In addition to our tried-and-true gazetteer format detailing all major points of interest in the region, the module also includes never-before-published information on the history, politics, culture, and religion of the Faláni people, making the region even more exciting as a role-playing setting. The accompanying PDF map has customizable layers and is suitable for printing at 50 cm × 37.5 cm (20" × 15").
We hope you enjoy this latest product from Keléstia Productions! As usual, we're very interested in your feedback.
Back in 2015, we came up with a special idea of rewarding our loyal customers: Hârn Premium Content. It's a collection of Hârnic texts, maps, and images not published so far and either intended for upcoming or planned products or completely exclusive and not meant for separate publication.
We've released several items of Premium Content over the next few years until, in 2018, the project went on a long hiatus for organizational reasons. As of now, however, the hiatus is finally over, and more Premium Content will be added in reasonable intervals -- which means: definitely more than once a year! We're starting this off with an unusual preview of a never before shown script used on Kèthîra: the Tankóno alphabet, used by the Mafáni of central Lýthia.
If you are new to the Premium Content system and wonder how to get access to this exclusive material (or if you need a reminder), here is how it goes: Once you have purchased products for a total of at least $100 from Kelestia.com, you automatically become what we call a "Premium Member". This gives you access to the hidden Premium Area of the website that can be found in the Free Stuff section. If you are a Premium Member and logged in (important), the Premium Area will appear as the last link in this section. There are no extra costs involved, no subscription or the like -- you can simply enjoy the Premium Content for free once you have spent $100 or more on our official Keléstia Productions Hârn products.
We hope you enjoy the new entry in our Premium Content series and promise to add additional entries more often from now on. If you have any comments or questions regarding our Hârn Premium Content, let us know over on the forums or contact us directly via the Contact section.
December 1, 2022
HârnMaster Preview 1
The next edition of the HârnMaster role-playing game system has entered the final stages of review and art direction. Over the next several months, we would like to share our intent behind its design, discuss specific rules, and unveil its new layout and artwork.
Design Goals
While Keléstia Productions' variety of game and world modules offers a great deal of flexibility, it can be difficult for players to know where to start. The primary goal with the new edition is to present the HârnMaster book as our obvious introduction to gaming in the world of Kèthîra. This requires it most importantly to be a unified product, where all the rules are found in the same volume -- character generation, skills, combat, magic, miracles, beasts -- instead of requiring gamers to cobble them together across several publications. We also intend to tie more closely together the game with the world, not only in the HârnMaster title, but also in future adventure and world region offerings.
While recast more clearly and completely, HârnMaster will also provide broader coverage of several game details. This includes rules for elements that received inadequate treatment in HM Gold, such as shamanism, astrology, runecrafting, tarotry, and alchemy. Moreover, several concepts that N. Robin Crossby had only begun to outline have been developed into specific rules, especially his approach to the interesting challenge of how to incorporate into gameplay the dozens of religions expressed in cultures throughout the entire world. Finally, we're taking the opportunity granted by a new edition to introduce both mechanics that streamline some aspects of gameplay and others that expand HârnMaster in terms of realism and usability.
While the Misty Isle will remain an ideal place to start gaming in the world of Kèthîra, the new HârnMaster will also travel beyond its shores, a journey N. Robin Crossby himself had long ago embarked on. It was carried forward by Keléstia Production's monumental Venârivè publication over ten years ago and, now, continues into the new edition of HârnMaster.
Preview 1: The Mastery Test
HârnMaster remains a skill- and d100-based system. The first preview covers two pages that introduce the game's core mechanic: the Mastery test. It explains how regular skill tests, opposed tests, attribute tests, and -- a new concept -- skill value tests work. A few terms and acronyms might seem cryptic at this point but will be explained in upcoming previews.
Those who downloaded the free Venârivè Poetic Map by Marc Grunert will notice certain elements of it in the design of this same two-page spread.
As an additional peek to this first preview, we share two pages from the Bestiary chapter, a dramatic highlight of the art by Juha Makkonen.
We have just released a two-page preview document for the upcoming Falânia Gazetteer, showcasing the beautiful cover illustration, a small-scale version of the map of western Falânia as well as a sample entry from the gazetteer (with information on the city of Silgôra).
You can find the preview document in the Free Stuff --> Previews section or by clicking here.
The Falânia Gazetteer will be the third of four modules detailing the Lýthian sub-continent of Hèpekéria (the other two being the Elánas Gazetteer and the Menêma Gazetteer). It will contain a customizable layered map of the western Falânia region and a gazetteer with information on all the important settlements, landmarks, and sites – among them the cities of Silgôra, Tásugez, Thúbeliz, Wúzadhim and Móranjaz. Part of the gazetteer is also a special section on Falânian society and politics, with details on the leaders of the Falânian Federation.
The module will be released in early December, in time for your holiday shopping.
October 5, 2022
The future of Keléstia Productions (is almost here)
Over the last few months, several of you have sent us questions about the state of Keléstia Productions and the future of our HârnMaster and HârnWorld lines. We would like to thank you very much for your interest, as it shows us one thing very clearly: We have been silent for too long -- while, indeed, there is a lot to share and to talk about.
Starting with this news post, we intend to change this policy. From now on, we will be more transparent about what's going on behind the scenes and will share with you preview material of products in development.
In fact, there are several works nearing completion -- among them a Palíthanè module and two Hèpekéria maps and guides. We are also finishing work on a new version of HârnMaster, and we're happy to report that it’s in the final stages of play test review, editing and art commissions. Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing previews of its layout and art and additional detail on the rules system.
Also, you have surely noticed the map in the thumbnail image -- this is our new Venârivè Poetic map by Marc Grunert. Elements of its medieval manuscript style and decor will be used in the layout of upcoming HârnWorld and HârnMaster products. Our regional maps, of course, will retain the great attention to detail and geographic accuracy that Keléstia Productions is known for and that you're familiar with. The new Venârivè Poetic map is free to download in full size in our Free Stuff --> Aids & Tools section. Click here to jump to it directly.
As part of this new product era, we will also finally reintroduce the eponymous "home region" of the HârnWorld line: the island of Hârn! A new Hârn regional module is in active development, entitled Hârn: The Misty Isle.
What's left is to thank you, our loyal fans and customers, again for your questions and your continued interest in our official and canonical Hârn publications. We appreciate everyone of you very much! And we hope that you are as excited about our upcoming products as we are.
We hope this answers the most asked question: Keléstia Productions and the official HârnWorld and HârnMaster lines are still very much alive and will soon enter a new era. More than ever, we are working on realizing the great vision of our founder, Hârn creator N. Robin Crossby: to provide you with the ultimate medieval fantasy setting and role-playing system.
Coming up in two weeks: preview material for Hèpekéria!
