This ain't you typical RPG magic system. The story elements of Harn's Shek-Pvar are absorbed into the game mechanics with little effort. Advancement is based on your mastery level, your imagination in developing new spells, and willingness to part with esoteric items.

I love the collaboration between GM and player to develop new spells. To learn new existing spell depends on your mastery level and potency of the spell.

The price in game mechanics to pay for casting is not arduous but must be taken into account, especially in combat. The more you cast the more it will fatigue you and the great the penalties on all your skills and abilities. The price in storyline and setting cannon is a far higher cost. To be burned at the stake fr witchcraft is a high price indeed.

If you are looking for something to make the player think about the consequences of esoteric power, give HarnMaster and it's magic system a shot.

This supplement, for me, has been long anticipated. The fluff gives a great depth to Western Harn and the political situation there. The overview of life in this military/religious order is helpful without being burdensome. The game mechanic expansion is very balanced to allow the building of PCs or NPCs who are apart of the order.

I can't wait for Lady of Paladins.

For an overview of the heart of eastern Harn you have it here. A solid history of Kaldor is here. The basics for the succession crisis are laid out for the GM. It gives seeds for the foundation shaking adventures that will determine the next king, or one can keep the heroes in the same location and still have great adventures. While area modules will give more in-depth information to GMs and players, this module tells people how they interact as one nation.

The scan quality is very good. The artwork is of good caliber. The maps & heraldry are great.

I was introduced to this game by an assistant manager at a now defunked FLGS. The character creation is the great amount of 'crunch' the system has. I am currently playing a HarnManor campaign and the role-play has been great. The dice complement the game and are not the drive force behind it.

Character Creation: Long, but worth it. It gives a great outline to expand a character's background to be believable.

Combat: This ain't your granddaddy's D&D RPG. No Hit Points, but the Injury Level System has a direct impact on how well you perform in combat. An active (roll to oppose) defense is interical, as much as the roll to attack.

Dice Mechanics: Percentile base with a mulitple of 5 (any number ending in a 0 or 5) is critical success below your Mastery Level, or a critical failure above your Mastery Level. It give a better sense of realism without being cumbersome.

Character Advancement: No XP. If you use a particular skill, you have a chance to increase the skill's Mastery Level. Any critical (success or failure) in a skill allows your a chance to increase the ability.

The world setting is rich and dynamic.

If you want to get away from WoW on the tabletop, this is a game you should try.