How to play CE [Archive] - Wizards Community

How to play CE [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sean, THe Incompotent
07-16-07, 12:14 PM Im stumped we are going to start playing our first evil campagin and Im going with CE Drow Cleric of Loth and I dont know how to play him other then a complete jerk and greedy. If anyone has anyother suggestions to help me play him that would be awesome
Karish
07-16-07, 12:24 PM Im stumped we are going to start playing our first evil campagin and Im going with CE Drow Cleric of Loth and I dont know how to play him other then a complete jerk and greedy. If anyone has anyother suggestions to help me play him that would be awesome

Actually, my favorite way to play CE is sort of like how Hannibal Lecter was in Hannibal Rising. He wasn't LE, because he wasn't cooperating with law or giving his victims a sporting chance. He promised to release them if they talked and then killed them, he tortured and cannibalized, etc.
Lilitha
07-16-07, 04:03 PM Basicly you do whatever you want. What feels good or gains you power. The character doesn't have to act like a jerk, its just likely you don't care about the other person. You really don't feel compassion for others. That doesn't mean you enjoy hurting others(though thats an option), it just means you just don't care. If someone gets in your way, you kill them. If your walking down the street and someone is being killed infront of you, you shrug and keep on going, its none of your business after all.

You don't show mercy and you don't do stuff for free(though you can get a sick pleasure out of doing evil). Since your a drow and not a monster, its likely your more greedy and selfship and lack compassion, instead of sick, twisted and messed up in the head. But both ways are valid for an evil person. Also your chaotic so you don't mind if you lie, cheat or steal to get what you want, everything is fair game to you.
Drunk_Yoda
07-16-07, 05:03 PM Like Lilitha said there are many ways to play a CE charracter the ones I like to play are:

- The Joker Complex: you act like the joker in batman, you don't care about other you only do thing for your own reasons, you have no real order in your like if you feel like killing you kill just because or if you feel like stealing you steal. You're f*ked up so you do thing your way and thats it.

- The idealist: You do thing because you're following a path that you think will guide to holyness, you kill and do thing that are "evil" because you don't care about the others you only want to follow your path wherever it might guide you.

Let me tell you it is not easy playing a CE character in aparty because they usually think of themselves first and always.
Drow64
07-16-07, 05:06 PM HAIL LOLTH! HAIL LOLTH! HAIL LOLTH! :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:
FRRC
07-16-07, 05:40 PM Be an Enchanter. Killing is beneath you, it's so messy and fussy, so you get/command others to do it for you willingly or forcefully. However, you care little for those who are too weak to resist your "charms" and you oppose those who seek to impose themselves apon you as you do apon others.
T_Baggins
07-16-07, 06:34 PM We do whatever we want, to whomever we want...at all times--Inignot---Aqua Teen
Drunk_Yoda
07-16-07, 06:40 PM Be an Enchanter. Killing is beneath you, it's so messy and fussy, so you get/command others to do it for you willingly or forcefully. However, you care little for those who are too weak to resist your "charms" and you oppose those who seek to impose themselves apon you as you do apon others.

That sounds a bit to LE to me because as I see it LE are like politics you backstab those who you don't need and yes there ways that don't involve killing to be CE but enchantment is a bit to LE like I said becaus eyou have to be organized to control others.
CrimsonDeath
07-16-07, 06:56 PM I didn't know Lolth accepted male clerics.
Ensjak
07-16-07, 09:36 PM I didn't know Lolth accepted male clerics.

There is a Salvatore book in which a member of Bregan D'aerthe is a multiclass wizard/cleric of lolth.

Aside from that, realize that playing any alignment is difficult. Being a cleric does make things easier if you understand or can read up on your character's deity. Don't try to play the alignment. Play the character. He worships Lolth and follows her teachings. Lolth is a chaotic evil deity. Do what a cleric of Lolth would do and the Chaotic Evil alignment will shine through (perhaps pervade is a better word here).

Just because your character is chaotic evil does not mean that his only goal is to please himself. Far from it for your character. Just because he is chaotic does not mean he is stupid, or short sighted in his goals. Your character does not have to do things haphazardly. He is unpredictable in service to his dark goddess. He actively spreads evil and Lolth's influence. He doesn't just kill someone for being in his way. He tortures and then kills him for insulting a drow (the degree of punishment varies and is only loosely dependent upon the strength of the perceived insult). He seeks to spread the influence of his goddess, himself, and all drow (in that order).

Although being greedy and a jerk is all fair and well, remember, do it in a way that stresses faith and loyalty to his goddess. Lolth won't abide disloyal clerics who do not show the proper respect at all times. Being a male already puts your character on thin ice with his goddess. He must be extra zealous in spreading her will if he is to survive as a priest of Lolth.
psychoticbarber
07-16-07, 10:24 PM Lolth is a chaotic evil deity. Do what a cleric of Lolth would do and the Chaotic Evil alignment will shine through

WWLD?
Sean, THe Incompotent
07-16-07, 11:37 PM Thanks Guys I have been thinking about what was said and its been a great help. I also have another general roll playing question about drow though so far it would seem that my party consits of what my guy would consider ibilith or slave races and the only real insight i have into how my char would interact with them is from the drow in the spell sword books that are not Jarel ex so if you could help me figure out how my guy could stand to travel with a hobgoblin 2 humans and some unknown monster our party's twink will be playing it would be great.

I've also come up wtih some quotes of things i think he would say

" You have crossed the line and in doing so crossed from the living to the dead"

" Now you die by inches"

"Your death will only be a brief respite between when I am finished with you and when my godess starts"

"I am DROW you are a CORPSE"
warwinner
07-17-07, 02:15 PM Necessity or for sake of protection.He'll ditch em as soon as able or even doublecross them or so he thinks initially.Maybe he could later change his mind
CrimsonDeath
07-17-07, 04:04 PM This attitude would probably be disruptive for a game with your friends... but if they're slaves, he could decide to treat them as such.
Callista
07-17-07, 06:18 PM Talk to your friends first; warn them you're playing this guy, and talk about ways to keep the party together. This IS an evil campaign, right?
darksamuari
07-17-07, 06:56 PM I'll use my personal example for this alignment from one of my most loved films.

Rico Dredd, Judge Dredd (1995)

Seriously, watch the film and review everything the character is/does.
Fithero
07-17-07, 07:13 PM Rico Dredd, Judge Dredd (1995)

See, this is were things get complicated and arguments start. :(

I'd say that Rico would be Neutral Evil, he's out for himself first and foremost, not out doing evil for evils sake.

I dunno, I stay clear of alignment threads.

Peace
Westbound
07-17-07, 11:54 PM All of these posts are pretty good suggestions. I'd like to add another few points of advice.

First, how intelligent and wise is your character?

You see, people will do whatever works for them, and a more intelligent, more wise character might be more willing to take risks because he'll have a better understanding of the dangers of a situation. What this means is that a CE intelligent and wise character will likely find subtle, less direct means of getting what he wants.

Another thing to know about CE is they're more likely to give into their feelings than probably just about any other alignment. He's more into immediate gratification than just about any other alignment. Other alignments might be more patient, but the CE needs more of a reason to be patient, and if he's more intelligent and wise he'll be more patient.

If you want something, and if you want it badly, let nothing stand in your way. If someone is more powerful than you and is standing in your way of something you want, avoid him and placate him until you find a way to eliminate him as a threat. If someone isn't of use to you, ignore them or eliminate them. When you are splitting treasure with your party, always go for the most valuable or powerful items, and try always for the most allotment of treasure (your goal is a 100% portion). I think a CE character can be loyal to someone only if they have a need or a desire to be loyal (a CE can know love), so if you accept that someone gets a portion of the treasure you find, you have to have a reason. Perhaps you're not covetous of gold or magic items, but your desires drive you and you're definitely not above killing, robbing, raping and maiming to get what you want. And if someone slights you, you shall revenge.
darksamuari
07-18-07, 03:37 AM I dunno, I stay clear of alignment threads.

Good, because we could have a very long debate on the subject of Rico Dredd.
Sean, THe Incompotent
07-18-07, 09:31 AM Thank you guys for the help the first session might be starting tonight if so I'll let everyone know how it goes and Callista it is an all evil campagin.
FRRC
07-20-07, 04:26 AM That sounds a bit to LE to me because as I see it LE are like politics you backstab those who you don't need and yes there ways that don't involve killing to be CE but enchantment is a bit to LE like I said becaus eyou have to be organized to control others.

Who said anything about politics? You don't need to be organized but it helps. Just because a character plans something out does not make him Lawful. You don't even need to plan something out, the character could just simply try to control someone who doesn't immediately follow his command.

He uses his enchantments to obtain his goals without a care for anything else. He'll break laws, make others break laws, break others with others. That is not Lawful Evil.
TheOrdnanceGod
07-20-07, 08:10 PM play your character like Sean Bean in The Hitcher. You kill people, alot of people, just for kicks. You're not doing it to prove a point or to scare other people or to get information, you're just killing people for fun.

Hannible has never really been chaotic evil because he's always put alot of thought and planning into the people he kills and its never random.

Do it like Kurgan in Highlander. CE is best described in my opinion as a destroyer, someone that doesnt really care about making statements or points.

"And I started jumping up and down yelling kill! kill! kill! kill!"-Arlo Guthrie, Alice's Resturant.
BlackHalfDragon
07-21-07, 02:42 PM Drow Cleric of Loth and I dont know how to play him other then a complete jerk and greedy. If anyone has anyother suggestions to help me play him that would be awesome

grab a sex change unless you want to vent your 2nd class in the eyes of your deity-ness on weaker beings

infact that's what you do you prove that you are stronger than women drow even tho its paradoxical but CE is half insane anyway ;)
Sean, THe Incompotent
07-23-07, 12:24 AM I was grapled by a 15 year old that my dm retroactivly gave a level in monk based on my fortune cookie from dinner the other party members would not stop making fun of me then when i gave myself spider legs and snakes for hands they traped me in a resilliant sphere to make it clear i was attack some people that were trying to rob us not realizing how strong we were i was hoping to scare a few away so they would speak of the terrifying power of myself and my god
Asra
07-30-07, 11:06 AM For Chaotic Evil, you can always default to Graz'zt; Cool, calculating and he has some far-spanning plans, but he doesn't let them get in the way of what he loves... And we all know what that is!

You can plan ahead if you're Chaotic Evil, since there are Chaotic Evil Societies, they're just sorta chaotic and evil. But being Chaotic and Evil just means that you never have to keep your word to others, or do what you say you're going to do, unless you think its a good idea.

Besides, are you going to say a Mane(LE) is making plans for itself? The alignments are really a basis on what you do, unless you're something like a Slaad, which are pure Chaos.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sean, THe Incompotent 07-16-07, 12:14 PM	Im stumped we are going to start playing our first evil campagin and Im going with CE Drow Cleric of Loth and I dont know how to play him other then a complete jerk and greedy. If anyone has anyother suggestions to help me play him that would be awesome
Karish 07-16-07, 12:24 PM	Im stumped we are going to start playing our first evil campagin and Im going with CE Drow Cleric of Loth and I dont know how to play him other then a complete jerk and greedy. If anyone has anyother suggestions to help me play him that would be awesome Actually, my favorite way to play CE is sort of like how Hannibal Lecter was in Hannibal Rising. He wasn't LE, because he wasn't cooperating with law or giving his victims a sporting chance. He promised to release them if they talked and then killed them, he tortured and cannibalized, etc.
Lilitha 07-16-07, 04:03 PM	Basicly you do whatever you want. What feels good or gains you power. The character doesn't have to act like a jerk, its just likely you don't care about the other person. You really don't feel compassion for others. That doesn't mean you enjoy hurting others(though thats an option), it just means you just don't care. If someone gets in your way, you kill them. If your walking down the street and someone is being killed infront of you, you shrug and keep on going, its none of your business after all. You don't show mercy and you don't do stuff for free(though you can get a sick pleasure out of doing evil). Since your a drow and not a monster, its likely your more greedy and selfship and lack compassion, instead of sick, twisted and messed up in the head. But both ways are valid for an evil person. Also your chaotic so you don't mind if you lie, cheat or steal to get what you want, everything is fair game to you.
Drunk_Yoda 07-16-07, 05:03 PM	Like Lilitha said there are many ways to play a CE charracter the ones I like to play are: - The Joker Complex: you act like the joker in batman, you don't care about other you only do thing for your own reasons, you have no real order in your like if you feel like killing you kill just because or if you feel like stealing you steal. You're f*ked up so you do thing your way and thats it. - The idealist: You do thing because you're following a path that you think will guide to holyness, you kill and do thing that are "evil" because you don't care about the others you only want to follow your path wherever it might guide you. Let me tell you it is not easy playing a CE character in aparty because they usually think of themselves first and always.
Drow64 07-16-07, 05:06 PM	HAIL LOLTH! HAIL LOLTH! HAIL LOLTH! :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:
FRRC 07-16-07, 05:40 PM	Be an Enchanter. Killing is beneath you, it's so messy and fussy, so you get/command others to do it for you willingly or forcefully. However, you care little for those who are too weak to resist your "charms" and you oppose those who seek to impose themselves apon you as you do apon others.
T_Baggins 07-16-07, 06:34 PM	We do whatever we want, to whomever we want...at all times--Inignot---Aqua Teen
Drunk_Yoda 07-16-07, 06:40 PM	Be an Enchanter. Killing is beneath you, it's so messy and fussy, so you get/command others to do it for you willingly or forcefully. However, you care little for those who are too weak to resist your "charms" and you oppose those who seek to impose themselves apon you as you do apon others. That sounds a bit to LE to me because as I see it LE are like politics you backstab those who you don't need and yes there ways that don't involve killing to be CE but enchantment is a bit to LE like I said becaus eyou have to be organized to control others.
CrimsonDeath 07-16-07, 06:56 PM	I didn't know Lolth accepted male clerics.
Ensjak 07-16-07, 09:36 PM	I didn't know Lolth accepted male clerics. There is a Salvatore book in which a member of Bregan D'aerthe is a multiclass wizard/cleric of lolth. Aside from that, realize that playing any alignment is difficult. Being a cleric does make things easier if you understand or can read up on your character's deity. Don't try to play the alignment. Play the character. He worships Lolth and follows her teachings. Lolth is a chaotic evil deity. Do what a cleric of Lolth would do and the Chaotic Evil alignment will shine through (perhaps pervade is a better word here). Just because your character is chaotic evil does not mean that his only goal is to please himself. Far from it for your character. Just because he is chaotic does not mean he is stupid, or short sighted in his goals. Your character does not have to do things haphazardly. He is unpredictable in service to his dark goddess. He actively spreads evil and Lolth's influence. He doesn't just kill someone for being in his way. He tortures and then kills him for insulting a drow (the degree of punishment varies and is only loosely dependent upon the strength of the perceived insult). He seeks to spread the influence of his goddess, himself, and all drow (in that order). Although being greedy and a jerk is all fair and well, remember, do it in a way that stresses faith and loyalty to his goddess. Lolth won't abide disloyal clerics who do not show the proper respect at all times. Being a male already puts your character on thin ice with his goddess. He must be extra zealous in spreading her will if he is to survive as a priest of Lolth.
psychoticbarber 07-16-07, 10:24 PM	Lolth is a chaotic evil deity. Do what a cleric of Lolth would do and the Chaotic Evil alignment will shine through WWLD?
Sean, THe Incompotent 07-16-07, 11:37 PM	Thanks Guys I have been thinking about what was said and its been a great help. I also have another general roll playing question about drow though so far it would seem that my party consits of what my guy would consider ibilith or slave races and the only real insight i have into how my char would interact with them is from the drow in the spell sword books that are not Jarel ex so if you could help me figure out how my guy could stand to travel with a hobgoblin 2 humans and some unknown monster our party's twink will be playing it would be great. I've also come up wtih some quotes of things i think he would say " You have crossed the line and in doing so crossed from the living to the dead" " Now you die by inches" "Your death will only be a brief respite between when I am finished with you and when my godess starts" "I am DROW you are a CORPSE"
warwinner 07-17-07, 02:15 PM	Necessity or for sake of protection.He'll ditch em as soon as able or even doublecross them or so he thinks initially.Maybe he could later change his mind
CrimsonDeath 07-17-07, 04:04 PM	This attitude would probably be disruptive for a game with your friends... but if they're slaves, he could decide to treat them as such.
Callista 07-17-07, 06:18 PM	Talk to your friends first; warn them you're playing this guy, and talk about ways to keep the party together. This IS an evil campaign, right?
darksamuari 07-17-07, 06:56 PM	I'll use my personal example for this alignment from one of my most loved films. Rico Dredd, Judge Dredd (1995) Seriously, watch the film and review everything the character is/does.
Fithero 07-17-07, 07:13 PM	Rico Dredd, Judge Dredd (1995) See, this is were things get complicated and arguments start. :( I'd say that Rico would be Neutral Evil, he's out for himself first and foremost, not out doing evil for evils sake. I dunno, I stay clear of alignment threads. Peace
Westbound 07-17-07, 11:54 PM	All of these posts are pretty good suggestions. I'd like to add another few points of advice. First, how intelligent and wise is your character? You see, people will do whatever works for them, and a more intelligent, more wise character might be more willing to take risks because he'll have a better understanding of the dangers of a situation. What this means is that a CE intelligent and wise character will likely find subtle, less direct means of getting what he wants. Another thing to know about CE is they're more likely to give into their feelings than probably just about any other alignment. He's more into immediate gratification than just about any other alignment. Other alignments might be more patient, but the CE needs more of a reason to be patient, and if he's more intelligent and wise he'll be more patient. If you want something, and if you want it badly, let nothing stand in your way. If someone is more powerful than you and is standing in your way of something you want, avoid him and placate him until you find a way to eliminate him as a threat. If someone isn't of use to you, ignore them or eliminate them. When you are splitting treasure with your party, always go for the most valuable or powerful items, and try always for the most allotment of treasure (your goal is a 100% portion). I think a CE character can be loyal to someone only if they have a need or a desire to be loyal (a CE can know love), so if you accept that someone gets a portion of the treasure you find, you have to have a reason. Perhaps you're not covetous of gold or magic items, but your desires drive you and you're definitely not above killing, robbing, raping and maiming to get what you want. And if someone slights you, you shall revenge.
darksamuari 07-18-07, 03:37 AM	I dunno, I stay clear of alignment threads. Good, because we could have a very long debate on the subject of Rico Dredd.
Sean, THe Incompotent 07-18-07, 09:31 AM	Thank you guys for the help the first session might be starting tonight if so I'll let everyone know how it goes and Callista it is an all evil campagin.
FRRC 07-20-07, 04:26 AM	That sounds a bit to LE to me because as I see it LE are like politics you backstab those who you don't need and yes there ways that don't involve killing to be CE but enchantment is a bit to LE like I said becaus eyou have to be organized to control others. Who said anything about politics? You don't need to be organized but it helps. Just because a character plans something out does not make him Lawful. You don't even need to plan something out, the character could just simply try to control someone who doesn't immediately follow his command. He uses his enchantments to obtain his goals without a care for anything else. He'll break laws, make others break laws, break others with others. That is not Lawful Evil.
TheOrdnanceGod 07-20-07, 08:10 PM	play your character like Sean Bean in The Hitcher. You kill people, alot of people, just for kicks. You're not doing it to prove a point or to scare other people or to get information, you're just killing people for fun. Hannible has never really been chaotic evil because he's always put alot of thought and planning into the people he kills and its never random. Do it like Kurgan in Highlander. CE is best described in my opinion as a destroyer, someone that doesnt really care about making statements or points. "And I started jumping up and down yelling kill! kill! kill! kill!"-Arlo Guthrie, Alice's Resturant.
BlackHalfDragon 07-21-07, 02:42 PM	Drow Cleric of Loth and I dont know how to play him other then a complete jerk and greedy. If anyone has anyother suggestions to help me play him that would be awesome grab a sex change unless you want to vent your 2nd class in the eyes of your deity-ness on weaker beings infact that's what you do you prove that you are stronger than women drow even tho its paradoxical but CE is half insane anyway ;)
Sean, THe Incompotent 07-23-07, 12:24 AM	I was grapled by a 15 year old that my dm retroactivly gave a level in monk based on my fortune cookie from dinner the other party members would not stop making fun of me then when i gave myself spider legs and snakes for hands they traped me in a resilliant sphere to make it clear i was attack some people that were trying to rob us not realizing how strong we were i was hoping to scare a few away so they would speak of the terrifying power of myself and my god
Asra 07-30-07, 11:06 AM	For Chaotic Evil, you can always default to Graz'zt; Cool, calculating and he has some far-spanning plans, but he doesn't let them get in the way of what he loves... And we all know what that is! You can plan ahead if you're Chaotic Evil, since there are Chaotic Evil Societies, they're just sorta chaotic and evil. But being Chaotic and Evil just means that you never have to keep your word to others, or do what you say you're going to do, unless you think its a good idea. Besides, are you going to say a Mane(LE) is making plans for itself? The alignments are really a basis on what you do, unless you're something like a Slaad, which are pure Chaos.