HârnMaster Rules Versions

     HârnMaster is unusual in that it has a divergent set of rules editions.

• First Edition (HM1) was written by Robin Crossby and published by Columbia Games in 1986.
• Second Edition / "HârnMaster Core" (HMC) was published by Columbia Games in 1996.
• "HârnMaster Gold" rules (HMG) was independently published by Robin Crossby in 1999.
• Third Edition (HM3) was published by Columbia Games in 2003.

HârnMaster Core

     Here is a brief summary of the most important changes so far between second and first edition HârnMaster:

• Character pre-game generation and some appearance characteristics are not included in HMC (but could be added trivially).
• HMC has an optional rule for creating characters on a point system.
• The Touch and Speed attributes are removed, and Stamina is added.
• Endurance is now the average of Strength, Will, and Stamina.
• Players are now encouraged to select professions from a short list; the full table of professions is still available.
• Monthly skill development rolls are combined with an optional skill decline rule using Skill Maintenance Points (SMP's).
• Fatigue, Injury, and Encumbrance are now counted in Levels, each of which is approximately equivalent to 5 Points in HM1.
• Since combat produces one Fatigue Level every 5 minutes, (longer than most battles), bookkeeping during combat is easier.
• Injury Levels are determined directly from the combat table, instead of requiring a separate die roll as in HM1.
• Weapon Attack and Defence Class is combined with Attack and Defence ML's, eliminating two table lookups in combat.
• Each Convocation is now a skill with a separate Mastery Level (CML) and SB. Known spells are cast at CML-(spell level * 5), rather than being separate skills. HMC has an optional rule for spells as skills as in HM1.
• There are no special SB penalties for secondary, tertiary, and diametric Convocations.
• Spell research, learning a new Convocation, and becoming a Gray Mage are all changed to fit the new Convocational model.
• Initial CML depends on your Chantry's quality rating.
• All spells cost the same amount of fatigue to cast, based on success level. CS: 0 FL, MS: 1 FL, MF: 1 FL, CF: 2+ FL.
• CML development depends on Skill Maintenance Points. Research, study, and *stressful* spell casting gives extra SMP's.
• Divine Grace--characters with Piety Points greater than their Ritual ML are in Divine Grace which gives certain benefits. Dying without Divine Grace causes problems in the Afterlife.
• Optional rule that Piety Points can be used in prayer to directly alter EML on any single skill roll.
• Ritual ML for each deity uses different attributes and sunsigns.
• RML may only be increased by learning invocations, reading Holy Tomes, and stressful invocations.
• Cleric starting skills are adjusted.
• Starting clerics begin with Piety Points equal to WILx5.
• Ritual Invocations are no longer tied to Circles of Command.
• Invocations may be learned by anyone in the right circumstances.
• Ritual Invocations are no longer separate skills, though each must be learned separately. ML equals RML - (Circle x 5). An optional rule reverts to the HM1 rule of separate skills.
• Ritual Invocations do not require Piety Point expenditure, though it helps. An optional rule sets Piety Point costs dependant on success level.
• Rules describing ethereals is expanded and clarified.
• New rules regarding the afterlife and fate of a character's soul.
• The various church articles are tighter, with some new material.
• Each church is given unique Ritual Invocations.
• New rules for tribal religions.

HârnMaster Gold

     HârnMaster Gold is an edition of the game self-published by the original author (Robin Crossby). It is a more complex system than HMC, essentially a revision of the original rules adding in more options and covering more situations. It retains more compatibility with the original (HM1) rules. Changes from HM1 to HMG include:

• A chart for attribute modifiers for non humanoid characters (e.g. various Ivashu, Asiri, Dryads, Centaurim, Ilme, Yelgri, characters with partly-divine parentage, etc.)
• Expanded optional rules for character generation, making it a bit more customizable, as well as a point-based system for character creation and rules for creating older, more experienced characters
• Detailed rules for family development -- parents, siblings twins/triplets, marriage ages, expanded reasons for parental non-residence, sibling health and location/activity tables that give far more detail and sense to fleshing out a family than HM1 gave.
• Revised medical charts, classifying disorders into two categories: common and rare
• Detailed rules on fertility, conception, pregnancy, childbirth and infant mortality (and you thought combat was deadly!), and even hereditary traits.
• Rules for aging and decline of older characters
• More basic abilities represented through skills (e.g. Condition, Dodge, Mobility, Spirit) as opposed to contant multiples of a basic attribute
• Rules for "cheap skills" (that can be opened at a higher level in the pregame than in the course of play)
• Variant rules for an 'absolute quality' system of determining the quality of an object other than the normal "Value Enhancement" chart
• Rules for "following in the family footsteps" (e.g. if you're dad's a jewelcrafter, you'll start w/a higher OML in all professional skills than you would if you were just apprenticed to one when dad was a farmer or hideworker).
• New combat options like "Press" (i.e. trying to force your opponent back, or down)
• Separate combat charts for different situations (e.g. footmen attacking mounted, mounted attacking foot, mounted attacking mounted, etc.) likely to produce different kinds of results.
• A wholly new system of missle combat, that makes it much more dangerous -- and increased the value of shields by a great deal!
• More detailed and revised rules for Mounted Combat, including rules for jousting.
• All sorts of optional/advanced combat rules: various options for weapon damage and armour damage, much more elaborate rules for unarmed combat -- including info on specific styles and techniques, giving examples of how such might be invented by the GM.
• Detailed rules for weaponcrafting and armor making, far more elaborate than anything found in HM1, guaranteed to produce unique weapons.
• New rules for dealing with heavy and light weapons, finally working in a way to bring in a strength advantage to damage/impact, while still preversing principles of weapon distinctiveness. For example, if you've got an STR of 18, you're going to be able to use a battleaxe that does a lot more damage than someone with an STR of 8, but that won't be the case if you're just using a dagger.
• Radically revised shock/injury/healing rules, due to the fact that Condition is now a skill.
• More detailed religion/ethereal rules -- although current HM:Religion rules are now even more thorough than these -- but they should be wholly compatible.
• More details on talent dormancy/episodes (similar to those found in HMC).
• Rules for generating unusual and unique "minor talents" like Animal Empathy, Aural Affinity, Gift of Tongues Memories of Past Lives, etc.