Free OSR Material - City of Shiran - Harn

I've been a fan of Harn since I first found the original World release of Harn back in the 80s. So detailed, so realistic. Almost too much so for my players, LOL. Now, you can sample some Harn for free.

City of Shiran is a full-sized Harn release detailing a small city. You can use it as it is, or pull out elements that you want for your own urban environment. Besides, the price is right - it's free!

Shiran is Hârn’s smallest city. Located on the north bank of the Thard River near Lake Benath, it is the second-largest settlement in the Thardic Republic and capital of Shiran Province, one of six in the Republic. Shiran is one of the Republic’s economic and cultural centers. The city has a reputation for corruption and hedonism and is known throughout Hârn as the “City of Sins.”

Shiran offers game masters many opportunities as the site of urban intrigue and adventure.

The Shiran article contains an overview of the city's history, economics, religion, government, and military forces. In addition to a full-page color player map, color GM maps are provided for each district of the city and more than 125 locations are described. Color floor plans and detailed descriptions are included for the Pamesani Arena, site of gladiatorial games and depraved spectacles; the Crimson Palace, Hârn's most famous house of courtesans; and the Temple of Halea, the Empress of Opulence and Queen of Pleasures.

Some material in this article was originally published in Cities of Hârn (1983) and Son of Cities (1987). The article has been greatly expanded and organized to allow for future expansion of new plans and sites within the city.

This article now includes a 2-page expansion of the Bull Ring Tavern, located in the cellar of a nondescript warehouse in the Kobar District, home to many of Shiran's poorer residents. Although most popular with ordinary folk, the Bull Ring is also frequented by members of wealthy land-owning clans seeking a taste of the forbidden. Some patrons appreciate the poor illumination and the lack of questions as long as one’s coin is good. Some activities demand privacy and discretion. The tavern features a fighting pit, where men and animals fight for the entertainment of the crowd. The Bull Ring is a nasty, merciless place, and is owned by Goril of Ardair, the head of the local Lia-Kavair (Thieves' Guild). 

This location expansion describes the establishment, its proprietor, and the sordid events that take place. Full-color plans of the building are included, along with several adventure hooks the GM can use to bring the location into play.

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Deal of the Day - Heraldry (Columbia Games)

Heraldry is an often under-appreciated aspect of fantasy RPGs, but properly used it can add atmosphere and detail. Columbia Games is second to none when it comes to support material that is systemless for your fantasy RPGs.

Heraldry from Columbia Games is today's Deal of the Day. The normal asking price is 9.99, but until tomorrow morning, it is on sale for 4 bucks.

Heraldry, also known as armory, is an art in perfect harmony with this flourishing age of chivalry. Among civilized folk, heraldry is strongly supported by the noble classes. This is partly due to the exclusive right of gentle folk to bear arms and partly due to the color and pageantry involved. On the practical side, military helmets tend to obscure the face, while armour and shields disguise gait and build. There is an urgent need to quickly identify friend or foe on the battlefield and heraldry does this well.

The proper name for a complete heraldic bearing is an achievement; it is a coat of arms only when the arms are depicted on a coat, usually a surcoat. An achievement has a number of possible elements, most of which must be registered with the College of Heralds to be legal.

Illustrations of all common heraldic symbols and devices are included, greatly expanded from the original article.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. 

DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Anchor, YouTube,  or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar

Kickstarter - Hârn World: Medieval Fantasy RPG SETTING Hardback

Harn was the second setting I found for use with AD&D IE, after the Greyhawk Folio. Harn was very different from Greyhawk because even though it was fictional, it felt very authentic. Where Greyhawk was fantastical, Harn was realistic. Harn was/is also systemless, so it could fit AD&D as easily as it could fit RuneQuest or Rolemaster, or any other fantasy RPG system.

Columbia Games is still publishing Harn, and hasn't moved the default timeline since the initial release, so your original material from the 1980s is still valid and usable with today's content.

Currently, Columbia Games is Kickstarting Hârn World: Medieval Fantasy RPG SETTING Hardback (and you also get the PDF). What exactly is included with your $69 pledge?

Not sure?

The HârnWorld Starter Kit includes HarnWorld and the Kingdom of Kaldor for 9.99 (full retail separately would be 69.98 - Harn's PDFs are not cheap)

I'm backing the KS at 69 bucks. I already have the current version of HarnWorld in PDF, but I don't have the Kingdom of Kaldor, and the bundle price is 75% of the price of that PDF alone, so I may be grabbing that too.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. 

DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Anchor, YouTube,  or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar

Kickstarter - Cities of Hârn

"Cities of Hârn is part of the Hârnworld medieval RPG setting. Come to Hârn, where the fantasy is real."

Harn. The final frontier. A low fantasy setting for gamemasters seeking detail, not fluff. This is the 36-year publishing history of The World of Hârn...

Heh. Sorry about that ;) Harn was the second fantasy setting I found in my early gaming days, the first being the Greyhawk Folio. Harn was detailed, but for me, lacked a certain spark. But man, was it detailed.

The City of Hârn Kickstarter is going to bring that level of detail to the masses. Why is that? Back the Kickstarter for a buck and you get a 34-page city supplement in PDF within 48 hours of backing. If you like it, up your pledge to 19 bucks and you a second city and all the stretch goals (HarnWorld is the first stretch goal and is achieved -  This 58-page Hârn article is a general overview of Hârnic cultures, governments, economics, history, and more. It also includes campaign aids for such tasks as generating weather conditions and character backgrounds.) The stretch goals are where the magic is. If you want access to a detailed, low fantasy setting, 19 bucks is a bargain.

All rewards are in PDF.

How NOT to use the OneBookSelf Mail to Sell Your Goods - Columbia Games Loves to Send its Customers Spam

Columbia Games, when is enough fucking enough? Three emails for three different products in 40 minutes? Are you fucking for real?

This isn't a knock of OneBookShelf. They know how to run an online digital and print storefront with minimal hiccups. I'm just pointing out a publisher that abuses the tools given to all publishers and is potentially putting that tool at risk.

Ever hear of "less is more?" Try it sometime...

Somehow I missed April 21st - Four fucking emails!

Free - Harn Region Map - PDF (Columbia Games)

Harn products are not cheap, even in PDF.

That being said, the Harn Region Map went free in PDF earlier this year for "a limited time only." How long is that limited time? Your guess is as good as mine.

I was a fan of Harn back when it first released in my early days of gaming, and probably bought the Harn setting back in 84 or 85. You could literally spend a fortune getting everything that is released for it, but the free map shows you the attention to detail that is part and parcel of the setting.