[Ravenloft] Unintentional Evil Charachter Development [Archive] - Wizards Community

[Ravenloft] Unintentional Evil Charachter Development [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Malindle
06-19-07, 12:50 PM Hey all,

I could use some assistance and advice. Thanks to all who read this, even if you don't post anything. :-)

I'm playing a Level 7 Warlock in a Ravenloft campaign. As if that weren't bad enough, I had decided to make things even more interesting... My warlocks powers come directly from a Posessing Entity that has been "chained" to him.

He's in a constant struggle for dominance, always trying to refute the devilish whispers and suggestions, and visions that plague him. This has the unintentional side effect of apparent madness (which in truth, may not be too far off).

Now, while investigating a corrupt little sea-side town in Mordent, things have gotten progressivly worse for him. I'd originally intended the charachter to be Chaotic Good and Troubled.... But things aren't turning out that way.

See, the more I play the charachter, and the more events come to pass, the more it seems my charachter is LOSING in his battle. And I think I like it that way. Doomed charachters are some of my favorite.

The question then, is how to go about doing it properly?

My descent into evil comes from a burgeoning refusal to accept the status of my condition, running away as it were. And whenever something happens to an innocent due to indirect action on my part, I refuse to accept blame: It's not my fault.

Now like I said this is only burgeoning. It's not full-out 5 alarm crazy time yet. How do you portray Chaotic Evil tendencies without stomping on puppies left right and center? Is there a real-life philosophy (objectivism/socialism/etc) that I can use as a framework for chaotic evil action?

Its important to note that the charachter isn't into petty action: So far he's doing the 'right thing' in hunting down evil monstrosities, but its in an attempt to "buy redemption". All the right action for all the wrong reasons. I wouldn't destroy an innocent just because they looked at me funny.

Also important is that i'm using the Transposition rules from Ravenloft due to a posessing fiend.

And lastly: My party won't be much help. We've a Chaotic Sorceress who can't control her magic or the mania it brings on, an infected Werecreature aping humanity, a Tiefling rogue desperately trying to be human, and (leading it all) a Paladin of the Morninglord with a manic hatred of the Undead.

Also worth noting: The paladin is very brittle at the moment, due to dealing with the monstrous problem of the present, and keeping our little family 'happy'.

Any ideas?
warwinner
06-19-07, 01:17 PM Simple, do apparently good things that lead to evil.Do quick-fixes to problems that bring more harm than good in the long run
Denial is another useful thing, even if you have obviously done evil/wrong, refuse to accept it and try to find other reasons, blame others or if all fails throw a tantrum, listing all the good deeds you have done in the past and all the people you've helped.
Consider yourself good in a twisted not-so-obvious way and find reasons for why you're good that "only you can understand"
All the while slipping into evil ......

As to real world CE philosophies
It begins with T ends in ism and you can find it at en.wikipedia.org
storm_wind
06-19-07, 02:32 PM another thing you could do is start justifying actions that require powers checks. like brutally torturing someone to be able to hunt down a vampire. Its easy to justify, but still an evil act.

another thing, start bickering with the paladin (just make sure the player is ok with this). the paladin is actually good, maintaining his goodness, and hopefullly doesnt make excuses for himself. everything your CG character should be and isnt, as he slides into evil.

sometimes the most evil characters are those who either see themselves as good, or are the banal sort of evil. the ones who sit back and just LET the evil happen.

ahh, ravenloft.
marcel_deathbringer
06-20-07, 05:08 PM Simple, do apparently good things that lead to evil.Do quick-fixes to problems that bring more harm than good in the long run
Denial is another useful thing, even if you have obviously done evil/wrong, refuse to accept it and try to find other reasons, blame others or if all fails throw a tantrum, listing all the good deeds you have done in the past and all the people you've helped.
Consider yourself good in a twisted not-so-obvious way and find reasons for why you're good that "only you can understand"
All the while slipping into evil ......

As to real world CE philosophies
It begins with T ends in ism and you can find it at en.wikipedia.org

Totalitarianism??
warwinner
06-21-07, 12:14 AM No that's lawful evil, i am talking about teh-roar here
Malindle
06-21-07, 01:43 AM Not bad, thanks for all the advice.

I think i've decided to focus upon Denial as my path of choice. What happens around me isn't my fault. I never chose to be this way. I'm not responsible. And then, of course, lashing out whenever I get pushed too far (which in turn causes me to 'run away' faster). Maybe i'll substitute any moral confrontations with bargaining, trying to 'buy' my way out of an unfavorable outcome.

The trick, as ever, is avoiding too many powers checks before the game is done for good :-)

Hrm. While it would be an interesting development to drive a paladin crazy, I think i'll leave off with the Animate Dead invocation.
Nobi
06-23-07, 01:29 PM I'm in a similar sort of situation, except not Ravenloft-related. I've got that "Tainted Bard" who's about to join a party with two (Count 'em, two!) paladins, who, like all paladins, are instantly notified of any Evil surrounding them.

My Bard sees himself as good, but he is a bit crazed, and as his taint/mania increases with time, I see him descending towards an evil alignment. Now, this would be a gradual change, so what would the Paladin's be seeing? One of the paladins is a Grey Guard, so sensing the Bard's inner sense of justice might be enough to stay his sword, but the other is a stock pally, and the instant his alignment clicks from CN to CE, heads are gonna roll. So, I'd like to put off the actual switch to CE until we can come to a nice, dramatic moment, but until then, how can the DM and I show them this slow corruption?
Exileman
06-25-07, 02:01 AM So, I'd like to put off the actual switch to CE until we can come to a nice, dramatic moment, but until then, how can the DM and I show them this slow corruption?

Its really quite simple. Treat the party as though you were a typical abusive spouse. Every thing's fine most of the time, but then occasionally you let things get a little out of hand. You ALWAYS feel SO BAD about it later, but you just lost your cool. If only they'd have listened to you, things would be better. Every once in a while, go farther overboard, then repent later by giving gifts and showing them "Who you really are". You really aren't a bad guy. See, the new horse i bought you thinks so too. Look, I didn't mean to beat up that story-critical NPC baby, Come on, you know i love you.
Nobi
06-25-07, 03:36 AM Hey, that's a pretty good analogy! I'll have to try it, thanks!
Moridus
06-26-07, 02:28 AM The Paladin in your party could be an interesting addition to the role-playing aspects you have.

You can have your character help the Paladin. Try to be diplomatic, do the right deed, that kind of thing. But when you get pushed, get really nasty. Like, the thing pushing you is going to be having a near-death experience nasty. Start tending towards the latter, as time goes on.

This is, of course, to be done with the other good advice here.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Malindle 06-19-07, 12:50 PM	Hey all, I could use some assistance and advice. Thanks to all who read this, even if you don't post anything. :-) I'm playing a Level 7 Warlock in a Ravenloft campaign. As if that weren't bad enough, I had decided to make things even more interesting... My warlocks powers come directly from a Posessing Entity that has been "chained" to him. He's in a constant struggle for dominance, always trying to refute the devilish whispers and suggestions, and visions that plague him. This has the unintentional side effect of apparent madness (which in truth, may not be too far off). Now, while investigating a corrupt little sea-side town in Mordent, things have gotten progressivly worse for him. I'd originally intended the charachter to be Chaotic Good and Troubled.... But things aren't turning out that way. See, the more I play the charachter, and the more events come to pass, the more it seems my charachter is LOSING in his battle. And I think I like it that way. Doomed charachters are some of my favorite. The question then, is how to go about doing it properly? My descent into evil comes from a burgeoning refusal to accept the status of my condition, running away as it were. And whenever something happens to an innocent due to indirect action on my part, I refuse to accept blame: It's not my fault. Now like I said this is only burgeoning. It's not full-out 5 alarm crazy time yet. How do you portray Chaotic Evil tendencies without stomping on puppies left right and center? Is there a real-life philosophy (objectivism/socialism/etc) that I can use as a framework for chaotic evil action? Its important to note that the charachter isn't into petty action: So far he's doing the 'right thing' in hunting down evil monstrosities, but its in an attempt to "buy redemption". All the right action for all the wrong reasons. I wouldn't destroy an innocent just because they looked at me funny. Also important is that i'm using the Transposition rules from Ravenloft due to a posessing fiend. And lastly: My party won't be much help. We've a Chaotic Sorceress who can't control her magic or the mania it brings on, an infected Werecreature aping humanity, a Tiefling rogue desperately trying to be human, and (leading it all) a Paladin of the Morninglord with a manic hatred of the Undead. Also worth noting: The paladin is very brittle at the moment, due to dealing with the monstrous problem of the present, and keeping our little family 'happy'. Any ideas?
warwinner 06-19-07, 01:17 PM	Simple, do apparently good things that lead to evil.Do quick-fixes to problems that bring more harm than good in the long run Denial is another useful thing, even if you have obviously done evil/wrong, refuse to accept it and try to find other reasons, blame others or if all fails throw a tantrum, listing all the good deeds you have done in the past and all the people you've helped. Consider yourself good in a twisted not-so-obvious way and find reasons for why you're good that "only you can understand" All the while slipping into evil ...... As to real world CE philosophies It begins with T ends in ism and you can find it at en.wikipedia.org
storm_wind 06-19-07, 02:32 PM	another thing you could do is start justifying actions that require powers checks. like brutally torturing someone to be able to hunt down a vampire. Its easy to justify, but still an evil act. another thing, start bickering with the paladin (just make sure the player is ok with this). the paladin is actually good, maintaining his goodness, and hopefullly doesnt make excuses for himself. everything your CG character should be and isnt, as he slides into evil. sometimes the most evil characters are those who either see themselves as good, or are the banal sort of evil. the ones who sit back and just LET the evil happen. ahh, ravenloft.
marcel_deathbringer 06-20-07, 05:08 PM	Simple, do apparently good things that lead to evil.Do quick-fixes to problems that bring more harm than good in the long run Denial is another useful thing, even if you have obviously done evil/wrong, refuse to accept it and try to find other reasons, blame others or if all fails throw a tantrum, listing all the good deeds you have done in the past and all the people you've helped. Consider yourself good in a twisted not-so-obvious way and find reasons for why you're good that "only you can understand" All the while slipping into evil ...... As to real world CE philosophies It begins with T ends in ism and you can find it at en.wikipedia.org Totalitarianism??
warwinner 06-21-07, 12:14 AM	No that's lawful evil, i am talking about teh-roar here
Malindle 06-21-07, 01:43 AM	Not bad, thanks for all the advice. I think i've decided to focus upon Denial as my path of choice. What happens around me isn't my fault. I never chose to be this way. I'm not responsible. And then, of course, lashing out whenever I get pushed too far (which in turn causes me to 'run away' faster). Maybe i'll substitute any moral confrontations with bargaining, trying to 'buy' my way out of an unfavorable outcome. The trick, as ever, is avoiding too many powers checks before the game is done for good :-) Hrm. While it would be an interesting development to drive a paladin crazy, I think i'll leave off with the Animate Dead invocation.
Nobi 06-23-07, 01:29 PM	I'm in a similar sort of situation, except not Ravenloft-related. I've got that "Tainted Bard" who's about to join a party with two (Count 'em, two!) paladins, who, like all paladins, are instantly notified of any Evil surrounding them. My Bard sees himself as good, but he is a bit crazed, and as his taint/mania increases with time, I see him descending towards an evil alignment. Now, this would be a gradual change, so what would the Paladin's be seeing? One of the paladins is a Grey Guard, so sensing the Bard's inner sense of justice might be enough to stay his sword, but the other is a stock pally, and the instant his alignment clicks from CN to CE, heads are gonna roll. So, I'd like to put off the actual switch to CE until we can come to a nice, dramatic moment, but until then, how can the DM and I show them this slow corruption?
Exileman 06-25-07, 02:01 AM	So, I'd like to put off the actual switch to CE until we can come to a nice, dramatic moment, but until then, how can the DM and I show them this slow corruption? Its really quite simple. Treat the party as though you were a typical abusive spouse. Every thing's fine most of the time, but then occasionally you let things get a little out of hand. You ALWAYS feel SO BAD about it later, but you just lost your cool. If only they'd have listened to you, things would be better. Every once in a while, go farther overboard, then repent later by giving gifts and showing them "Who you really are". You really aren't a bad guy. See, the new horse i bought you thinks so too. Look, I didn't mean to beat up that story-critical NPC baby, Come on, you know i love you.
Nobi 06-25-07, 03:36 AM	Hey, that's a pretty good analogy! I'll have to try it, thanks!
Moridus 06-26-07, 02:28 AM	The Paladin in your party could be an interesting addition to the role-playing aspects you have. You can have your character help the Paladin. Try to be diplomatic, do the right deed, that kind of thing. But when you get pushed, get really nasty. Like, the thing pushing you is going to be having a near-death experience nasty. Start tending towards the latter, as time goes on. This is, of course, to be done with the other good advice here.