The Inside Scoop on Gaming

KINGDOM OF MENGLANA, OVERVIEW

When the first edition of the 'Harn' generic FRPG setting was released in the early 1980's, Columbia Games announced it would be followed by three more books (Ivinia, Shorkyne, Trierzon) that would provide overviews of the lands near the Island of Harn. As with the original 'Harn' book, these would be followed by books detailing the kingdoms in those regions.

The second regional book, 'Ivinia' provided GMs with an overview of the Viking era Scandinavia inspired homeland of the rulers of the Harnic kingdom of Orbaal.

In 1987 Columbia bought out the third book, 'Shorkyne' and announced that they would add a fifth regional book covering the Azeryani Empire. In the same year the first of the kingdom books for 'Ivinia' was released.

This book, "Kingdom of Menglana" (Henceforth "Menglana"), covers the western Ivinian state that is the nominal overlord of Orbaal. It is a kingdom in crisis, its government paralyzed by a long running feud between two of its prominent families, the kingdom is threatened with invasion from both the east and the west.

As with all 'Harn' books "Menglana" consists of a series of independently numbered articles, which were supposed to be removed and placed in a 3-ring binder to form the "Encyclopedia Harnica"(or possibly "Encyclopedia Ivinia"). In this book, the articles are:

Menglana (12 pages): The history, economy and organization of the Kingdom of Menglana.

Pelyn (6 pages): The history of the Royal Seat (capital) of Menglana, home to the Stahlers the Royal Family of Menglana and a place where not supporting the king is deadly.

Froyaheim (6 pages): Home to the Storzar family, the principal challenger for the Stahlers throne. Froyaheim is threatened by an invasion from the eastern kingdom of Ibanvaal.

Vulenheim (6 pages): The largest town in Menglana and probably the future capital, should Menglana survive its current crisis.

Lokis (2 pages): This tiny kingdom is home to one of the most important religious sites in western Ivinia, Kyrieheim.

Kyrieheim (4 pages): Kyrieheim is home to a powerful Oracle, whose predictions are accurate, provided you can decipher them.

Rogna (2 pages): This piratical state is Menglana's enemy to the west, its leaders plan to ally with Ibanvaal and split Menglana between them.

Idjarheim (6 pages): Details the home of Idjar, Half-Mortal son of the God Sarajin.

Yarli (2 pages): Provides information on the original inhabitants of Ivinia, they appear to be based on the Lapps.

KINGDOM OF MENGLANA, COMMENTS

In terms of presentation, "Menglana", maintains Columbia's usual high standards, the maps (Central Menglana, Pelyn, Froyaheim, Vulenhiem, Kyrieheim & Idjarheim) are clear and the illustrations by Eric Hotz, 'look right'. Especially nice is the cover by Hotz, showing a pair of long boats moving down a misty fjord.

However the book is by no means perfect, the pages of the Froyaheim article run 1, 2, 6, 4, 5, 3 and I think that maps of the capitals of Lokis & Rogna should have been included as well, the first because everyone visiting Kyrieheim must pass through Lokris and the second because it is "...the most impressively fortified settlement in all of Ivinia."

But the most pressing problem related to "Menglana" lies in the fact that Columbia Games has never completed/published the rest of the kingdom books for Ivinia, this is especially annoying since the second kingdom book was going to cover Ibanvaal, Menglana's ambitious eastern neighbour and the third would have featured Seldenbaal, a potential ally for Menglana. Worse is the fact that the Ivinia region book was never updated to a second edition but rather is available only from second-hand shops or as digital photocopies from Columbia Games.

KINGDOM OF MENGLANA, VERDICT.

However, despite the problems noted above, "Menglana" does succeed in its aim of providing a rules free setting for use with any set of FRPG rules. The background as provided will give the GM plenty of ideas for adventures and even without the background the maps could be used by the GM to provide the basis for his own ideas.

Kingdom of Menglana
Kingdom of Menglana Capsule Review by Graham Donald on 30/11/02 Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 4 (Meaty) While unsupported by Columbia Games, Menglana is a quality product, for use with any fantasy role playing system. Product: Kingdom of Menglana Author: N Robin Crossby, Tom Dagliesh & Mikkel Huber Category: RPG Company/Publisher: Columbia Games Inc. Line: Harn Cost: Page count: 46 Year published: 1987 ISBN: 0-920711-19-7 SKU: 5102 Comp copy?: no Capsule Review by Graham Donald on 30/11/02 Genre tags: Fantasy Historical Conspiracy Generic	KINGDOM OF MENGLANA, OVERVIEW When the first edition of the 'Harn' generic FRPG setting was released in the early 1980's, Columbia Games announced it would be followed by three more books (Ivinia, Shorkyne, Trierzon) that would provide overviews of the lands near the Island of Harn. As with the original 'Harn' book, these would be followed by books detailing the kingdoms in those regions. The second regional book, 'Ivinia' provided GMs with an overview of the Viking era Scandinavia inspired homeland of the rulers of the Harnic kingdom of Orbaal. In 1987 Columbia bought out the third book, 'Shorkyne' and announced that they would add a fifth regional book covering the Azeryani Empire. In the same year the first of the kingdom books for 'Ivinia' was released. This book, "Kingdom of Menglana" (Henceforth "Menglana"), covers the western Ivinian state that is the nominal overlord of Orbaal. It is a kingdom in crisis, its government paralyzed by a long running feud between two of its prominent families, the kingdom is threatened with invasion from both the east and the west. As with all 'Harn' books "Menglana" consists of a series of independently numbered articles, which were supposed to be removed and placed in a 3-ring binder to form the "Encyclopedia Harnica"(or possibly "Encyclopedia Ivinia"). In this book, the articles are: Menglana (12 pages): The history, economy and organization of the Kingdom of Menglana. Pelyn (6 pages): The history of the Royal Seat (capital) of Menglana, home to the Stahlers the Royal Family of Menglana and a place where not supporting the king is deadly. Froyaheim (6 pages): Home to the Storzar family, the principal challenger for the Stahlers throne. Froyaheim is threatened by an invasion from the eastern kingdom of Ibanvaal. Vulenheim (6 pages): The largest town in Menglana and probably the future capital, should Menglana survive its current crisis. Lokis (2 pages): This tiny kingdom is home to one of the most important religious sites in western Ivinia, Kyrieheim. Kyrieheim (4 pages): Kyrieheim is home to a powerful Oracle, whose predictions are accurate, provided you can decipher them. Rogna (2 pages): This piratical state is Menglana's enemy to the west, its leaders plan to ally with Ibanvaal and split Menglana between them. Idjarheim (6 pages): Details the home of Idjar, Half-Mortal son of the God Sarajin. Yarli (2 pages): Provides information on the original inhabitants of Ivinia, they appear to be based on the Lapps. KINGDOM OF MENGLANA, COMMENTS In terms of presentation, "Menglana", maintains Columbia's usual high standards, the maps (Central Menglana, Pelyn, Froyaheim, Vulenhiem, Kyrieheim & Idjarheim) are clear and the illustrations by Eric Hotz, 'look right'. Especially nice is the cover by Hotz, showing a pair of long boats moving down a misty fjord. However the book is by no means perfect, the pages of the Froyaheim article run 1, 2, 6, 4, 5, 3 and I think that maps of the capitals of Lokis & Rogna should have been included as well, the first because everyone visiting Kyrieheim must pass through Lokris and the second because it is "...the most impressively fortified settlement in all of Ivinia." But the most pressing problem related to "Menglana" lies in the fact that Columbia Games has never completed/published the rest of the kingdom books for Ivinia, this is especially annoying since the second kingdom book was going to cover Ibanvaal, Menglana's ambitious eastern neighbour and the third would have featured Seldenbaal, a potential ally for Menglana. Worse is the fact that the Ivinia region book was never updated to a second edition but rather is available only from second-hand shops or as digital photocopies from Columbia Games. KINGDOM OF MENGLANA, VERDICT. However, despite the problems noted above, "Menglana" does succeed in its aim of providing a rules free setting for use with any set of FRPG rules. The background as provided will give the GM plenty of ideas for adventures and even without the background the maps could be used by the GM to provide the basis for his own ideas.