[FR] The Harpers: not so good?

[Jezrael]

So some people I've been talking to on other boards have been saying that the Harpers have a tendency to be..well kind of mean and nasty to other good guys that horn in on 'their territory'. I was interested in this because their portrayal in all the game supplements that I've seen them in has been very goody two-shoes. I asked what these people meant but they didn't elaborate. Any ideas on what they meant? Is this attitude coming from the novels? Other supplements I haven't read (2E FR Box Set and 3E FR campaign guide)?

A silly question I know but I can't get it out of my brain.

 

[kitsune9]

So some people I've been talking to on other boards have been saying that the Harpers have a tendency to be..well kind of mean and nasty to other good guys that horn in on 'their territory'. I was interested in this because their portrayal in all the game supplements that I've seen them in has been very goody two-shoes. I asked what these people meant but they didn't elaborate. Any ideas on what they meant? Is this attitude coming from the novels? Other supplements I haven't read (2E FR Box Set and 3E FR campaign guide)?

A silly question I know but I can't get it out of my brain.

From the novels, they tend to be self-righteous and the very goody two-shoes. I haven't seen anything from them that indicated that they would "take out" their "good" competition.

 

[Sammael]

I must admit that my view of the Harpers principally comes from the FR CRPGs, such as the Baldur's Gate series... flawed as they may be. I've only read a handful of FR novels, none of which portrayed Harpers prominently, so it's not that.

I usually run the Harpers as "good guys" but not necessarily "nice guys." They do what must be done to thwart evil, up to and including siding with lesser evil to overcome greater evil. They're not beyong betraying that lesser evil after it's served its purpose, too.

IMC, the Harpers and the Moonstars are once again reunited, thanks (in part) to the efforts of the PCs from my long-term Rebirth campaign. I always found Khelben's pragmatism to be a very good example of how Harpers should act.

Regardless of their sometime ruthlessness (when dealing with evil), Harpers care a great deal about protecting innocents and helping the folk of Faerun with their everyday activities. Unlike some paladin orders, Harpers are most decidedly not aloof, and they're not afraid to dirty their hands to help plow the fields or whatever.

 

[Jezrael]

Hmm. So it seems to be more of a 'can do no wrong' attitude of self-righteousness than anything? I can see where that would be annoying. And might even cause Blackstaff to move on out of there.

Thanks ya'll

 

[Sammael]

You may have more success locating the "canon" reply to your question on the Candlekeep forums: Candlekeep Forum

Look for the Sages of Realmslore sub-forum.

 

[Allenchan]

Its been a long time since I dealt with the Harpers, but I ran them as antagonists in a game a few years back.

IIRC, most of the shady aspects of the Harpers was because of Blackstaff and his boys, which is why they splintered off and made the Moonstars. Similiar goals, but theft, assassination, blackmail, etc are all things they do.

 

[Nifft]

the Moonstars. Similiar goals, but theft, assassination, blackmail, etc are all things they do.

"Righteous Deeds (and they're done dirt cheep),
Righteous Deeds (and they're done dirt cheep)..."

Cheers, -- N

 

[Kwalish Kid]

If you played Baldur's Gate 2, you know that the Harpers can be real jerks.

 

[Jezrael]

If you played Baldur's Gate 2, you know that the Harpers can be real jerks.

I can't get past the first chapter because

Spoiler

the sewer golem is borked and won't let me activate it

. So I've never gotten to the Harpers = Jerks part.

 

[aboyd]

If you played Baldur's Gate 2, you know that the Harpers can be real jerks.

Yes, I believe in that game, they are willing to kill one of their own, and they imprison another character without a trial. They simply deem themselves judge, jury, and executioner. Fairly self-righteous.

Frankly, they are a little like a D&D adventuring party, but organized into a large business that is hard to oppose and difficult to escape. A little scary.