Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
The Shieldbearers seem to be set up to be the "here's how to give your PCs missions" organization, but there's very little meat on their bones, beyond that their commander wants to be more activist than they're allowed to be.
To me, they read very much like original series Star Trek, complete with a Prime Directive of "not interfering" with other cultures -- beyond saving the lives of those who might otherwise die, which of course is a change from how things would work out without them.
I'm thinking of leaning more fully into the Trekness of it all in my new campaign, and having red, blue and gold tabards for Shieldbearers (warriors, adepts and specialists, which is a split I've liked since the 3E days) and for their symbol to be a stylized kite shield with a star on it that if one, oops, flipped it upside down, would look an awful lot like the Starfleet shield.
To make them a player-employing organization, I'm thinking of coming up with a monthly salary for them or some other form of stipend. The Radiant Citadel isn't fully post-scarcity, but Shieldbearers shouldn't be in the business of having to get themselves attacked by bandits so that they can justify making the purchases they'll want/need to as they level up.
Has anyone else used them in games? Any suggestions on how to run this as an in-game organization? Any advice from DMs who've used the Harpers extensively in the Forgotten Realms?
To me, they read very much like original series Star Trek, complete with a Prime Directive of "not interfering" with other cultures -- beyond saving the lives of those who might otherwise die, which of course is a change from how things would work out without them.
I'm thinking of leaning more fully into the Trekness of it all in my new campaign, and having red, blue and gold tabards for Shieldbearers (warriors, adepts and specialists, which is a split I've liked since the 3E days) and for their symbol to be a stylized kite shield with a star on it that if one, oops, flipped it upside down, would look an awful lot like the Starfleet shield.
To make them a player-employing organization, I'm thinking of coming up with a monthly salary for them or some other form of stipend. The Radiant Citadel isn't fully post-scarcity, but Shieldbearers shouldn't be in the business of having to get themselves attacked by bandits so that they can justify making the purchases they'll want/need to as they level up.
Has anyone else used them in games? Any suggestions on how to run this as an in-game organization? Any advice from DMs who've used the Harpers extensively in the Forgotten Realms?
