#columbia games

[vintagerpg]

How do I explain this? OK, so, when Harn first came out, it was an exercise in creating a detailed, rules-free campaign setting. The first product was called Harn Master Module (1983) or the Harn Regional Module (1983) depending on whether it came in a box or a folio folder, and it consisted of two booklets, “HarnView” is an overview of the geography and cultures of Harn while “HarnDex” is a sort of dictionary of more fine-grained Harn information. Later on, creator N. Robin Crossby created a system for Harn, called HarnMaster (1986). It’s pretty complex, probably sitting somewhere between RuneQuest and Rolemaster on the spectrum. With the advent of HarnMaster, the generic material was rebranded as HarnWorld (1990) and came in a number of different formats. Still later, the generic material was revised again with players in mind. Thus: HarnPlayer: A Player’s Guide to HarnWorld (1994).

This takes the HarnView and HarnDex material (in entirety, I think) and adds a deeply informative Common Knowledge section (I am not sure if this section is original to Player, as there are a confusing number of configurations of the stuff put out by Columbia, but I think it is). That section is very noteworthy. It’s a collection of legends and songs and historical sketches and it does an excellent job of quickening the static world information into something living and breathing. I’ve been a fan of Harn for a while, but I never really looked at this book as anything more than an afterthought, but when I finally dug in, I was surprised at how essential these 20ish pages now feel.

Worth noting that I own this book for the same reason I initially dismissed it: because the cover (as ever, by Chris Hotz) delights me. It is somehow a perfect distillation of the Harn experience. But because it was cartoonish, well, I judged the book by its cover and never really looked beyond it. Silly me.

[forlath]

Love marginalia - shout out to @cuties-in-codices and others who search the digital depths of scriptoriums to bring us these masterpieces.

[nothatsmi]

The foxhole court, chapter fourteen

" A group of people shouldered their way up to the bar counter at Neil's back, pushing him into Andrew. Andrew didn't budge beneath his weight. He was something solid to lean against, something violent and fierce and unmoving. Neil couldn't remember what it felt like to have someone hold him up. It was terrifying and liberating all at once. His life was out of his control now; he was giving it to Andrew and hoping Andrew would keep it safe. "

A classic. A must. Hope it doesn't disappoint the expectations. Planning on doing more little doodles like that until the animatic is finished.

[oldschoolfrp]

I had to look up one of these -- Gamma Two Games was the original name of Columbia Games, now known for publishing the Hârn campaign setting and Hârnmaster rules, and for their pioneering use of wooden blocks in board wargames instead of cardboard chits.

Another ad for the Dungeon Hobby Shop in Lake Geneva with a dungeon cross-section by Tom Wham, in The Best of the Dragon, TSR, 1980. By this time the shop had moved out of the house at 723 Williams St. TSR gets the biggest font in the first cave, but many other contemporary companies are mentioned here.

[viviandarkbloombartylusversion]

You ever think about that if Andrew and Neil had a kid they'd be the type of parents to drop the craziest fucking lore ever at random ass moments once their kid was old enough

[mysharona1987]

[little2nerdy]

you’re telling me neil doesn’t openly ogle andrew during team lift? yea right.

you’re telling me andrew doesn’t love to watch neil when he runs? suuuure…

[alethianightsong]

Bioshock: Why Individualism is a shitty philosophy to build society on

Bioshock 2: Why Collectivism is a shitty philosophy to build society on

Bioshock Infinite: Why American Exceptionalism is a shitty philosophy to build society on.

[the-inheritance-games]

I’ve been absent the last few months but it’s because I’m a senior and I’ve been applying to colleges…

HOWEVER I’m THRILLED to announce I have been accepted to drum roll please 🥁🥁🥁

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY!!!!!!!!!🥳💙

WITH A FULL RIDEEEE!!!! FREE COLLEGE!!!!!

I’m ECSTATIC, but in ngl one of my first thoughts was that I would be able to see jlb at the B&N on Union Square for the Glorious rivals stop and I think that’s the best part 😭

edit: THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!!!! You are all so sweet and I’m so thankful to everyone here. I might not have posted but occasionally in between all the essay Writting I was on here reading ur guys post or reading ur fics and it helped me destress and was a great distraction during a VERY stressful time. Thank you to you all 💙

[moonsnqil]

you're telling me andrew minyard doesn't listen to my chemical romance? the same andrew minyard who wears all black and was in college during the peak of mcr's stardom. as if

[vintagerpg]

The world of Harn is all about the creation of a richly detailed and plausible medieval fantasy world. Plausible, not realistic, though realism is often a driving design concern. And that’s the approach that was taken in Nasty, Brutish and Short: The Orcs of Harn (1997). This is a dicey proposition.

Orcs are not a product of the natural world of Harn. They were either created somehow, in an earlier age, by an evil sorcerer, or imported from a different dimension. They are alien in a couple key ways — somewhat hive like, they are born from eggs (ew) laid by a single queen and share an innate tribal memory. Thus, they inherit learned behavior from the generations before, which informs and reinforces their actions, sometimes irrationally. This seems to indicate both an awareness and wariness of the idea of a type of monster existing as monolith. These orcs are still sort of a monolith, but an attempt has been made to explain why, and it works well enough because they are surrounded by various other cultures that are, for game purposes, somewhat monolithic on the surface.

It’s maybe not ideal, but I also don’t really know how you handle orcs differently in the context of Harn, and for what this is, I think it’s rather well done (at one point, in an explanation for a scenario involving helping wounded orcs, the author suggests rolling up the module to “thrash them soundly about the ears” if the players seem inclined to meet requests for mercy with violence). Brutal as most orcs are, it’s the plotting of humans and dwarves that most often uses them as instruments of violence, usually for political gain. The scenarios, for the most part, put players in the way of those schemes.

As usual for Harn, the visuals of the book are in good hands with Chris Hotz, who did all the illustrations and maps. I think the maps are particularly sharp and the cover art stands as one of the line’s very best.

[forlath]

Where all my HârnWorld fans at?

[nothatsmi]

Nicky "shut up bitch I'm hilarious" Hemmick

Hiii long time no see! I just finished a big school project so yay I'll have half a day before getting drowned in work again haha..

Anyway here's a Nicky Hemmick apreciation post :) I love this guy so much, I remember liking him from the veeery beginning but as we get to know more about him he becomes even more likeable holdable. The fact he gave up a good life in Germany with his boyfriend for years to raise the MINYARDS - honest respect.

[blondebrainpowered]

John F. Kennedy at the Opening Day of a baseball game in April 9, 1962.

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night keeps this mascot from his duties. The Columbia University lion (human name: Robert Berne) accessorized his usual furry ensemble with an umbrella and mackintosh for a football game against Holy Cross on October 24, 1959. Despite such valiant encouragement, Columbia “provided little more than a muddy showcase,” the New York Times reported, losing to the Crusaders in a 34-0 rout at Baker Field. “Wherever the Lions tried to breach the Holy Cross line,” reporter Robert L. Teague wrote, “they were rudely jarred by robust personifications of no-trespassing signs.”

Photo: Carl T. Gossett, Jr. for the NY Times via Times Instagram