On July 23rd 2008, Robin succumbed to his cancer at a hospice in Coquitlam, BC.
http://www.lythia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=9445&p=126582#p126582
http://www.kelestia.com/
He was the original author of Harn.
Rob Conley
:(
...
Bloody hell. This year is one of ill omen.
:( Crap!!
Let me pay homage to him:
(http://img39.picoodle.com/img/img39/9/9/30/f_HarnCoverm_ac50bd4.jpg)
The Reaper is certainly working overtime this year...
Who did the painting you posted?
Well, damn.
Hope all is well in Yashain, Robin. :(
Man, that's rough. My uncle died of cancer just over 4 years ago. He was a very meticulous, creative person who loved history and detail. He had bought all the original Harn books and just read them from beginning to end. He loved the detail and accuracy of the maps and locations. He wasn't a gamer at all but really appreciated the work of the Harn books. He gave them all to me before he died.
So just an anecdote with some weird connections between people. Maybe they'll get to meet in the next world.
Eric Hotz probably did the painting--it's the cover (or a "superset of the cover") of Harnmaster 1e.
I'm sorry to hear about Robin, as I am about all the bad news we've been getting.
I've only played a little of Harn proper, but I've enjoyed reading and playing around with his game, and it's informed my play of other games (notably Runequest) through house-rules borrowed from HM.
From: http://www.kelestia.com/
On July 23rd 2008, Robin succumbed to his cancer at a hospice in Coquitlam, BC.
Rest in peace Robin, we'll all miss you.
The Harnmaster has returned home. He wanders now the roads of old Harn, reviewing his handiwork.
2008 has not been kind to the hobby's icons.
Funny little story: I first read about Harn in a Dragon review of Gods of Harn. For years, I wanted to find that book but could never get my hands on a copy. Last year, during a culling of WotC's RPG archives, I finally came across it.
And lo and behold when I cracked open the copy, written in the inside cover was "Dragon review copy" and the issue and date that the review appeared in.
I thought that was pretty cool. I had been looking for the book for ages, and ended up with the very copy that sparked my interest all those years ago.
Hats off, dice stilled, for another of the RPG greats is gone. :(
That's pretty cool Mike.
I remember when I first picked up the Harn material and on looking at the map and reading the weather charts (when I was 11-ish?), my guess was that the author was a BC native. I only got confirmation just now.
Some amazing work and cool stuff in that setting, and the names of the Gargun races have stuck in my B/X D&D campaign ever since (even if none of their ecology did).
2008 sucks for the RPG old guard.
-=Grim=-
Quote from: GrimJesta;2275692008 sucks for the RPG old guard.
-=Grim=-
Time for the next generation to take up the banners!
Damn, this is sad news. I love everything Harn I've read.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Crossby.
That's what I was thinking, but didn't type it.
-=Grim=-
Dammit! I've always loved Harn...
Soon, none shall be left who remember how to call up the Old Magics.
Grrr......
Must be Greg Stafford's turn soon.
RIP Robin, all us Harnics at //www.lythia.com and everywhere else will miss you!
Quote from: Elliot Wilen;227536Eric Hotz probably did the painting--it's the cover (or a "superset of the cover") of Harnmaster 1e.
Michael Codd did that painting:
http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=4006
http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=1678
(that image is a merged version of the two above covers)
Thanks for the fact-check, Dan. I didn't think it looked quite like Hotz's work but his was the only name I found under the 1e credits at pen-paper.net.
No worries! It was the only real rpg art Michael did, IIRC. I like it alot also, as I do Hotz's work and Richard Luschek's newer art.
The dice are at rest for a great man of gaming.
This year just keeps hitting this hobby in the gut.
"... to adventure in distant realms where strange events transpire and fell beasts roam."
N. Robin Crossby.
Well damn.
On the bright side, I bet there is one rocking RPG campaign going on in the afterlife right now.
Quote from: mearls;2275622008 has not been kind to the hobby's icons.
Funny little story: I first read about Harn in a Dragon review of Gods of Harn. For years, I wanted to find that book but could never get my hands on a copy. Last year, during a culling of WotC's RPG archives, I finally came across it.
And lo and behold when I cracked open the copy, written in the inside cover was "Dragon review copy" and the issue and date that the review appeared in.
I thought that was pretty cool. I had been looking for the book for ages, and ended up with the very copy that sparked my interest all those years ago.
Well? Did you like it? ;)
Rob Conley
:(..
Damn.
Quote from: droog;227603Must be Greg Stafford's turn soon.
Dude.
Do you think God gets to wear the Viking Helmet? I mean, who is going to argue with him on the chances something might occur or if something is possible?
And what must that rule book look like?
I always loved Harn from afar. An amazing piece of work.
Quote from: Dan Bell;227605Michael Codd did that painting:
http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=4006
http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=1678
(that image is a merged version of the two above covers)
Thank you for answering, I didn't because I wasn't sure who had did the painting. I knew it wasn't Eric Hotz because he's one of my favorite RPG artists and that wasn't his style. Michael Codd did an excellent work with it.
Quote from: droog;227603Must be Greg Stafford's turn soon.
:eek:
:confused:
:jaw-dropping:
:wtfsign:
Quote from: Claudius;228004:eek:
:confused:
:jaw-dropping:
:wtfsign:
I will take the charitable view here; I think droog may be referring to Mr Stafford's age, rumours of recent illness, round about lament that 'these things come in threes' or something along those lines, rather than a particular desire to see Mr Stafford come to any harm.
...icons of the hobby and so forth. Though he probably does deserve death for 'Reassessing the Zin List'.
I met Greg Stafford briefly a year or so ago and he seemed healthy and in good shape. I realize that with certain illnesses things can change very quickly, but this is the first I've heard of any rumors and I hope there's nothing to them.
Quote from: Elliot Wilen;228132I met Greg Stafford briefly a year or so ago and he seemed healthy and in good shape. I realize that with certain illnesses things can change very quickly, but this is the first I've heard of any rumors and I hope there's nothing to them.
Sorry, no, I wasn't trying to start a rumour, just a possible reason to mention Greg Stafford as the next in line.
Looks like Columbia Games has posted something on their site: http://www.columbiagames.com/
Quote from: Dan Bell;228175Looks like Columbia Games has posted something on their site: http://www.columbiagames.com/
I've got to say, it's wonderful of them to give him such a warm send-off considering the split between Robin and Columbia, and even better of them to acknowledge that the split had in fact happened.
But what I think is really nice of them his that they link to Kelestia Productions, and acknowledge that it is their products, not Columbia's, which reflect Robin's vision of the game and the setting in the latter part of his career. So far as I'm aware Kelestia have never quite as high a profile as Columbia, so hopefully the link will point some timely custom their way, which (fingers crossed) might help out Robin's family. Considering that Kelestia are very much direct competitors with Columbia, doing this shows a heck of a lot of class.
Quote from: James J Skach;227737Do you think God gets to wear the Viking Helmet? I mean, who is going to argue with him on the chances something might occur or if something is possible?
And what must that rule book look like?
I always loved Harn from afar. An amazing piece of work.
God's rulebook has one page, on a stone tablet:
"I AM GOD."
I never got to really play Harn, although some friends and I took the character generation and combat rules for a test drive many years ago, and were suitably impressed. One of my favorite parts of Dragon magazine growing up were the ads for Harn (that, and "Wormy"). Even seeing them now brings back some of the sense of wonder and excitement I had as a boy when it came to fantasy roleplaying.
I have tons of the Harn books and modules at home. Time to dig them out and reminisce.