wat is a Hashan?

Caei

I've been playing for a couple of days now, and between taking bashing breaks (mashing the Curse Bleed alias can be a pain on the wrist), I've been reading a lot about Hashan. I'm aware that it's not exactly the best place to be right now, but I just can't stop loving the place for some unusual reason. The history is rich, from the foundation and Elentari's laws to the Triad of the Night and the Houses, and there's such great potential for Hashan. Right now, though, Hashan seems to be fumbling around.

My character's been talking to a few Hashan characters, getting a feel of the place and what the people think, and generally I think the reason why Hashan is fumbling is because there are too many people who are going on too many different ways and as such Hashan is left in a quagmire. This thread, then, is where I'd like to know more about what players think Hashan should be, and how to be that. Overall, hopefully it'll help Hashan be a more stable city.

Aepas

Hashan has historically been very backstabby to it's politicians. They also have been known to make choices that end up angering their long time friends and allies while maintaining their enemies. See: "Mhaldor's assistance against the Qashar" and "Rogue occultist as Leader." also "Decan"

I still have a love for Hashan for the idea that it once presented itself. With the departure of the Crown Merchants I don't really know what it's doing, I've not kept up.

I personally believe that too many players drive their ideologies into hashan when they should be remaining neutral. I remember it back in the day when both Sir Vasool (Infernal Maldaathi) and Sir Milabar (Paladin Mithrean) both actually fought side by side to defend it. This was very interesting in my eyes and I'm sure many others. It showed that while in Hashan, all ideological things were set aside for the greater good of the city. I may be wrong, but that's how I saw it. (Granted I know both people actually had a hidden recruitment agenda and propaganda thing going) Still, I see a lot more push for "Lets be more this" or "Lets be more that" rather than just being what they already were. Right now it's a weak city in terms of military and unstable in the terms of politics.

The houses are alright. Blacklotus has some good things going for it but it has a history of a hard fallout of many of its higher tier members. Serpentlords is one of the last single class houses which is pretty cool though it's got a decan in it. I always feel like the spiritwalkers are pretty overlooked in terms of their RP.

Now, I have always enjoyed the rich culture of Hashan, but I actually don't like how little people seem to really know of it. Through my many alts I've played in there, I've not really seen too much of a focus to understand what the city is that you are protecting, just to protect it.

Well, I've stated what I always found wrong with hashan. But I don't really have too many suggestions as to fixing it. I'd say just let it play it's course. I've watched many leaders take it over, and many leaders replace them. Just have to wait until the time is right that people begin to unify under a banner of city rather than each house/order/class that they happen to be.

It's a fun place, I'll give it that. I do like playing in hashan, but it's one of those things that for me, fell off in late game. Sorry, wish I had more points on how to correct it, but I can really only be critical, was never a problem solver myself.

Seldin

Aepas said:

... "Decan"

... though it's got a decan in it. ...

I must admit, I did laugh at that, @Aepas.

Hashan's always been going in ups and downs, and currently I have no idea if it's going up or down. I'd say (very) slowly going up at the moment with a few things that have been happening. With regards on how to fix things? That is a very hard question to answer, and I'd rather not talk about it outside of the game as it can detract from things in-game. There is a lot of background stuff happening a lot of people don't see (myself included).

What I have to say is if you want Hashan to succeed and grow stronger, do what is best for Hashan. The City. Don't do stuff to make yourself better in the city, do stuff to make the City better. Not being recognised for your efforts? Don't worry about it. Hashan has a reputation of terribly handed out cityfavours (in my opinion) along with other issues. If you put enough genuine effort into the city you'll get recognised eventually.

I've stuck with Hashan for over 200 years IG. I could've quit many many times when people were dumb or have pulled the city down, but I've always opted to stay in the city and do what I can when I can to help improve the situation. Be a genuine and good contribution to the city.

For you right now, I would recommend you focus on advancing further in your House and making yourself stronger, while also trying to help with Hashan when you can. I'd say the Spirit Walkers need it. Keep it up!

Caoimhaen

Hashan is a great city. If we would only stop arguing and realize that we are all different and what the city was founded upon and its laws make it so hashani can be free thinking. But people want to get up in arms and fight. And suddenly you are their enemy just because you side with someone that has a different opinion.Hashan's people are diverse. Can almost do anything you want as a citizen there within reason. Politics get played on a LOT. Hashan is actually calming down and starting to recover from the political battle field and mud slinging. I agree with @seldin. We are coming up slowly. Hashan really is a great city. Houses included in it. Yes. Spirit Walkers are fun even when you aren't in their house. Hashani I think just need to realize why they fight for their city when they fight. I do find it odd that being able to have your own beliefs isn't a good enough reason to defend. Many Hashani are paranoid but perhaps that's the nature of people. Anyway...all in all..its a good city. If as many people did something as they complained, maybe we might get some where. Hashan is by no means a bad city. And it is my home. The people there are pretty awesome. And the diversity too.

Achimrst

I'm going with Aepas on this, when I joined Hashan out of the Trial of Rebirth it was neutral and was doing just fine. I mean sure Poergh took over parts of the city and killed people with her little group but that was fun! Hashan has always had brutal politics that also made it fun as well. I kind of see where Hashan was going with the whole 'Night' thing but it's so vague that, to me, it seems like anyone can say anything about what Night is and no one knows enough to debate it or correct them. They keep turning away from neutral like they have a side but when you look at it, Night seems to be neutral parading around as evil and all the good combatants are probably gone because of that or maybe they want to fight in the city and take care of rivals the old fashioned Hashani way :P

Asmodron

hmm, Hashan. My character was part of that organization for most of his life, roughly 100 years, and I knew it like a lover. Hashan really doesnt get enough credit for what it stands for in Achaea, and that is fine. A lot of great things in history are subjected in a bad light from the more aggressive people.

One thing I always loved about Hashan is that you arent forced to be something you dont want to be. It is a City where you can be yourself, and progress to goals you value, without people raising a hand and smacking you across the face. By just looking at Hashan's organizations (considering back when Crown Merchants were part of it too), you can see the underling tones that Hashan isnt a city focused upon the physical aspects of growth, but more upon understanding and self-discovery. From a life as a Monk, to a spiritual leader, to even a common merchantry life, Hashan is the definition of self-accomplishment.


The problem with the constant debates of Hashan's place in Achaea, is that it doesnt fit into the genre that encompasses the game. Take @Aepas 's example: He mentioned how an Infernal representing evil and a paladin representing the Light, were working hand in hand in Hashan. In Achaean playerbase view, this simply cannot stand for the reasons that govern the strong doctrines that are associated with these two archetypes. Achaea has and  always will be a game defined by it's ideals and warfare. It is, point blank, the 'Combat MUD'. It is for this reason an organization such as Hashan which is not focused upon the more mundane physical aspects, finds itself constantly out-of-place with the rest of the game. It is only natural that citizens would try and steer it towards an 'alignment' and 'combat prowess', as that is what defines advancement with Achaea. Hashan just needs to stick it out and let the tides roll by.



Note: The concept of the Night is a wonderful avenue for RP and also defines Hashan's more deeper underling tones of spirituality that have governed it's people since the beginning. Though it is difficult to seek a new avenue of play in a game that is so defined on another, I think Hashan can do it.

+1 to those that have stuck with it. I admit I did not.

Asmodron

As an addition. Trust me when I say, Achaea would be much more for worse if an organization like Hashan didnt exist. Not everyone wants to be the big bad warrior, some just enjoy a more casual experience

Trevize

Hashan has a lot of potential.

I just so rarely see much of it realized.

Silas

Twilight and Darkness are probably the only things I'd ever consider converting to, but the ideals of Hashan are just so under-represented outside of Hashan, and by all reports inside of it too. It's a real shame, because Dark lore is amazingly rich, and Ourania seems to be a super active and helpful patron as well, even if I think it's still dumb that she's allied with Babel. The Night is also something of a weird concept to follow, though again that might just be because I never see it represented.

It might be that Hashan's just been Shallamed, though, with everybody pulling in their own direction, and nobody willing or able to take a firm enough and sensible enough stance to bring everything and everyone together. They did well under Saltaern, because he had the patience of Job, but shortly after they got Grok'd and Decan'd and I don't think they've ever recovered. They need another really strong leader, but it seems like the atmosphere right now is draining and eliminating any potential candidates for that.

I'm sure Xadzia has it covered, though (lol).

Jacen

Pleasantly surprised by the lack of hate in this thread, despite the title.

I'll withhold my opinion for now, as I'm very interested to hear assessments and advice from people of functional factions.

Gamoneterik

I love Hashan but a few things irk me, like the constant questioning of what The Night is and then when there is an answer in the form of a lecture, a re-wording of the question, and then when there is an answer to that, a referendum on what the question should be worded as to ask what the Night is (seriously), and then when the question is answered feed it to a humgii and so on.

Guys, the Night is The Triad of Twilight, Ourania and Valnurana and the three realms they encompass of Darkness, The Moon, and Sleep and Dreams, which represent Knowledge, Understanding and Possibilities. Period!!!1!!!11eleven!

I think part of the problem Hashan faces is that we are constantly seeking to be something else. Why can we not be happy with a simple ethos of Knowledge, Understanding that knowledge, and being unfettered in the Possibilities this brings about? I like it as a nice simple ethos of The Night and something I feel connected to, but the referendums and yadayada to try and be something more than this, it's like why do we need more? There is plenty to read on the three god/ess's realms if people really wanna understand this stuff more, or you can join one of their orders.

Anyway I'm rambling a bit but this questioning of our heritage is I think the core of Hashan's problem. That aside, I have a lot of fun in it and have made some good friends within the walls. We suck combat-wise, but I don't think that's all that matters. We have great little events and stuff though, and the houses are awesome, especially Spiritwalkers. I would like to see the arts embraced a bit more. Cyrene I think has snapped up all the good artsy types.

Politics. Well, they're whack enough irl why wouldn't they be whack in a game. I just roll my eyes and skip a lot of posts cos TL;DR most of the time.

But yeah. Rock on Night!

Keneanung

Gamoneterik said:

Guys, the Night is The Triad of Twilight, Ourania and Valnurana and the three realms they encompass of Darkness, The Moon, and Sleep and Dreams, which represent Knowledge, Understanding and Possibilities. Period!!!1!!!11eleven!

This is by far te most clear and straight answer I have ever gotten. Could you repeat that in game as well? Maybe that'd stop the constant discussions.

I believe most people do not know this and nobody gives them a straigt answer, so they try to make something up on their own.

Caoimhaen

@keneanung I believe people have said it. People just don't clean the crud out of their ears and LISTEN.

Keneanung

Well I believe I listened and read every post but I didn't see it. Maybe I am not around at the right times though.

Strata

Bureaucratic stuff never works - look at the US government. Once those in power in Hashan start taking heads and delegating a clear and precise vision for all else to follow, Hashan will be awesome.

I'm not saying it needs to be like Mhaldor. The people in Hashan need to exemplify/demonstrate "city over self" instead of just bickering amongst each other about it and backstabbing each other.

There needs to be an enforced ultimatum where if you refuse to fight for the freedoms you are automatically given by citizenship in Hashan, but instead hide when times are tough and then try to smooth-talk your way out of responsibility later, you are enemied and killed, no questions, no debates, no bullshit, (i am the prince of run-on).

We all know this is likely never to happen, and I don't wish to sound utterly negative - but even 10+ years ago on my old character (an Ashtani), Hashan was the same way... Filling rows and rows if book shelves with senseless writings by smooth talking "achaean bureaucrats" who want nothing else but to serve themselves under the guise of doing great things for a city that COULD be great if people would just kill them.

Vayne

Personally, I don't think the concept of "Night/Darkness" is terribly hard to grasp in general terms, Hashan exists to collect, preserve, and apply knowledge in all forms to enlighten the world(aka the Great Work) and opposes those factions they see as close-minded and inhibiting of that end. On top of that, I have to completely agree and believe that there are some highly subversive elements in the city that for whatever reason are driven by personal grudges or what seems to be sheer enjoyment of watching things burn which are the reason the city's growth has been mortified. I held down the fort as long as I could, and I think the resulting political changes are actually really beneficial since I had become such a polarizing leader. However, I fear Xadzia might polarize things to the other end.

Hashan is an interesting city, with interesting houses to play, awesome history, coolest Gods, and probably most intense political scene. Right now there is a very complex balance of power being wrought in the city between several distinct(or perhaps not so distinct) factions that will either make or break the city going forward, but like was said, Hashan crests and falls. Nonetheless, I think things are on the up right now however tenuously, the city is vocalizing much more and debate is plentiful, if not robust...and the Regency, for now, is the most balanced I have ever seen.

What's really missing I think are ministers who really translate the direction the leaders want into something the citizens in general can grasp on to, and to create a culture where people with skills are valued rather than marginalized as they so often are in Hashan, unfortunately. Again, I think current trends are leaning back into marginalizing the bad apples rather than the good.

Ourania and her order are and have been great for the city, even her alliance with Babel though my character does not like it either. Without her, the city would invariably be a hundred times worse than it currently is. On the other hand, Twilight's absence and the godawful breakdown of his order has severly hurt the city.

Hashan is a fun city to play. Its culture and subcultures make for some very interesting, at least to me, politics, and it's history and Gods are pretty fascinating and challenging as well. The Houses also have a lot of depth to them, though some currently tap into them more than others. I wish more people would give Hashan a chance, but I understand why many do not want to stick by it, it can be downright vicious to its own, but for those who stick by and can play the long game, it is one of the most challenging places to play.

Achimrst

Gamoneterik said:

Guys, the Night is The Triad of Twilight, Ourania and Valnurana and the three realms they encompass of Darkness, The Moon, and Sleep and Dreams, which represent Knowledge, Understanding and Possibilities. Period!!!1!!!11eleven!

My problem isn't really this part of what night is, I understood that well even when I was Hashani. The problem I always had was how people tried to use Night as an alignment. I mean if night is an alignment than what is Hashan? Evil? darkness is typically seen as evil but than Ourania is opposing Sartan and supporting Babel. Valnurana is no where to be seen in Hashan and people oppose her having anything to do with Hashan. So is Valnurana really a part of the 'Night' or not?

What I'm getting at here is Ourania seems to be the face of the Night thing, if Valnurana is a part of it I have never heard what she has to say about it and if she has I would love to know what it was, OOCly of course. Essentially I see Hashan as neutral but they are turning their back on the word neutral. Basically it's like a short man screaming "I am tall!" but everyone can see what you are no matter how much you try to hide behind a word.

(╯° _°）╯︵ ┻━┻ Come out of the closet Hashan! You can be neutral it's not a bad thing!

Achimrst

@Vayne Are you just disagreeing about Hashan being neutral? I agree with most of what you said although I don't know what Xadzia is doing in Hashan now.

Blujixapug

Gamoneterik said:

Why can we not be happy with a simple ethos of Knowledge, Understanding that knowledge, and being unfettered in the Possibilities this brings about?

That's boring though. It's like, Mhaldor is about Evil, and Evil is about the drive for self-advancement (at all costs). But Mhaldor is actually about being a badass necromancing knight in Sartan's service.

I can respect Knowledge/Understanding/Possibilities. I just hope you don't make the mistake of having that be all Hashan's about. Look at Ashtan: for years, it thought it was about Freedom. But Freedom is a completely hollow and useless concept. You can't rally an organisation around 'freedom', except for the extremely tiny fraction of the time when an outside force threatens to take it away. For years, Ashtan wasn't about anything, and it never united as a city outside of the one time every RL year or so that Mhaldor or the Vertani tried to raid.

I do think the Night is a really cool brand for Hashan. It's so thematically rich. City of the Night. Bam. Instant associations to draw from. It fits so well. It's the right colour paint - you just have to paint a good picture with it.

Iocun

"Knowledge" is a not-so-interesting ideal, because almost nobody would be opposed to it. Most individuals and organisations strive for knowledge in some form or another, so it isn't striking enough to grant a unique identity.

Caoimhaen

@iocun knowledge is power as they say. And plus, why is it so bad to stand for knowledge and being able to choose how you believe and such. Isn't that the point? I would think. Since Hashan is based on the Triad, what is so bad about standing for what it stands for?

Penwize

Iocun said:

"Knowledge" is a not-so-interesting ideal, because almost nobody would be opposed to it. Most individuals and organisations strive for knowledge in some form or another, so it isn't striking enough to grant a unique identity.

Further to that, they're not even the central repository of all knowledge, or even really any sort of respected authority on it.  That honour largely goes to the Lucretian Athenaeum in Thera.  They are the ones who actively collect knowledge.  They're the ones who have events to gather pieces of lost literature.  For example, it was that library that was central in the collection of all those lost bits of writing during the revealing of the whole new section of Meropis and the histories of the fall of Seleucar.  Hashan was completely uninvolved in that whole thing (from what I saw), as well as pretty much every other grand knowledgey event I can think of, rendering their position as the keepers of knowledge false at best. 

I think the Lucretian Athenaeum's presence really precludes Hashan taking on that role, since it's currently served by another organization that is coherent, available to all, and most importantly active in world events.  Remedying that bit somehow would probably help Hashan's position if that's what it wants to claim to be.

Achimrst

Penwize said:

Iocun said:

"Knowledge" is a not-so-interesting ideal, because almost nobody would be opposed to it. Most individuals and organisations strive for knowledge in some form or another, so it isn't striking enough to grant a unique identity.

Further to that, they're not even the central repository of all knowledge, or even really any sort of respected authority on it.  That honour largely goes to the Lucretian Athenaeum in Thera.  They are the ones who actively collect knowledge.  They're the ones who have events to gather pieces of lost literature.  For example, it was that library that was central in the collection of all those lost bits of writing during the revealing of the whole new section of Meropis and the histories of the fall of Seleucar.  Hashan was completely uninvolved in that whole thing (from what I saw), as well as pretty much every other grand knowledgey event I can think of, rendering their position as the keepers of knowledge false at best. 

I think the Lucretian Athenaeum's presence really precludes Hashan taking on that role, since it's currently served by another organization that is coherent, available to all, and most importantly active in world events.  Remedying that bit somehow would probably help Hashan's position if that's what it wants to claim to be.

Just to further on this, you have never seen the Sylvan Library. It is awesome and I love it :P

Vayne

"Enlightenment" might be a better phrasing than "knowledge", even still I agree with the point you make, Blu. An ideology the people do not grasp on to does little for them, and it needs be something they can all rally behind, not just in a crisis. I've tried to make the connection that Hashan's history, culture, and especially its law were designed to reflect the values of the Night. The ability to better oneself derived from the freedom to pursue any avenue as means to that end and in turn to help enlighten the broader world. This gives the city open avenues for commonality and interaction with potentially any group, but also lays the foundation for conflict with the more exclusive, highly factionalized groups as well.

The problem, again, is getting people to buy into that as a unifying theme. @Penwize is right, Hashan is not the center of learning in Achaea, but it should be. I strove in many was to make the city more scholastic and scholarly in nature, but you can only push so far. Likewise, it does not have to all be pure scholarship, each of the houses has a niche in the knowledge/understanding/enlightenment scheme. The Serpentlords seek out information through espionage, the Lotus seeks knowledge through physical and spiritual discipline, and the Spirit Walkers, serve as the repository of Spiritual understanding and protection. I think there is a lot of potential to support several different school's of gameplay through this, including combat.

Combat is hampered in Hashan because people naturally migrate towards the polarized factions already and Hashan just does not have that clear draw. Thus, for a long time now it has fostered a culture of abusing those who do fight because since the fighters are so few, they have little support with things get ugly and end up getting the blame for backlash from foes. However, if Hashan could suck it up and stand by its defenders we have seen before that the Lotus and Serpentlords can put up significant numbers.

I hate to say it, but everyone knows it, the Ministry of Culture is another reason Hashan is so lack luster. As a force that could really help carve out and propagate Hashani culture, it is nearly nonexistent. That's all I'll say on that one.

Trevize

Achimrst said:

Gamoneterik said:

Guys, the Night is The Triad of Twilight, Ourania and Valnurana and the three realms they encompass of Darkness, The Moon, and Sleep and Dreams, which represent Knowledge, Understanding and Possibilities. Period!!!1!!!11eleven!

My problem isn't really this part of what night is, I understood that well even when I was Hashani. The problem I always had was how people tried to use Night as an alignment. I mean if night is an alignment than what is Hashan? Evil? darkness is typically seen as evil but than Ourania is opposing Sartan and supporting Babel. Valnurana is no where to be seen in Hashan and people oppose her having anything to do with Hashan. So is Valnurana really a part of the 'Night' or not?

What I'm getting at here is Ourania seems to be the face of the Night thing, if Valnurana is a part of it I have never heard what she has to say about it and if she has I would love to know what it was, OOCly of course. Essentially I see Hashan as neutral but they are turning their back on the word neutral. Basically it's like a short man screaming "I am tall!" but everyone can see what you are no matter how much you try to hide behind a word.

(╯° _°）╯︵ ┻━┻ Come out of the closet Hashan! You can be neutral it's not a bad thing!

Ask Trevize in-game about the Night sometime!

Achimrst

Trevize said:

Achimrst said:

Gamoneterik said:

Guys, the Night is The Triad of Twilight, Ourania and Valnurana and the three realms they encompass of Darkness, The Moon, and Sleep and Dreams, which represent Knowledge, Understanding and Possibilities. Period!!!1!!!11eleven!

My problem isn't really this part of what night is, I understood that well even when I was Hashani. The problem I always had was how people tried to use Night as an alignment. I mean if night is an alignment than what is Hashan? Evil? darkness is typically seen as evil but than Ourania is opposing Sartan and supporting Babel. Valnurana is no where to be seen in Hashan and people oppose her having anything to do with Hashan. So is Valnurana really a part of the 'Night' or not?

What I'm getting at here is Ourania seems to be the face of the Night thing, if Valnurana is a part of it I have never heard what she has to say about it and if she has I would love to know what it was, OOCly of course. Essentially I see Hashan as neutral but they are turning their back on the word neutral. Basically it's like a short man screaming "I am tall!" but everyone can see what you are no matter how much you try to hide behind a word.

(╯° _°）╯︵ ┻━┻ Come out of the closet Hashan! You can be neutral it's not a bad thing!

Ask Trevize in-game about the Night sometime!

If I do you will get kicked out of Hashan :P

Vayne

Achimrst said:

Trevize said:

Achimrst said:

Gamoneterik said:

Guys, the Night is The Triad of Twilight, Ourania and Valnurana and the three realms they encompass of Darkness, The Moon, and Sleep and Dreams, which represent Knowledge, Understanding and Possibilities. Period!!!1!!!11eleven!

My problem isn't really this part of what night is, I understood that well even when I was Hashani. The problem I always had was how people tried to use Night as an alignment. I mean if night is an alignment than what is Hashan? Evil? darkness is typically seen as evil but than Ourania is opposing Sartan and supporting Babel. Valnurana is no where to be seen in Hashan and people oppose her having anything to do with Hashan. So is Valnurana really a part of the 'Night' or not?

What I'm getting at here is Ourania seems to be the face of the Night thing, if Valnurana is a part of it I have never heard what she has to say about it and if she has I would love to know what it was, OOCly of course. Essentially I see Hashan as neutral but they are turning their back on the word neutral. Basically it's like a short man screaming "I am tall!" but everyone can see what you are no matter how much you try to hide behind a word.

(╯° _°）╯︵ ┻━┻ Come out of the closet Hashan! You can be neutral it's not a bad thing!

Ask Trevize in-game about the Night sometime!

If I do you will get kicked out of Hashan :P

I doubt it, @Trevize isn't an impressionable youth.

Achimrst

Vayne said:

Achimrst said:

Trevize said:

Achimrst said:

Gamoneterik said:

Guys, the Night is The Triad of Twilight, Ourania and Valnurana and the three realms they encompass of Darkness, The Moon, and Sleep and Dreams, which represent Knowledge, Understanding and Possibilities. Period!!!1!!!11eleven!

My problem isn't really this part of what night is, I understood that well even when I was Hashani. The problem I always had was how people tried to use Night as an alignment. I mean if night is an alignment than what is Hashan? Evil? darkness is typically seen as evil but than Ourania is opposing Sartan and supporting Babel. Valnurana is no where to be seen in Hashan and people oppose her having anything to do with Hashan. So is Valnurana really a part of the 'Night' or not?

What I'm getting at here is Ourania seems to be the face of the Night thing, if Valnurana is a part of it I have never heard what she has to say about it and if she has I would love to know what it was, OOCly of course. Essentially I see Hashan as neutral but they are turning their back on the word neutral. Basically it's like a short man screaming "I am tall!" but everyone can see what you are no matter how much you try to hide behind a word.

(╯° _°）╯︵ ┻━┻ Come out of the closet Hashan! You can be neutral it's not a bad thing!

Ask Trevize in-game about the Night sometime!

If I do you will get kicked out of Hashan :P

I doubt it, @Trevize isn't an impressionable youth.

Are you srsly going there with me @Vayne?
Didn't we already do this once!

Korben

Hashan is an interesting place, but (as Asmodron said) it doesn't really fit in with the rest of Achaea. The 'grow as you wish' theme is nice, but it ends up dividing people instead of uniting them.

Hashan has had a few bright moments over the years when people started to pull together and get things done as a city, but it's always fallen apart again. One can only hope that the Xth time will be the charm.

Nim

I dunno that much about Hashan, but even though they might be healthier in some way, all the philosophically united cities are kind of weird and inhuman in a way, so Hashan feels a little more normal in that way, from what little I know about it!

Which isn't much, since Nim is convinced it's the city of harlots, whores, and murderers. >_>

Vayne

A lot of people seem to not know much about Hashan but what they see from a distance and hear from others, I would encourage those people especially to give it a shot and see for themselves.