Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Elsydeon 02-16-07, 12:57 AM	A friend of mine has started an Evil campaign up recently, level 3. It was kind of a sudden thing, so I rolled up a character more quickly than usual. High point buy, so I got 18, 16, 16, 8, 8, 8. Viking Wizard, 18 int, 16 dex and con. He's basically been a wizard for a raiding party traveling by sea along the coast of lost territories (The 'vikings' have been pushed back to the far north, and most of their homelands conquered). They've been trying to break their enemy's support by showing they can't even defend the lands, and have been fairly successful in the looting and pillaging. They stopped at a town nearby (not in the contested territory) for rest, recruitment of mercenaries, supplies, etc and my viking wizard got tangled up in something by escorting a local diplomat and protecting him from some pesky Paladins (who were really warrior NPCs) for some extra gold during the downtime. I'm having a hard time feeling out the character's personality and motivations. I went Lawful Evil, since he's got a code (it's just different from most people's) and I picture him as enjoying battle more than enjoying killing, so to speak. He's a viking, after all. He's indifferent to killing someone in battle, since a warrior's death is a good death and is what he himself would want. But being an evil game, I can't figure out exactly what I want it to lead to. Seems like he should have higher (or lower, depending on your outlook) aspirations fairly soon. His new contacts can offer him arcane resources, so that's a plus. And notoriety (he's been looked down on by the other Vikings for not being much of a warrior, even though he's useful) is a good motivator. I'm mostly looking for some story ideas. Goals he could develop, motivations he could have, etc. I'm not used to playing evil, so maybe that's where I'm getting stuck. I don't want the character to stagnate. Being a cavalry Wizard (Ride is awesome) has been a lot of fun so far. Any ideas on how to develop an evil character without mindlessly killing puppies, children, people, etc. Any good goals for an evil Wizard (that aren't cliché like world domination)?
Ensjak 02-16-07, 01:06 PM	I don't really know how much help I can be with giving your character a goal, but I do have a piece of advice for roleplaying an evil character, something that has always helped me to do it. Just remember that the only real difference between an evil character and a good one is the depth to which he is willing to sink to reach his goals and obtain the objects of his desire. An evil character doesn't consider himself evil any more than a neutral or good character does. Concerning goals, just because your wizard is evil does not automatically make him any more ambitious or power hungry than someone who is good. Maybe his goal is just to reclaim the land his people have lost over the years. The difference between a good character and an evil character is how they go about the reclamation.
Stormbrand 02-17-07, 03:01 PM	My opinion is that Wizard and Viking are two entirely seperate directions for the character. Try the patriotic approach - so military conquest, reclaiming the lands for your people. As you are near enough. Think of yourself as in the right reclaiming your homeland, even if it is just a giant graveyard when you are done. A wicked approach is to think of dark powers. Would it be possible to strengthen your fellow raiders with infernal magic? Work towards being able to award the Half-Fiend template or Fiendish Grafts or such. Perhaps work on making yourself a 'stronger warrior' through unholy power bolstering your physical might? Just as an ego thing. Be grisly, think of undead as simply taking the corpses as 'loot.' Think of celtic ghost fences (that is a nasty concept) or creating a trail of undead to haunt the wrecks of towns you have pillaged. Go war-wizard and ruthless lord, since the seidr (norse magi) tended to very good folk due to norse spiritualism.
Arokosaki 02-18-07, 02:30 AM	Stormbrand and Enjask both have good thoughts. Consider a gruff, possibly older Viking who is patriotic and has bonded with his fellows and most likely community/family, but is more than willing to kill/pillage/plunder those outside his chosen family circle and country. Any means of dark power in the service of his homeland and code would likely be another aspect (worshiping Loki or whatever equivalent is possible). Be willing to sacrifice foreign children to your gods to ensure a safe sea journey or victory in an upcoming raid. You know...the "any means necessary" approach.
Elsydeon 02-19-07, 12:17 PM	It's not all that strange. Odin, their primary god, was a wizard and wiseman. He stabbed out his own eye to learn magic. Vikings believed in Rune magic. Used it for divination, enchantment, and spells historically. Determined to earn his way into Valhalla even though he doesn't have the combat prowess. Believes that he can earn it through magic. Married, and his wife does the woman version of that (there is one, promise. Just non-combat). He's absolutely suicidal, trying to die in battle so he'll be chosen by the Valkyries. My GM won't be happy about this. He has enough trouble keeping the people who don't know the in's and outs of character creation alive. :D At least I have 18 HP at level 3. Should survive ok even though I'll be charging in on horseback to colorspray/web/whatever the enemy, and take them out with my trusty Crossbow. I'll likely attempt to retake the homeland. Of course, it turns out some of it's owned by my new employer. Should be interesting. Cavalry wizards really are fun, btw. ;) Oh, and someone better pray for that group when the other Wizard starts animating corpses. If I don't get to sacrifice the strongest of my enemy as a sign of respect for their strength, and to show my worth by bringing more soldiers to Valhalla... by killing them in battle of course... then I'm going after the one who tainted the offering to my god.
Devlonir 02-20-07, 09:31 AM	Suicidal mage.. that brings back some memories.. Although a completely different concept, he was also an evil mage, although NE. He was a necromancer and worked hard on becoming a lich (he was already well in his 60s when the campaign started and he didn't want to die of age) Once he was a Lich it all went downhill. eventually he almost became the Kenny of the party. Having created a spell that would teleport his gear to his phylactery the moment he was destroyed. so, he didn't loose anything when destroyed, he became very suicidal. doing some very dangerous things if needed. It soon happened that he died almost twice every session! It was kinda funny actually.. Not a good idea for a serious evil mage though..