The original edition of HârnMaster appeared in 1986, a few years after Columbia games first published HârnWorld, a fantasy setting by N. Robin Crossby. While HârnWorld was first published as systemless setting, HârnMaster is a rules set tailored for it.

Often referred as one of the most realistic and yet functioning system or one of the heaviest 80-style rules still alive these days - depending on whom you ask - HârnMaster is a d100-based system with plenty of attributes, skills and some charts. It contains articles on character creation, skills, combat, religion (mostly rules), magic (called Shek Pvar) and several articles for running campaign (like a short bestiary, treasures, etc).

The black and white art is created by Eric Hotz.