The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Trobridge Inn by N. Robin Crossby and Edwyn Kumar

Illustrations by:

Toren Atkinson
Ed Beard
Richard Luschek

Maps by:

Patrick Nilsson

#5072 ISBN 0-920711-59-6 Columbia Games Inc. POB 3457, Blaine WA 98231 U.S.A. www.columbiagames.com

Fans of the venerable campaign setting of Harn are patient shoppers; releases from Columbia Games are few and far between but generally offset the longish wait with superior writing, excellent illustrations and well thought out adventure hooks. The most recent release, Trobridge Inn, is both a reprint and a significant expansion of a portion of the old Kaldor kingdom module, now no longer in print, though excellent color photocopies of it are available from Columbia Games. The package contains both general information about the inn and a suite of adventure hooks, playfully called 'Pepper and Spice'.

Trobridge Inn, for those GMs and players unfamiliar with Harn, is a commercial waystation lying astride the Salt Route, a trade road running east to west between Tharda, a pseudo-Roman republic and the feudal kingom of Kaldor. The inn is an important trade center for both countries, and large caravans traveling the Salt Route will generally lie over at the Inn for a few days before moving on to the safer environs of either Tharda or Kaldor. The surrounding countryside is populated by nomadic tribesmen, namely the fiercely xenophobic Tulwyn and the much more moderate Chelni. The latter hold a yearly moot near the inn so as to facilitate trade for those goods they cannot obtain by raiding caravans throughout the rest of the year. The exciting situation embroiling an Inn surrounded by semi-hostile tribesmen in what amounts to bald wilderness is exacerbated by the tense political situation between Tharda and Kaldor; it was only a generation ago that relations degenerated into outright war.

I. Contents

The package begins with a dozen pages describing the settlement, the significant political players in the area, and the surrounding tribes. Most of this information was culled from the previously mentioned Kaldor kingdom module and constitutes background information for the adventures. GMs unfamiliar with the HarnWorld series will find adequate but not overwhelming information concerning the tribal factions combined with excellent information detailing the tense political situation between the Mercantyler’s Guild who operate the inn proper and the self-proclaimed “Lord of Trobridge”. The second section, the ‘Pepper and Spice’ adventure line, takes up the remaining space, with the ubiquitous d20 OGL information provided on the last page.

Detail maps of Trobridge Inn (the settlement), Trobridge Inn (the inn), and Ondailis Manor are provided. A color map of the settlement with all GM information removed is supplied for general use at the gaming table and this map can be photocopied to provide the players with a generic map for their own use. Of course, a GM version of the same map, with key, is provided for use by the referee.

Statistics are provided for all key NPCs throughout in both d20 and Columbia Games’ own Harnmaster system. While not provided in a separate pull-out, which would have been useful at the gaming table, statistics are set apart from the main text in sidebars so that they do not detract from the general flow of information. I personally find this arrangement more than satisfactory, but not excellent. A discussion with Edwyn Kumar, CGI’s line editor and co-author of Trobridge Inn, revealed that some distributors prefer statistics to be included in the bulk of the text and so this move to set the stats apart from the main text represents an effective compromise between the sometimes competing concerns of gamers and game distributors.

Material is provided on high-quality paper, held loose within a card-stock ‘liner’, and the pages are offset to facilitate punching for placement in a binder. The liner is illustrated in color, showing an eyeless cleric of Ilvir surrounded by swarming creatures that resemble miniature velociraptors with the Inn as a background. If the cover doesn’t catch your eye, nothing will. Illustrations inside are black and white line drawings. Maps are both color (the settlement map) and black and white line drawing (all other maps).

II. Quality

The writing throughout the package is to Columbia Games’ usual standard – which means excellent to those of your who are unaquainted with this nearly unparalleled campaign setting. Subtlety and style abound in all CGI publications and this is no exception. I suspect that the bulk of the first twelve pages, in which the Inn gets detailed, was supplied by N. Robin Crossby (Harnworld’s original creator) while the remaining adventure material was written by Edwyn Kumar, though the line between both is subtle and difficult to determine. If my hunch is correct, then CGI should be lauded for combining both old and new work so seamlessly. Owners of the Kaldor module will find much new material here, likely enough to encourage a purchase.

Illustrations are mostly of high quality and are often superlative; they match the early medieval period feel of Harnworld very well and provide a very significant visual background for the text. Some illustrations are enigmatically signed (macbin01 is a typical signature) and so it is often difficult to give credit where credit is due. This is a personal pet peeve of mine and I suggest that CGI encourage their artists to sign with their own initials for we fans of the art.

The maps are somewhat of a departure for CGI. In previous works, the maps were slowly and beautifully hand-drawn by various artists (mostly the now-departed Eric Hotz), but in this publication, the maps are created in Photoshop by Patrick Nilsson so as to very closely resemble the standard set by Hotz and CGI. For anyone familiar with the hex or grid maps of typical RPG publications, a first glimpse of maps by CGI is very nearly a revelation; this is how maps should be drawn for role-playing games. The move to a computer-generated map can only be considered a positive move for CGI; while I love the beauty of an exquisite hand-drawn map, paying for the high per hour cost of a talented illustrator can raise the asking price of a module out of the reach of a typical gamer. The Photoshop-generated maps are extremely well done, and if they can be created more quickly and at cheaper cost than hand-drawn maps, then I am all for the change. I came away from my first exposure to a Nilsson map very impressed, indeed. More of his work can be found at his website, www.swordsandshields.org, as can additional illustrations by the talented Richard Luschek.

III. At the Table

Like a good novel, the intricate and complex political situation surrounding the inn provide much fodder for good adventure. The characters are detailed and believable, the setting interesting and engrossing (at least to me) and the plot lines very intriguing. Competing diplomatic embassies from both Tharda and Kaldor figure prominently, as does religion – the Ilviran cleric on the cover is a very important NPC – along with the omnipresent tribal unrest. As per usual for Harnworld, the level of fantasy is low, with magic figuring only slightly in the proceedings. If the provided adventure hooks are used, the level of tension within the settlement will gradually increase to a very satisfying climax, with repercussions in the area for many months (if not years) to come.

CGI suggests that this adventure package is suitable for d20 characters of level 1-5 and I generally concur with this assessment. Opponents are skilled enough to provide a good challenge for parties in this range, though not necessarily if the parties are well-stocked with magical items. Of course, a GM can always find a way to liberate players of their ‘ill-gotten goods’, if necessary.

Harnmaster does not use levels in its system, and so I would suggest that this package is applicable for low to middle experience groups, though with Harnmasters’ much more vicious combat system, some encounters might be particularly deadly for beginning characters. Parties of 4-5 beginning characters or of 2-3 more advanced characters should find the challenge adequate.

Of course, like all Harnworld series publications, Trobridge Inn can be used with literally any RPG system. The main text does not contain any references to a single system (not even Harnmaster) and if one can ignore the sidebars, fitting Trobridge Inn into another system should be very easy. Fitting the setting into an established campaign can be more problematic depending upon the level of magic in the campaign, but CGI has followed the credo ‘one can always add magic to a setting, but it is very difficult to take magic away’ for some time now and only some minor re-jigging will likely be necessary for the setting to fit right in with most GM’s worlds. Find any two kingdoms or countries with an acrimonious past and place the the inn equidistant from the two. Voila! Instant adventure.

I found that previous knowledge of Harnworld to be helpful with this setting, though it is definitely not required. Enough information is provided concerning all parties for a satisfactory glimpse into the complex world of Harn without having to purchase other publications. Certainly, enough is provided for the GM to base a series of small campaigns around the very interesting setting of the inn. In fact, hooks are provided to other settings for adventure in the general vicinity of Trobridge Inn in order to provide easy expansion past the included Pepper and Spice adventure line.

IV. Conclusion

Presentation: B
Writing: A
Illustrations: B
Maps: A
Plot: B
Characters: B
Overall: B

Strengths: Another fine addition to the extremely high quality Harnworld line. A much better attempt at a typical ‘adventure module’ than admittedly much older CGI material. Plot, characters and presentation are all very well done. Maps are the usual works of art.

Weaknesses: The lack of the usual binding for the pages might be offputting to some GMs, though I preferred the pages loose as they are provided. The level of magic is low (perhaps too low for some campaigns without adjustment) and some younger GMs may find the typical level of detail in a Harnworld publication daunting.

V. Related Publications

Harnworld Publications:

Harnworld
Harn Barbarians
Tharda (color photocopy from CGI only)
Kaldor (color photocopy from CGI only)

Harnmaster publications:

Harnmaster Core
Harn Magic
Harn Religion

d20 publications:

The Player's Handbook by WotC

Trobridge Inn
Trobridge Inn Capsule Review by Matthew Yeo on 23/01/02 Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty) A well-written adventure supplement perfect for the Harnworld setting and the Harnmaster system, but with much broader appeal for nearly any fantasy system. Product: Trobridge Inn Author: N. Robin Crossby and Edwyn Kumar Category: RPG Company/Publisher: Columbia Games Inc. Line: Harnworld Cost: Page count: 32 Year published: 2001 ISBN: 0-920711-59-6 SKU: 5072 Comp copy?: no Capsule Review by Matthew Yeo on 23/01/02 Genre tags: Fantasy	Trobridge Inn by N. Robin Crossby and Edwyn Kumar Illustrations by: Toren Atkinson Ed Beard Richard Luschek Maps by: Patrick Nilsson #5072 ISBN 0-920711-59-6 Columbia Games Inc. POB 3457, Blaine WA 98231 U.S.A. www.columbiagames.com Fans of the venerable campaign setting of Harn are patient shoppers; releases from Columbia Games are few and far between but generally offset the longish wait with superior writing, excellent illustrations and well thought out adventure hooks. The most recent release, Trobridge Inn, is both a reprint and a significant expansion of a portion of the old Kaldor kingdom module, now no longer in print, though excellent color photocopies of it are available from Columbia Games. The package contains both general information about the inn and a suite of adventure hooks, playfully called 'Pepper and Spice'. Trobridge Inn, for those GMs and players unfamiliar with Harn, is a commercial waystation lying astride the Salt Route, a trade road running east to west between Tharda, a pseudo-Roman republic and the feudal kingom of Kaldor. The inn is an important trade center for both countries, and large caravans traveling the Salt Route will generally lie over at the Inn for a few days before moving on to the safer environs of either Tharda or Kaldor. The surrounding countryside is populated by nomadic tribesmen, namely the fiercely xenophobic Tulwyn and the much more moderate Chelni. The latter hold a yearly moot near the inn so as to facilitate trade for those goods they cannot obtain by raiding caravans throughout the rest of the year. The exciting situation embroiling an Inn surrounded by semi-hostile tribesmen in what amounts to bald wilderness is exacerbated by the tense political situation between Tharda and Kaldor; it was only a generation ago that relations degenerated into outright war. I. Contents The package begins with a dozen pages describing the settlement, the significant political players in the area, and the surrounding tribes. Most of this information was culled from the previously mentioned Kaldor kingdom module and constitutes background information for the adventures. GMs unfamiliar with the HarnWorld series will find adequate but not overwhelming information concerning the tribal factions combined with excellent information detailing the tense political situation between the Mercantyler’s Guild who operate the inn proper and the self-proclaimed “Lord of Trobridge”. The second section, the ‘Pepper and Spice’ adventure line, takes up the remaining space, with the ubiquitous d20 OGL information provided on the last page. Detail maps of Trobridge Inn (the settlement), Trobridge Inn (the inn), and Ondailis Manor are provided. A color map of the settlement with all GM information removed is supplied for general use at the gaming table and this map can be photocopied to provide the players with a generic map for their own use. Of course, a GM version of the same map, with key, is provided for use by the referee. Statistics are provided for all key NPCs throughout in both d20 and Columbia Games’ own Harnmaster system. While not provided in a separate pull-out, which would have been useful at the gaming table, statistics are set apart from the main text in sidebars so that they do not detract from the general flow of information. I personally find this arrangement more than satisfactory, but not excellent. A discussion with Edwyn Kumar, CGI’s line editor and co-author of Trobridge Inn, revealed that some distributors prefer statistics to be included in the bulk of the text and so this move to set the stats apart from the main text represents an effective compromise between the sometimes competing concerns of gamers and game distributors. Material is provided on high-quality paper, held loose within a card-stock ‘liner’, and the pages are offset to facilitate punching for placement in a binder. The liner is illustrated in color, showing an eyeless cleric of Ilvir surrounded by swarming creatures that resemble miniature velociraptors with the Inn as a background. If the cover doesn’t catch your eye, nothing will. Illustrations inside are black and white line drawings. Maps are both color (the settlement map) and black and white line drawing (all other maps). II. Quality The writing throughout the package is to Columbia Games’ usual standard – which means excellent to those of your who are unaquainted with this nearly unparalleled campaign setting. Subtlety and style abound in all CGI publications and this is no exception. I suspect that the bulk of the first twelve pages, in which the Inn gets detailed, was supplied by N. Robin Crossby (Harnworld’s original creator) while the remaining adventure material was written by Edwyn Kumar, though the line between both is subtle and difficult to determine. If my hunch is correct, then CGI should be lauded for combining both old and new work so seamlessly. Owners of the Kaldor module will find much new material here, likely enough to encourage a purchase. Illustrations are mostly of high quality and are often superlative; they match the early medieval period feel of Harnworld very well and provide a very significant visual background for the text. Some illustrations are enigmatically signed (macbin01 is a typical signature) and so it is often difficult to give credit where credit is due. This is a personal pet peeve of mine and I suggest that CGI encourage their artists to sign with their own initials for we fans of the art. The maps are somewhat of a departure for CGI. In previous works, the maps were slowly and beautifully hand-drawn by various artists (mostly the now-departed Eric Hotz), but in this publication, the maps are created in Photoshop by Patrick Nilsson so as to very closely resemble the standard set by Hotz and CGI. For anyone familiar with the hex or grid maps of typical RPG publications, a first glimpse of maps by CGI is very nearly a revelation; this is how maps should be drawn for role-playing games. The move to a computer-generated map can only be considered a positive move for CGI; while I love the beauty of an exquisite hand-drawn map, paying for the high per hour cost of a talented illustrator can raise the asking price of a module out of the reach of a typical gamer. The Photoshop-generated maps are extremely well done, and if they can be created more quickly and at cheaper cost than hand-drawn maps, then I am all for the change. I came away from my first exposure to a Nilsson map very impressed, indeed. More of his work can be found at his website, www.swordsandshields.org, as can additional illustrations by the talented Richard Luschek. III. At the Table Like a good novel, the intricate and complex political situation surrounding the inn provide much fodder for good adventure. The characters are detailed and believable, the setting interesting and engrossing (at least to me) and the plot lines very intriguing. Competing diplomatic embassies from both Tharda and Kaldor figure prominently, as does religion – the Ilviran cleric on the cover is a very important NPC – along with the omnipresent tribal unrest. As per usual for Harnworld, the level of fantasy is low, with magic figuring only slightly in the proceedings. If the provided adventure hooks are used, the level of tension within the settlement will gradually increase to a very satisfying climax, with repercussions in the area for many months (if not years) to come. CGI suggests that this adventure package is suitable for d20 characters of level 1-5 and I generally concur with this assessment. Opponents are skilled enough to provide a good challenge for parties in this range, though not necessarily if the parties are well-stocked with magical items. Of course, a GM can always find a way to liberate players of their ‘ill-gotten goods’, if necessary. Harnmaster does not use levels in its system, and so I would suggest that this package is applicable for low to middle experience groups, though with Harnmasters’ much more vicious combat system, some encounters might be particularly deadly for beginning characters. Parties of 4-5 beginning characters or of 2-3 more advanced characters should find the challenge adequate. Of course, like all Harnworld series publications, Trobridge Inn can be used with literally any RPG system. The main text does not contain any references to a single system (not even Harnmaster) and if one can ignore the sidebars, fitting Trobridge Inn into another system should be very easy. Fitting the setting into an established campaign can be more problematic depending upon the level of magic in the campaign, but CGI has followed the credo ‘one can always add magic to a setting, but it is very difficult to take magic away’ for some time now and only some minor re-jigging will likely be necessary for the setting to fit right in with most GM’s worlds. Find any two kingdoms or countries with an acrimonious past and place the the inn equidistant from the two. Voila! Instant adventure. I found that previous knowledge of Harnworld to be helpful with this setting, though it is definitely not required. Enough information is provided concerning all parties for a satisfactory glimpse into the complex world of Harn without having to purchase other publications. Certainly, enough is provided for the GM to base a series of small campaigns around the very interesting setting of the inn. In fact, hooks are provided to other settings for adventure in the general vicinity of Trobridge Inn in order to provide easy expansion past the included Pepper and Spice adventure line. IV. Conclusion Presentation: B Writing: A Illustrations: B Maps: A Plot: B Characters: B Overall: B Strengths: Another fine addition to the extremely high quality Harnworld line. A much better attempt at a typical ‘adventure module’ than admittedly much older CGI material. Plot, characters and presentation are all very well done. Maps are the usual works of art. Weaknesses: The lack of the usual binding for the pages might be offputting to some GMs, though I preferred the pages loose as they are provided. The level of magic is low (perhaps too low for some campaigns without adjustment) and some younger GMs may find the typical level of detail in a Harnworld publication daunting. V. Related Publications Harnworld Publications: Harnworld Harn Barbarians Tharda (color photocopy from CGI only) Kaldor (color photocopy from CGI only) Harnmaster publications: Harnmaster Core Harn Magic Harn Religion d20 publications: The Player's Handbook by WotC