A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Chimerae: Griffin, Hirenu, Centaur

Chimerae: Griffin, Hirenu, Centaur by Alun Rees and Jonathan Davidson is a role playing game supplement published by Columbia Games Inc. for use with HârnMaster. This is a short bestiary.

The supplement is available from DriveThruRPG as a four-page PDF for $2.99 but was purchased at a reduced price due to a special offer.

There is no introductory text explaining the supplement, but it is on chimerae, beings that are combinations of more than one creature, rather than the more common D&D type.

There are three monsters covered. The first is the Griffin, described as the Lion-Eagle. The second is the Hirenu, or Hârnic Hippogriff. The final one is the Centaur.

All three of the creatures have sidebars that have a map of Hârn showing where they can be found, underneath which are HârnMaster game stats. The griffin and hirenu have descriptions followed by Habitat and Hunting; the hirenu also has Mating and Reproduction, as they are hermaphrodites.

Centaurs, being intelligent, are covered slightly differently. A general overview of them is given, followed by details on their history and origins (no-one rally knows their origins), where they can be found, which is amongst the tribal nations, their society, relations with the tribes, which tend to be decent, and how they are treated in combat. They can also be generated as NPCs, not just monsters.

Chimerae: Griffin, Hirenu, Centaur in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and, with only three monsters over four pages, does not need them. Navigation is okay. The first three pages follow a single column and sidebar format; the fourth a two-column format. The text appeared to be free of errors. Each creature has a colour illustration and there are the maps and a piece of filler. Presentation is very good.

This is one of the Hârn supplements that is most suited for use with HârnMaster, as it has game stats. However, stats from another game could easily be substituted; these are fairly standard fantasy creatures. The writeups of the creatures are detailed, and at the discount the supplement was good value. It’s still a useful bestiary for the Hârn setting at full price, as the creatures are pretty tightly integrated into it. Chimerae: Griffin, Hirenu, Centaur can be found by clicking here.