roll. Attributes are tested directly by multiplying the attribute by a number between 1 and 5 (depending on the difficulty of the task), and rolling a 1d100. Penalties to skill or attribute checks- due to fatigue, injury, encumbrance, or other circumstances- decrease the 'target' number that the player must roll under in order to succeed. Successes or failures by rolls that end in 5 are considered to be Critical Success or Critical Failure; other successes and failures are rated as Marginal. Conflicts between two characters- such as combat- are resolved by cross referencing the degrees of success and failure of each party on a chart. For example, in combat, a Critical Success for an attacker combined with Critical Failure for a defender would mean that a particularly fierce blow had been struck. Critical Success for a defender and Critical Failure for the attacker might indicate that not only had a blow been blocked or dodged, but that the attacker may have been thrown off balance, disarmed, or put at a tactical disadvantage. More moderate results would result in more modest successes for one party, or a temporary stalemate.
In combat, each injury is tracked individually, rather than subtracting from a pool of Hit Points or Life Points. More serious injuries introduce the risk of a character being knocked unconscious from shock, being instantly killed, or (optionally) losing a limb. A character may also be killed or knocked unconscious by blood loss or a combination of lesser injuries. Unhealed injuries penalize a characters actions, including combat actions, reducing their overall effectiveness. Each injury heals at a different rate, depending on its severity, and open wounds have the potential to become infected, slowing healing and possibly causing death. Permanent injuries- either in the form of amputated or otherwise lost limbs- or attribute penalties caused by poorly-healed injuries are also a possibility. The combat and injury system is quite lethal, compared to many roleplaying systems. Even for veteran characters, combat with a skilled opponent or a sneak attack by an opponent armed with a modest weapon can lead to death in a single strike; an unarmed blow to the neck or a bowshot to the eye can be fatal.
The magic system is based around six elemental principles: Lyahvi (Air/Light/Illusion), Peleahn (Fire), Jmorvi (Metal/Artifice), Fyrvia (Life/Growth/Decay), Odivshe (Water/Cold), and Savorya (Mind/Spirit/Knowledge). The principles are arranged in a wheel, with Lyahvi being opposed to Fyrvia, Peleahn to Odivshe, and Jmorvi to Savorya. Mages, known as Shek-Pvar, begin their careers attuned to one of the elements, and are said to be in that elemental convocation. Spells are learned as skills, with substantial bonuses for spells in one's own convocation, substantial penalties for spells in the opposing convocation, and smaller effects for the other convocations; there are also neutral spells which are not part of any convocation, and common spells for which a version exists in each convocation. Eventually a mage can become a grey mage, losing both the penalties and bonuses based on spells' elemental alignment. The system also has rules for researching and learning new spells as well as creating spells "on the fly" (usually with a large chance of failure).
Characters track a piety level with their patron deity, if any (Hârn has ten well-detailed major deities and a larger number of lesser ones). Characters with high piety scores and proper priestly training may then petition their deity for miracles appropriate to the deity's nature (healing, divination, sustenance, etc.).
There are also rules for psionic abilities (telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, etc.) which are handled in the same way as other skills.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
based in the fantasy world of Hârn
Hârn
Hârn is a world published by and designed for use in fantasy role-playing games . It was designed by N. Robin Crossby, and it was published by Columbia Games in 1983. In 2003, Crossby claimed that the contract between him and CGI had ended...
. The system, like the world, was designed primarily by N. Robin Crossby
N. Robin Crossby
N. Robin Crossby was the creator of the Hârn fantasy setting and the HârnMaster role-playing game system, as well as dozens of other related works describing the world of Hârn.-Early life:...
.
There are now multiple versions of HârnMaster available through the original publishers and through various third-party vendors. Each version has different strengths:
The original high-realism HârnMaster was published by Columbia Games
Columbia Games
Columbia Games is a maker of board and role-playing games including Hârn and a variety of games, mostly wargames using blocks instead of the more conventional chits...
and is now long out of print.
HârnMaster Core Rules was published by Columbia Games
Columbia Games
Columbia Games is a maker of board and role-playing games including Hârn and a variety of games, mostly wargames using blocks instead of the more conventional chits...
and later supplemented by HârnMaster Religion, HârnMaster Magic, HârnMaster Barbarians, and HârnManor (a set of rules for developing consistent medieval manors for use as role-playing settings or as settings for collaborative fiction
Collaborative fiction
Collaborative fiction is a form of writing by a group of authors who share creative control of a story.Collaborative fiction can occur for commercial gain, as part of education, or recreationally - many collaboratively written works have been the subject of a large degree of academic research.-...
). The Core Rules were well-suited for a gamist style of play, but many players felt it suffered from some complexities that interfered with play.
HârnMaster Core was seen by some as an oversimplification of the original. Some fans appreciated the change as it made play move faster at the expense of realism. Others preferred the realism of the original. Original author N. Robin Crossby
N. Robin Crossby
N. Robin Crossby was the creator of the Hârn fantasy setting and the HârnMaster role-playing game system, as well as dozens of other related works describing the world of Hârn.-Early life:...
responded with the even more detailed HârnMaster Gold.
HârnMaster Gold Player's Edition and GM's Edition are published by Kelestia Productions
Kelestia Productions
Keléstia Productions publishes role-playing materials for use with Hârn, a fictitious setting. Keléstia Productions was created by N. Robin Crossby, the original creator of Hârn, after a contract dispute with publisher Columbia Games proved irresolvable....
and is known for exceptional realism. It is best suited for a realist style of play, and is not well-suited for those who prefer a fast-paced game.
Many players wanted a still faster, better-balanced game with more social options for characters. Columbia Games
Columbia Games
Columbia Games is a maker of board and role-playing games including Hârn and a variety of games, mostly wargames using blocks instead of the more conventional chits...
HârnMaster 3rd Edition fixed many of the difficulties of the Core Rules while remaining compatible with the Magic, Religion, and other expansions. It is suited for a faster-paced game than HârnMaster Gold.
In addition to the multiple versions of HârnMaster published by Kelestia Productions
Kelestia Productions
Keléstia Productions publishes role-playing materials for use with Hârn, a fictitious setting. Keléstia Productions was created by N. Robin Crossby, the original creator of Hârn, after a contract dispute with publisher Columbia Games proved irresolvable....
and Columbia Games
Columbia Games
Columbia Games is a maker of board and role-playing games including Hârn and a variety of games, mostly wargames using blocks instead of the more conventional chits...
, there are numerous house rules available through the dedicated fan community.
Rules
Hârnmaster characters are described primarily by their attributes and skills. Attributes are initially generated in the range of 3-18 and may be modified by race, background, gender, or medical conditions. Compared to many other games, Hârnmaster has a very large and detailed set of attributes. In addition to the common qualities of Strength, Stamina, and Intelligence, etc., Hârnmaster attributes independently measure a character's eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell, his physical attractiveness (to a member of the same species), both manual and bodily dexterity, willpower, and psychic strength. In addition to these basic attributes, a number of derived attributes (such as Endurance, derived from Strength, Stamina, and Will) are used to describe a character's basic qualities and abilities.Attributes are also used as a basis for the skill system, which is the core mechanism for combat and non-combat task resolution. The Hârnmaster system provides no character classes, instead using a character's background (which is generated in great detail) to determine his initial skills. A character generally begins play with several sets of skills:
- Automatic skills, which any character can attempt to use without training. This includes common tasks such as climbing and jumping, common knowledge, and basic social skills.
- Family skills, determined by the player character's family background. Characters are assumed to have worked in the occupation of their parent (or other guardian) until the age of 10-12, and have basic skills in these occupations.
- Occupational skills, derived from the character's employment. These skills can be entirely distinct from family skills (if the character did not follow his parent's occupation), or can be an improvement to the family skills that were already gained (someone who was raised by fishermen begins play as a better fisherman than one who was raised by woodcarvers).
- Optional militia skills, which can represent rudimentary combat training for a character whose primary occupation is not combat related.
Each skill is improved independently, in response to use in play or to study and training. There are no theoretical limitations on what skills a character can learn; a priest or wizard is free to learn combat skills of any type, and a knight or soldier is free to focus on knowledge skills or stealth and thievery. In practice, skill acquisition and advancement can be limited by in-game circumstances, such as the availability of a teacher or social norms (non-noble characters, for instance, are prohibited from owning certain weapons- making it difficult for non-noble characters to attain proficiency with these weapons).
While attributes are rated on a 3-18 scale, skills are rated from 1-95 and attempts to use skills are resolved with a 1d100 roll. Attributes are tested directly by multiplying the attribute by a number between 1 and 5 (depending on the difficulty of the task), and rolling a 1d100. Penalties to skill or attribute checks- due to fatigue, injury, encumbrance, or other circumstances- decrease the 'target' number that the player must roll under in order to succeed. Successes or failures by rolls that end in 5 are considered to be Critical Success or Critical Failure; other successes and failures are rated as Marginal. Conflicts between two characters- such as combat- are resolved by cross referencing the degrees of success and failure of each party on a chart. For example, in combat, a Critical Success for an attacker combined with Critical Failure for a defender would mean that a particularly fierce blow had been struck. Critical Success for a defender and Critical Failure for the attacker might indicate that not only had a blow been blocked or dodged, but that the attacker may have been thrown off balance, disarmed, or put at a tactical disadvantage. More moderate results would result in more modest successes for one party, or a temporary stalemate.
In combat, each injury is tracked individually, rather than subtracting from a pool of Hit Points or Life Points. More serious injuries introduce the risk of a character being knocked unconscious from shock, being instantly killed, or (optionally) losing a limb. A character may also be killed or knocked unconscious by blood loss or a combination of lesser injuries. Unhealed injuries penalize a characters actions, including combat actions, reducing their overall effectiveness. Each injury heals at a different rate, depending on its severity, and open wounds have the potential to become infected, slowing healing and possibly causing death. Permanent injuries- either in the form of amputated or otherwise lost limbs- or attribute penalties caused by poorly-healed injuries are also a possibility. The combat and injury system is quite lethal, compared to many roleplaying systems. Even for veteran characters, combat with a skilled opponent or a sneak attack by an opponent armed with a modest weapon can lead to death in a single strike; an unarmed blow to the neck or a bowshot to the eye can be fatal.
The magic system is based around six elemental principles: Lyahvi (Air/Light/Illusion), Peleahn (Fire), Jmorvi (Metal/Artifice), Fyrvia (Life/Growth/Decay), Odivshe (Water/Cold), and Savorya (Mind/Spirit/Knowledge). The principles are arranged in a wheel, with Lyahvi being opposed to Fyrvia, Peleahn to Odivshe, and Jmorvi to Savorya. Mages, known as Shek-Pvar, begin their careers attuned to one of the elements, and are said to be in that elemental convocation. Spells are learned as skills, with substantial bonuses for spells in one's own convocation, substantial penalties for spells in the opposing convocation, and smaller effects for the other convocations; there are also neutral spells which are not part of any convocation, and common spells for which a version exists in each convocation. Eventually a mage can become a grey mage, losing both the penalties and bonuses based on spells' elemental alignment. The system also has rules for researching and learning new spells as well as creating spells "on the fly" (usually with a large chance of failure).
Characters track a piety level with their patron deity, if any (Hârn has ten well-detailed major deities and a larger number of lesser ones). Characters with high piety scores and proper priestly training may then petition their deity for miracles appropriate to the deity's nature (healing, divination, sustenance, etc.).
There are also rules for psionic abilities (telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, etc.) which are handled in the same way as other skills.