Evil wizard background [Archive] - Wizards Community

Evil wizard background [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
kalico
07-03-05, 06:27 AM I am putting together an evil wizard and trying to flesh out a backstory and develop some motivations that would make her inclined to join a good-aligned party. Plus, if anyone has any tips for acting in character without giving myself away that would be good. My thoughts fairly scetchy so far, so any help would be appreciated.

So far: I was thinking Jaylia was kidnapped by an evil sourcerer, and raped and tortured over a long period of time. Eventually this treatment twisted her into becoming evil herself, initially torturing and murdering her captor.

I am unsure as to what might have become of her after this, though working as an assassin is one possibility. Perhaps, having made a few enemies, she could be looking for protection among a group of adventurers. Certainly, she could take delight simply in deception, and there are likely to be other benefits in terms of treasure, opportunities to kill etc.
Ahoyanende
07-03-05, 03:32 PM I have a lawful evil wizard. What's your alignment?

I have fun being an evil wizard... I could cast a spell for my evil purposes, and because nobody else in my group has spellcraft, they won't know what I'm casting.

I'm pretty kind to the people in my group. I'm evil, not rude. hehe. The only reason why my character is nice to them is because I feel they can help me get more powerful. My goal is to rule the country, and I am starting with a large town. I think when I am strong enough I am going to become dean of the "Boccob University". It's a college that teaches magic..like the one in Harry Potter. Haha. I'm not like the dean in the Harry Potter movie - I'm going to be teaching vile spells. Some teachers may object to that, but I'll say, "If the students are ever to fight an evil arch mage, they must learn the unorthodox spells of the evil descriptor. Know thy enemy, or you will not defeat them."

My character realizes that he needs to get stronger before he can become a dean or rule the town, so he is gaining experience with the other players. He wants to kill his chaotic evil brother, but he'll hold that in..at least until he accomplishes all his goals.

I think all one needs to do if they want to be evil in a good party is relate to each of the characters. IE: I can even get along with the good druid. My character may be evil, but he respects nature. I guess you can say he even worships nature.

Characters shouldn't meta-game, so when you are alone in town, and feel like doing something evil... like casting the corrupt spells Seething Eyebane or Crushing Fist of Spite should not make good characters offended. They won't know about it.
The^Wanderer
07-03-05, 11:45 PM Despite what most people would tell you, getting along with a good party is no problem. You just have to be certain that you are very subtle in your actions. You are evil, not rude. You are not evil for the sake of being evil - you are evil because it helps you to achieve your goals. You assist the party members because they can assist you. I find lawful evil works best for this kind of setup.

Use your party, but don't let them know they're being used. You need their help, don't you? You can't take on all of your goals yourself. Be an antihero.

What's your mission? Revenge? Wealth? Power? That's up to you. But whatever the case, your companions can help you with it.
kalico
07-05-05, 07:29 PM I was thinking of neutral evil, and not specifically looking to screw over the rest of the party, just looking out for my own interests first and playing with a much looser set of morals.
Kimbote
07-06-05, 09:26 PM Another interesting angle might be an evil character trying to reform? Just a thought, might be kind of lame though.

Lord Kimbote, BTNA
Mirikon
07-07-05, 01:19 AM I've played several evil characters who managed to coexist quite nicely with the others. One of my real successes conned the group so well that the party paladin not only never thought to Detect Evil her, but also went along with her plans, because she convinced him that it was good.
Need_A_Life
07-07-05, 03:20 AM Well, if there's a paladin get a ring of mind blank ASAP, just "because you don't like the idea of someone reading my mind" if anyone asks.

With the whole paladin thing taken care of think like this: They're (the party) useful and I have no reason to kill them. I see things more clear than they do, but can you blame the poor things? I'll humor them as long as they serve their purpose.
Uberwoot
07-07-05, 03:46 AM not specifically looking to screw over the rest of the party, just looking out for my own interests first and playing with a much looser set of morals.

Number one way to maintain cooperation with a good-aligned party is, in fact, that.

"Evil"- as a component of your character's personality, not as a cosmic force- is very subjective, in my opinion. Both good and evil characters have goals, and the evil character's goals are largely to benefit herself. A highly intelligent evil character will devise plans that are of benefit to both herself and those whose assistance she needs- the adventuring party, especially. Such a character will also disguise her motives when possible, either excluding characters whose moral fiber is too strong for some activities or twisting their results to seem to have moral high ground.

If you can master this sort of manipulation (and avoid getting caught with your pants down, so to speak), you will get along with even the most straightedge of parties. After all, your motivation for working with that group is that they're easy to manipulate- they've got a one-track goody-two-shoes mindset that makes their actions predictable, and you've got the inside position to turn them to your whim.
kalico
07-08-05, 02:39 AM Thanks to everyone. Should be fun...
No-man
07-08-05, 10:59 AM Don't forget that if you're with a Lawful party that you may have many goals in common, even if there are LG, and especially LN.
blooddemon
07-08-05, 12:23 PM I have a CE Wizard that doesn't like the arcane guild in the world, he believes that the guild holds back people's magical prowess so he does all he can do to subjugate and overthrow the guild.

He torches the libraries, poisons the council members and such all in order to unlock the adept's true potentials.
saru
07-12-05, 10:04 AM here is my concept for my evil wizard :

he got no remorse.

He thinks he s a good guy and he s willing to help people, even when they don't want. He thinks he had to do anything to bring goodness to people.
Murders, tortures, blackmail, lies are just tools he uses to bring this goodness.
To bring goodness, he needs to be powerful. To be powerful, he needs to works hard and when that doesn t work, he will do ANYTHING he have to to reach his goals.

If you try to prevent him to bring this goodness, then you re evil. If you re evil, you have to be destroyed or at least removed from his path. So he will try to kill you, if he can t kill you, he will try to join people to kill you. If he and pals can t kill you, he will try to send militia to you (even if he have to create evidences for a crime). If this doesn t work, he will try to pay you to stop. If this doesn t work, he ll pay LOT of adventurers to kill you as he sees you as an evil people.
But he will never stop as for him, good is better than evil and will win at end, and you re evil.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kalico 07-03-05, 06:27 AM	I am putting together an evil wizard and trying to flesh out a backstory and develop some motivations that would make her inclined to join a good-aligned party. Plus, if anyone has any tips for acting in character without giving myself away that would be good. My thoughts fairly scetchy so far, so any help would be appreciated. So far: I was thinking Jaylia was kidnapped by an evil sourcerer, and raped and tortured over a long period of time. Eventually this treatment twisted her into becoming evil herself, initially torturing and murdering her captor. I am unsure as to what might have become of her after this, though working as an assassin is one possibility. Perhaps, having made a few enemies, she could be looking for protection among a group of adventurers. Certainly, she could take delight simply in deception, and there are likely to be other benefits in terms of treasure, opportunities to kill etc.
Ahoyanende 07-03-05, 03:32 PM	I have a lawful evil wizard. What's your alignment? I have fun being an evil wizard... I could cast a spell for my evil purposes, and because nobody else in my group has spellcraft, they won't know what I'm casting. I'm pretty kind to the people in my group. I'm evil, not rude. hehe. The only reason why my character is nice to them is because I feel they can help me get more powerful. My goal is to rule the country, and I am starting with a large town. I think when I am strong enough I am going to become dean of the "Boccob University". It's a college that teaches magic..like the one in Harry Potter. Haha. I'm not like the dean in the Harry Potter movie - I'm going to be teaching vile spells. Some teachers may object to that, but I'll say, "If the students are ever to fight an evil arch mage, they must learn the unorthodox spells of the evil descriptor. Know thy enemy, or you will not defeat them." My character realizes that he needs to get stronger before he can become a dean or rule the town, so he is gaining experience with the other players. He wants to kill his chaotic evil brother, but he'll hold that in..at least until he accomplishes all his goals. I think all one needs to do if they want to be evil in a good party is relate to each of the characters. IE: I can even get along with the good druid. My character may be evil, but he respects nature. I guess you can say he even worships nature. Characters shouldn't meta-game, so when you are alone in town, and feel like doing something evil... like casting the corrupt spells Seething Eyebane or Crushing Fist of Spite should not make good characters offended. They won't know about it.
The^Wanderer 07-03-05, 11:45 PM	Despite what most people would tell you, getting along with a good party is no problem. You just have to be certain that you are very subtle in your actions. You are evil, not rude. You are not evil for the sake of being evil - you are evil because it helps you to achieve your goals. You assist the party members because they can assist you. I find lawful evil works best for this kind of setup. Use your party, but don't let them know they're being used. You need their help, don't you? You can't take on all of your goals yourself. Be an antihero. What's your mission? Revenge? Wealth? Power? That's up to you. But whatever the case, your companions can help you with it.
kalico 07-05-05, 07:29 PM	I was thinking of neutral evil, and not specifically looking to screw over the rest of the party, just looking out for my own interests first and playing with a much looser set of morals.
Kimbote 07-06-05, 09:26 PM	Another interesting angle might be an evil character trying to reform? Just a thought, might be kind of lame though. Lord Kimbote, BTNA
Mirikon 07-07-05, 01:19 AM	I've played several evil characters who managed to coexist quite nicely with the others. One of my real successes conned the group so well that the party paladin not only never thought to Detect Evil her, but also went along with her plans, because she convinced him that it was good.
Need_A_Life 07-07-05, 03:20 AM	Well, if there's a paladin get a ring of mind blank ASAP, just "because you don't like the idea of someone reading my mind" if anyone asks. With the whole paladin thing taken care of think like this: They're (the party) useful and I have no reason to kill them. I see things more clear than they do, but can you blame the poor things? I'll humor them as long as they serve their purpose.
Uberwoot 07-07-05, 03:46 AM	not specifically looking to screw over the rest of the party, just looking out for my own interests first and playing with a much looser set of morals. Number one way to maintain cooperation with a good-aligned party is, in fact, that. "Evil"- as a component of your character's personality, not as a cosmic force- is very subjective, in my opinion. Both good and evil characters have goals, and the evil character's goals are largely to benefit herself. A highly intelligent evil character will devise plans that are of benefit to both herself and those whose assistance she needs- the adventuring party, especially. Such a character will also disguise her motives when possible, either excluding characters whose moral fiber is too strong for some activities or twisting their results to seem to have moral high ground. If you can master this sort of manipulation (and avoid getting caught with your pants down, so to speak), you will get along with even the most straightedge of parties. After all, your motivation for working with that group is that they're easy to manipulate- they've got a one-track goody-two-shoes mindset that makes their actions predictable, and you've got the inside position to turn them to your whim.
kalico 07-08-05, 02:39 AM	Thanks to everyone. Should be fun...
No-man 07-08-05, 10:59 AM	Don't forget that if you're with a Lawful party that you may have many goals in common, even if there are LG, and especially LN.
blooddemon 07-08-05, 12:23 PM	I have a CE Wizard that doesn't like the arcane guild in the world, he believes that the guild holds back people's magical prowess so he does all he can do to subjugate and overthrow the guild. He torches the libraries, poisons the council members and such all in order to unlock the adept's true potentials.
saru 07-12-05, 10:04 AM	here is my concept for my evil wizard : he got no remorse. He thinks he s a good guy and he s willing to help people, even when they don't want. He thinks he had to do anything to bring goodness to people. Murders, tortures, blackmail, lies are just tools he uses to bring this goodness. To bring goodness, he needs to be powerful. To be powerful, he needs to works hard and when that doesn t work, he will do ANYTHING he have to to reach his goals. If you try to prevent him to bring this goodness, then you re evil. If you re evil, you have to be destroyed or at least removed from his path. So he will try to kill you, if he can t kill you, he will try to join people to kill you. If he and pals can t kill you, he will try to send militia to you (even if he have to create evidences for a crime). If this doesn t work, he will try to pay you to stop. If this doesn t work, he ll pay LOT of adventurers to kill you as he sees you as an evil people. But he will never stop as for him, good is better than evil and will win at end, and you re evil.