Why You Should Be Playing Hârn Master 3rd Edition (part one.)

This will probably be in four parts.

Let's start with the setting. Hârn is one of the best-detailed fantasy settings around, and it is deliberately a low-magic, mostly realistic early-high medieval setting. This fog-shrouded island, off the northwestern coast of the continent of Lythia, is somewhat analogous to Great Britain and Ireland but as a single landmass.
 

Hârn was first published in 1983, and since then, the details of the world have just been added, but always in a thoughtful and careful manner. The level of detail is astounding. Visit the King of Kaldor in his castle at Olokand, and the GM will not just have the floorplan but the height and shape of ceilings, the location and probability of guards, and the names of everyone who lives and works in the place.
 

The island is home to several kingdoms and one merchant republic. The kingdoms are mostly traditional feudal states, although Melderyn is assumed to be really ruled by a council of wizards, and Orbal is an Invinian (Viking) state that still struggles with internal strife and rebellions by the subjugated Jarin population. Every state comes with some drama. In Kaldor, King Miginath amazes his subjects by just staying alive, and he has no clear heir. In Rethem, six of the last seven monarchs have died violent deaths. 
 

Along with the settled lands, the vast forests and heaths are home to numerous tribal people, some peaceful, some hostile to outsiders. Guarding trade caravans is a great way to get a group together as they guide merchants along several trade routes. Also threatening the peace of the island are fierce Gargun (orcs) monsters either created or imported from another realm by Lothrim the Foulspawner. 
 

The gods are real but limited in influence, and magic exists but is rare. I'll touch on these in the next few posts on the subject.