Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Planar Wanderer 03-20-05, 03:29 AM	Hi sorry to everyone who is fed up with routine "how do I roleplay evil" threads but as usual the search function is down, I want to play a necromancer stereotype, Neutral evil and probably a wizard or a cleric I haven't quite decided yet (got to look at their spell lists before I decide which one is most appropriate for what I intend to play) and my problem is this, I've never roleplayed evil before, so I'm still a little stuck on how to do it without ending up being so irritating I get thrown out so I am going appeal to the boards to help me. *appeals to the board for help*
dorkknight23 03-20-05, 03:52 AM	The way to do it is to work at a way of helping out your party while showing a blatant disregard for life and a generally self-serving attitude. Although most people are worthless to you, you care enough about your adventuring allies: they'll keep you safe from harm while allowing you to reach your own objectives. You'd be best to consider them not perhaps as friends, but more as tools you may utilize to reach your evil necromancer type goals (I'm not quite sure what this is: research obscure magic, raise an undead army, what have you.) Try your best to help your allies, but if anyone dies, particularly someone who you didn't consider "useful," just shrug your shoulders and say that it couldn't be helped. It's difficult to play an evil character in a neutral-to-good party (especially one with particularly good characters,) but as long as you view your teammates as means to your end, you should be able to play a properly evil character. Good luck, I hope this helps!
saethone 03-21-05, 07:07 PM	step 1) pick a goal step 2) obtain goal step 1.5) work towards goal in any way possible. if it means traveling with some lawful good paladins, go for it. being evil doesn't mean being stupid - you know you have to behave around the paladins, or they will smite you. so, you behave around them...as long as it gets you to where you need to be.
Eidolon Faer 03-21-05, 10:53 PM	1. Roleplaying an Evil character is no reason to be a jerk to your fellow PLAYERS and spoil their in-game fun. If you cannot deal with this fact, I suggest you give up pen and paper roleplay, as you'll never be invited back to a group. 2. There is "Smart Evil" and "Stupid Evil", just like there is "Smart Good" and "Stupid Good". And "Smart Evil" has more in common with "Smart Good" than it does with "Stupid Evil" most of the time. Stupid Evil -- "Bwahahahaa! I wear black leather, listen to Marilyn Manson, and go around killing peasants and cursing sheep to prove that I'm EEEEEEEVIILLL!" Stupid Good -- "Bwahahahaa! I wear white leather, listen to Enya, and go around killing anyone who disagrees with my narrow-minded religious dogma, to prove I'm GOOD!!!" Smart Good -- Look, the world is a complicated place. If only we could smack down all these stupid people running around, or at least get them under control, we could really make some progress transforming this world into an idyllic utopia... Smart Evil -- Look, the world is a complicated place. If only we could smack down all these stupid people running around, or at least get them under control, we could really make some progress transforming this world into an idyllic utopia...with me in charge. 3. If this isn't enough, go out and buy seasons 1-7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and seasons 1-5 of Angel. Joss Whedon kicks much ass writing evil characters. Buy Season 1 of Firefly just because it kicks much ass. Honestly, these shows should form the core material for an advanced course in Party Dynamics for Roleplaying. 4. If you still haven't figured it out, just come up with a good reason why it is in your clear self-interest to hang out with the goody-goodies and earn their trust. Maybe you have a common enemy. Maybe that female paladin has you so horny you cannot think straight. Whatever.
Chandaroon 03-22-05, 12:58 AM	First Eidolon Faer, I like the Stupid vs. Smart analogy. Very good. I would like to offer examples of each Smart Good : Yoda (wise good Really) Stupid Good : Chewie (kind of Chaotic Good) Smart Evil : Chancellor Palpatine/Emporer/Darth Sidious Stupid Evil : Sand people I'm watching my DVD of Return of the Jedi right now I've been watching one a night from the Phantom Menace on. There are other examples of course. I played a Rogue/Cleric of Mask in a thieves guild in a one on one campaign. I was NE. I do not recomend playing Evil characters in Good campaigns. Peoples feeling get hurt. Before the game starts I think that the group needs to agree on alignments. This is not to say that people can't have different alignments just that there should be some guide as to what's acceptable. Example : Alignment group 1 : CN, N, LN, CG, NG, LG. ok Alignment group 2 : CE, NE, LE, CN, N, LN ok Alignment group 3 : CE, NE, LE, CG, NG, LG---NOT OK--- I would also try to stay away from picking Chaotic characters in Lawful campaigns, and vice versa. Try to agree as to what type of game you would all enjoy together. Make compromises Play a Good campaign this time and an Evil one the next time. Go all Lawful Good then go all Chaotic Nuetral. Change it up. That's my take. :)
Chandaroon 03-22-05, 01:13 AM	Oh I forgot to add some more examples of the Smart and Stupid kind. Smart Evil : Kevin Spacey - Seven Smart Good : Gandalf - LoTR Stupid Evil : Vincent Vega - Pulp Fiction Stupid Good : Rocky Smart Evil : Al Pacino/ the Devil - The Devils Advocate Smart Good : Dumbledore - Harry Potter Stupid Evil : Mr Blonde - Resevoir Dogs(Michael Madsen's Character-Vic Vega) Stupid Good : Hagrid - Harry Potter Just to give some more references. :)
Planar Wanderer 03-22-05, 12:52 PM	Thanks guys, you've all been really helpful I think I should have this guy ready for when I start to play him oh and eidolen, yeah I recognise the thing about not irritating the players, its just its a fine line to tread and I didn't feel confident in my abilities to do so without further advice. I've checked and the campaign will be fine with "smart evil" (would you mind if I sigged some of that post btw?) I think I know where to go from here. Now where did I put that book about creating an undead army? :evillaugh
Eidolon Faer 03-24-05, 02:31 PM	@Planar Wanderer Go ahead and sig anything you want. I wouldn't have figured there was anything sig-worthy in there, but if it floats your boat... For the record, I've played a Neutral Evil Wizard / Divine Oracle devotee of Vecna and gotten along famously with the party's Neutral Good Cleric of Pelor over the course of a long-running campaign. If they were interviewed on DNN (the Dungeon News Network) I imagine the conversation would go something like this: DM: Why are you two guys working together to defeat this evil cult? Cleric: Well, you see, these people are consorting with evil powers and planning to destroy or take over the world for some Evil God or other... Wizard: Yup, he's right. And that evil god is NOT Vecna. I'm under strict orders to squash the competition from the Big Boss. Besides, if they destroy or enslave the world, that would be a severe setback to my goals. I want to land a cushy, high-paying job as a Court Wizard, working for a suitably pliant ruler. How else will I gain both the disposable income AND the free time to persue my magical research into the secrets of the universe? Cleric: ...dude, I'm doing this to save all the innocent peasants... Wizard: You can have them. It's not like I have anything to gain from hurting them. It'd be a waste of my valuable time. I'm not a sadist so it wouldn't even be fun...but I'm not judgmental that way. If you want to be a sadist, fine by me... Cleric: LOOK, I'm NOT a sadist either. Just don't hurt the peasants, okay! And I'm not sure I'm thrilled about you becoming tyrannical ruler of a Duchy either... Wizard: Who said anything about ruling a Duchy? I just want a boss who pays me and then doesn't bug me unless it's important. He can rule the place however he likes. In fact, it's better if he's wise and benevolent, since statistics prove that wise and benevolent rulers are good for the local economy. Better economy equals more revenue equals a bigger salary for the court wizard. If you'll look at this chart of "market comparable" salaries for court wizards (pulls out a big chart from a little tiny pocket in his robes) you'll find that... Cleric: LOOK, I GET IT. ENOUGH WITH THE MACROECONOMICS. I STILL THINK YOU'RE A BIG GREEDY... Wizard: Duck. Cleric: What? Wizard: (shoves the Cleric out of the way as a huge demon charges for him, then casts Banishment to get rid of the demon. He incidentally uses the Cleric, whom he is touching, as an arcane focus for the spell, arguing that a Cleric of Pelor counts as "something distasteful" to a demon...) Cleric: You saved my life! How? Wizard: I knew it was coming. Divine Oracle y'know. Besides, demons and I have a professional courtesy thing going on. It was going for you first and that gave me time to get rid of it. If you're thinking I used you like a matador's red cape, it was nothing personal. Cleric: Huh? You're weird. Now tell me WHY you saved me? Wizard: You are useful. Cleric: ...what? Wizard: (rolling his eyes) Look. These evil cultist guys are more powerful than I am alone. I need help to take them out. You're that help. You have clear reasons of your own for wanting the same thing I want, and that means we can work together. I'm not gonna let some two-bit demon strip away any resource I have if I can prevent it, and that includes you and the rest of the party. Don't get me wrong, I stuff cotton in my ears every time you start going on with your tedious moralizing, and I'm sure you've found a few of my tactical choices questionable. But we need each other until these guys are defeated for once and all. After that, the world is big enough for both of us.
Vharuck 03-25-05, 01:12 AM	I think evil people can have friends. Why not? You kill with a buddy, loot the corpses, raise the corpses, and have a good ol' drink with your buddy. Wake up the next morning with a hangover and repeat!
Abulafia 03-25-05, 05:38 PM	. . . and thus this post is mostly for my own vanity. But still . . . One novel way to approach an evil character is to think of him or her as a person with a flaw. For example, I played a Lawful Evil Monk/Iaijutsu Master who constantly praised the virtues of discipline and honor while he lied and indulged his weaknesses on the sly. His hypocrisy (and his terrible actions) made him evil, but his very real conflict between his ideals and his own behavior made him believable and easy to roleplay. A sympathetic evil guy, if you will.
SiliddarUSMC 03-27-05, 02:17 PM	I once played a NE Fighter in a game with some guys in the goold ol' 8th comm barracks. I even survived a few sessions with a paladin not ever knowing. I simply enjoyed killing, battle, and adventuring. He was a very fun char. We started at level one, and at level 5, the other fighter in the group picked up a level of paladin. He had been virtueous from the start, and finally passed the trials of faith and nonsense necessary to become a paladin. Shortly after his coronation ceremony of becoming a knight in the holy church he was given a quest. We started running around town asking people, and when we got to this one nobleman who we thought was lieing to us, he turned on his radar for the first time...and stared at me in stunned silence for a minute as he realized that the brave man who stood at his side in so many battles, who had aided him in so many virtueous acts...Was pinned by his god as lacking sufficient moral character. It made for a very good time.
Planar Wanderer 03-28-05, 12:02 PM	.... I just temporarily mislaid this thread Nice idea Abulfia, any ideas like that are useful, since I'm still sort of feeling my way a bit so any ideas help. I've pretty much got the character's personality planned out now, but I think I may have a while before I can put into the campaign so his personality may yet evolve. Basically I reckon I may go somewhat along the lines of the usual plotting to take over the world, transforming all creatures to undead, probably starting small in a village somewhere and taking it from there, may throw an evil cult into the background somewhere still not decided on that (hey check my first post I said stereotypical and when I do stereotypical I do it 100% :D )
Need_A_Life 04-03-05, 08:58 AM	playing evil... 1) Put your own goals before others' (in case of simple delight in slaughter join a church and voulenteer to fight people of false faith), but realize that allies are ever useful. 2) Avoid paladins if possible, but don't go out of your way. Picking up a ring of mind blank will keep you off the evil radar, but your actions will still be detected. 3) Get a decent Bluff mod. When someone asks you what your business in the city is and you answer: "Raid, pillage, plunder, rape your women and burn down your houses" you've gotten yourself into serious trouble (especially if discern lies doesn't go off). If you can get a ring of glibness (bard spell) you'll be able to fool even magical means, and it is hard to get a Sense Motive of equal level. 4) Make sure that you have powerful allies who can avenge you, frightning off any potential enemies.
DwarvinJedi 04-03-05, 02:16 PM	Eidolan Faer: that was entertaining and good advice, and that is how I think of Smart Evil(all I will play, either Wizards, Sorcerers, Bards, or Clerics)
Eidolon Faer 04-04-05, 12:11 AM	Cleric: Waitaminute, you said you wanted to become court wizard to a rich and powerful Duke, right? Wizard: Yeah? Cleric: So why have you been toadying to Lord Bob over there, he's not a Duke! Wizard: Nope, he's the son of a Duke...and he's also a nice young man and a devout worshipper of Pelor. Cleric: I don't think I like where this is going... Wizard: Would you agree with me that if, somehow, he should inherit the title, he would be an excellent ruler and that both Pelor AND the peasantry would be pleased with him? Cleric: Yes, but... Wizard: And if Pelor and the peasants are happy, those pesky Paladins will go elsewhere to look for evil to slay. Can't have those Paladins sniffing around, it's nothing but work. Cleric: BUT THERE ARE FIVE PEOPLE AHEAD OF HIM IN LINE FOR THE THRONE! Wizard: I have a feeling about these things. Divine Oracle and all. Besides, at least one of them is evil and in league with the evil cultists. And oh, I forgot to mention, we were tragically too late to save heirs #1 and #2. They died when a swarm of demons attacked them (checks his watch) four minutes ago... Cleric: Did you send the demons? Wizard: Sir, I am shocked, *SHOCKED* that you would suggest such a thing. The Evil Cultists are clearly attempting to clear a path for their own man to ascend to the Dukedom, and sadly my otherwise-awe-inspiring prescience and divinatory skills were insufficient, in this case, to save them. Besides, I've been standing here next to you the whole time. Cleric: Yeah, it's true, and we were in the makeup room together for over an hour before the broadcast, too... Wizard: I *knew* this would be an auspicious time to schedule a DNN interview...
Rei-chan 05-02-05, 09:58 PM	Just a quick comment about the not screwing up your own party thing; as so many things, this does of course depend on what type of game you're playing and who you're playing with. I have played dodgy characters before who screwed around other PCs, very nearly as much as they screwed me over. Of c0urse, that wasn't D&D. If you're wanting to play a highly political game, I wouldn't recommend D&D.
Leap 05-04-05, 07:10 AM	To play evil keep in mind one key concept; the idea of life being cheap (as opposed to casually respected (neutral) or precious (good)).
scifinh 05-04-05, 08:56 AM	This may be a stupid suggestion,but it is what instantly came to mind when I read your thread. If you have it available either on the sci fi channel or nick at nite or whatever,go take a really close look at some of the old "Lost In Space " episodes. Particularly watch Dr Smith in the earlier episodes. These were the ones where he was truly evil and before he became just comic relief. Like I said, I know it might sound stupid;but I think it will graphically answer your question.
UMiskatonic 05-10-05, 05:30 PM	For role-playing purposes, it's often enough to be creepy. Actual exchange: How will we find the murderer? Well, we could move in at midnight and assassinate the villagers as they slept under the cover of my silence spell. Of course, we wouldn't be able to hear them screaming, but we'd definitely get the murderer that way. Absolutely NOT! That would kill innocent people, and make us into murderers as well. I suppose you have some tiresome idea that involves talking to everyone in town? Well have fun. I'll be in the tavern until I'm needed. Moral of the story? Someone without a normal moral compass is often considered evil by others, but you can still have loyalty to the group.
General_Ridley 05-13-05, 07:32 PM	Its all dependent on the character you intend. You can be crazy, or brooding and intentful. You can be slow and methodical, or quick and rushed. etc.