Evil but not a villian [Archive] - Wizards Community

Evil but not a villian [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MisterD1223
12-28-04, 09:01 PM I am working on a character (HEXBLADE) and he is going to be Lawful Evil.

I am playing him As having and following a personal code that closely abides by local law. He is just basically out for himself. In a fight he will not use subdual damage. He will try to take the guy out so he does not have to worry about him later.

Any ideas on playing an evil character without disrupting a party or seeming to be a plant or villian in the making?
Persephone Imytholin
12-29-04, 06:27 AM Your character will be out for himself, but anyone really out for themself knows better than to be obvious about it.

Be a bit greedy, sneak extra shares of the treasure, be ultra-careful about watching your back in agreements and try to rip folk off when you think they won't notice or care. Don't work against the party, but do hang back a little; after all, you don't want to risk yourself too much. Be enthusiastic about the goals of the party, do your share of 'good', and line your pockets along the way.
rusdrake77
12-29-04, 07:15 PM This is a bad concept of a bad PC.

If you listen to the post above, you will end up a typical loner. Believe me, there are hundreds of thousands of such unique roleplayers of hanging back loners with family killed in their childhood and similar black cloak on the face rubbish in character description. Everybody are sick of them.

I once saw a story for this character, I should have copied it.

The beggining was something like that: "My parents died before I was born. Since then I was studing {insert his asskicking speciality here} exclusively 24 hour per day. That time I lived on the streets/with a wizard found of teaching little stupid boys. And now I am here, the man self-enima!"
MisterD1223
12-29-04, 08:16 PM Basically the character started life with a few strikes against him.

Born on a moonless night (No natural light)
Poor family.
Mother blames child for 1) father leaving 2) ruining her good looks

Child basically un wnated and disliked by parents.

Easy target for getting picked on.

Bad thinks happened to thoes who ****** Character off (starting of HEXBLADE ability)

Went from being the target to to being the agressor. He does not pick on the weak. He may take advantage of, but will not intentionally do harm. He usually targets thoes who think they are better than him.

Worked on developing his martial skills to do the most damage against his opponents.

Link to character Sheet (http://members.tripod.com/character-corner/darian.htm)
Tom Kalbfus1
12-29-04, 09:56 PM Is Hannible Lecter of Silence of the Lambs evil but not a villian? To me a villian is the person who drives the story through his evil actions that the PCs have to foil. In the movie Silence of the Lambs Hannible Lecter help solve a crime because it takes a killer to think like one.
Mirikon
12-30-04, 11:20 AM Silence of the Lambs was the second book in a trilogy, Tom. In the first and third books, he is the villian.

As for how to be evil in a party of (mostly) good people? Depends on the party, and your character.

If the people in the party are oblivious or don't care, you could always take the approach of Black Mage in 8Bit Theater. He's pretty much admittedly evil, but tones it down (or tries to) when he's around White Mage.

Seriously, though, I'd recommend that you follow along with what the party Paladin/Cleric does. Try to convince your party that you're actually neutral. Don't show mercy to the enemy, but do make a show of helping the party do 'good' works.

One question, though. How did your party join up to go adventuring? Was there a call in the local tavern for adventurers? Did they get forced into it somehow? If they were forced into it (common enemy, or something like that) you could be admittedly evil to the rest of the party, just don't go over the top with it. You're there because you have to be. They're there because they have to be. You might not like it, or eachother, but you got a job to do. This might cause problems within the party from time to time, but it'll make for good roleplaying. Some very effective combinations have been made when a Paladin and a evil character team up. Or, to draw from X-Men, it could be like if Wolverine and Sabertooth teamed up. Sure they hate eachother, and wouldn't mind killing eachother. But they make a deadly combo when teaming up.
MisterD1223
12-30-04, 06:24 PM THe character is not in a group yet.

I just want some ideas how to roleplay him when he does get into a group.
Mirikon
12-31-04, 12:59 AM Oh, that makes it even easier, then. It all depends on how he becomes involved with the group. If he's forced into the group (town they're in is attacked, and they have to join together to fight the common enemy) or is a mercenary (adventuring group hires him on) or is sent as a liason from the group's patron, your problems are solved.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MisterD1223 12-28-04, 09:01 PM	I am working on a character (HEXBLADE) and he is going to be Lawful Evil. I am playing him As having and following a personal code that closely abides by local law. He is just basically out for himself. In a fight he will not use subdual damage. He will try to take the guy out so he does not have to worry about him later. Any ideas on playing an evil character without disrupting a party or seeming to be a plant or villian in the making?
Persephone Imytholin 12-29-04, 06:27 AM	Your character will be out for himself, but anyone really out for themself knows better than to be obvious about it. Be a bit greedy, sneak extra shares of the treasure, be ultra-careful about watching your back in agreements and try to rip folk off when you think they won't notice or care. Don't work against the party, but do hang back a little; after all, you don't want to risk yourself too much. Be enthusiastic about the goals of the party, do your share of 'good', and line your pockets along the way.
rusdrake77 12-29-04, 07:15 PM	This is a bad concept of a bad PC. If you listen to the post above, you will end up a typical loner. Believe me, there are hundreds of thousands of such unique roleplayers of hanging back loners with family killed in their childhood and similar black cloak on the face rubbish in character description. Everybody are sick of them. I once saw a story for this character, I should have copied it. The beggining was something like that: "My parents died before I was born. Since then I was studing {insert his asskicking speciality here} exclusively 24 hour per day. That time I lived on the streets/with a wizard found of teaching little stupid boys. And now I am here, the man self-enima!"
MisterD1223 12-29-04, 08:16 PM	Basically the character started life with a few strikes against him. Born on a moonless night (No natural light) Poor family. Mother blames child for 1) father leaving 2) ruining her good looks Child basically un wnated and disliked by parents. Easy target for getting picked on. Bad thinks happened to thoes who ****** Character off (starting of HEXBLADE ability) Went from being the target to to being the agressor. He does not pick on the weak. He may take advantage of, but will not intentionally do harm. He usually targets thoes who think they are better than him. Worked on developing his martial skills to do the most damage against his opponents. Link to character Sheet (http://members.tripod.com/character-corner/darian.htm)
Tom Kalbfus1 12-29-04, 09:56 PM	Is Hannible Lecter of Silence of the Lambs evil but not a villian? To me a villian is the person who drives the story through his evil actions that the PCs have to foil. In the movie Silence of the Lambs Hannible Lecter help solve a crime because it takes a killer to think like one.
Mirikon 12-30-04, 11:20 AM	Silence of the Lambs was the second book in a trilogy, Tom. In the first and third books, he is the villian. As for how to be evil in a party of (mostly) good people? Depends on the party, and your character. If the people in the party are oblivious or don't care, you could always take the approach of Black Mage in 8Bit Theater. He's pretty much admittedly evil, but tones it down (or tries to) when he's around White Mage. Seriously, though, I'd recommend that you follow along with what the party Paladin/Cleric does. Try to convince your party that you're actually neutral. Don't show mercy to the enemy, but do make a show of helping the party do 'good' works. One question, though. How did your party join up to go adventuring? Was there a call in the local tavern for adventurers? Did they get forced into it somehow? If they were forced into it (common enemy, or something like that) you could be admittedly evil to the rest of the party, just don't go over the top with it. You're there because you have to be. They're there because they have to be. You might not like it, or eachother, but you got a job to do. This might cause problems within the party from time to time, but it'll make for good roleplaying. Some very effective combinations have been made when a Paladin and a evil character team up. Or, to draw from X-Men, it could be like if Wolverine and Sabertooth teamed up. Sure they hate eachother, and wouldn't mind killing eachother. But they make a deadly combo when teaming up.
MisterD1223 12-30-04, 06:24 PM	THe character is not in a group yet. I just want some ideas how to roleplay him when he does get into a group.
Mirikon 12-31-04, 12:59 AM	Oh, that makes it even easier, then. It all depends on how he becomes involved with the group. If he's forced into the group (town they're in is attacked, and they have to join together to fight the common enemy) or is a mercenary (adventuring group hires him on) or is sent as a liason from the group's patron, your problems are solved.