A /tg/ Anon's Academic View on Harems

From the introduction:

In the past years, exported in huge part by anime and manga, the harem has re-entered the western psyche and become a more mainstream idea among fantasy game players and authors. Harems can be an attractive option for both sex appeal and character drama as they introduce the classic dilemma of loving multiple women whilst still allowing a satisfying ending for all characters involved.

Harems often fall into the world of magical realm and wish fulfillment, however. There are a number of pitfalls that they can and often do fall into when attempting to include such an element within their narrative. There are a number of core issues that must be addressed in order to avoid the common pitfalls.