Very interesting and valuable feedback -- I hope it reaches the right people. One can only wonder how many would-be Harn buyers decided that the "half-dead nature of Harn" made it just too big a risk.

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Keith Mann
I really must get around to changing my .sig

I agree with that. I have just recently finished my collection all of the modules, some are the Print on Demand that CGI used to do, and some are the real deal. I'm not looking forward to new versions of them, and I probably won't buy them. One of the things that attracted me to Hârn was it's modular nature, but CGI seems uninterested in taking advantage of it to it's fullest.

I think you are right that CGI should just get them back in print via PDF ASAP. No fancy upgrades, no added material. Just fix the typos, use the new map and text format and get them up for the new people to buy.

New stuff or expansions should be in a format that can be purchased separately from the basic kingdom module that many of us already own. Either as HQ or as a "Son of Kingdom" PDF bundle.

I agree with this in general, but most especially the comment about the modular nature of Harn products. As I've long argued, the EH article format is one of Harn's greatest strengths as a product line. HQ makes excellent use of this strength, but the kingdom module approach ignores it.

Let me ask a question. There's been a lot of talk about getting the Kingdom modules back into print. But, of course, the kingdom modules themselves are really just a collection of EH articles (some of which have already been reprinted). So, given that, what articles from the kingdom modules do you consider essential? Let's take Kaldor as an example:

* Kaldor (Kingdom Overview)
* Kaldor Kingdom Map
* Kiban
* Anisha
* Elkall-Anuz

I've left out Olokand, Trobridge, and the barbarians (Kath, Chelni, and Tulwyn) because they've already been reprinted.

For the sake of completeness, let's consider the other OOP Kaldor-related articles that might be candidates for inclusion in a second edition of the Kaldor kingdom module:

* Tashal
* Qualdris
* Oselbridge

My guess is that most GM's would be happy with just the kingdom article and the map initially. Again using Kaldor as an example, this at least gives you a basic setting. Obviously, you want to get your campaign started, and a good starting point is 100 Bushels of Rye. So, you pick up Olokand and Barbarians, both of which are relevant to that adventure. Your party finishes 100 BoR. They might choose to head to Azadmere next (fine, it's in print), or they might prefer to stay in Kaldor, so you'll want to buy Tashal and Kiban (re-issue those next). Perhaps you want to run an Earthmaster site adventure next, so either Anisha or Elkall-Anuz would be handy (re-issue those after Tashal and Kiban). Or, you could go the Gargun route and just purchase NB&S. Or maybe you head south to Chybisa or Evael (which are also in print).

I guess my point is that you can get new GM's started quickly without waiting until the entire revamp of the kingdom modules is done. Just release them one or two articles at a time, in a logical order so as to support a campaign set in the kingdom, keeping in mind what other resources are still available (including fan-generated stuff...lots of that for Kaldor, for example).

When I suggested on the old Auran forums that the next Harn publication should be EH17, I think I stated that, every couple of months, CGI should just package up whatever EH articles are ready to go and ship them out. I don't see why HQ (to me, HQ1=EH17) has to be managed a separate product line from the kingdom modules to the detriment of the early availability of kingdom module content that new GMs desparately need.

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Keith Mann
I really must get around to changing my .sig

Unfortunately, the wargames have no trouble making it to 500 in a year or so. At the rate the harn articles are going, it will be ten years before 500 people pre-order them.

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Dan

OK DT, talk to Uncle Spartan. What's your campaign going to be like? If I have to, I'll look up every pertinent detail in my own Hârn collection and keep you properly informed. You might want to ask in the GM's section, though. That way you'll have enough to fake it until a new Kaldor module hits the presses.

-Mark

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Putting the "Ho" in Hodiri since 1998.
The Forge: Western Martial Arts

I'll send it to you by PM.

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43 sessions, 183 hours 'at the table' in a Harn containing the much-feared potâtoe!

12th Knight, 8th Constable, 2nd Baron of Harn(Forum)