Playing a good guy is fun, but every once in awhile, it might be equally fun to play a a big, mean jerk. This is a discussion topic on different avenues one might take with playing a bad guy: from the lone antihero to the leader of a blood-crazed cult. There are quite a few options in playing the part of an evil character.
I'll start us off by listing a few concepts I regarded as I began thinking about evil role-playing.
The Antihero (The good guy who's also a big meany)
This is possibly the easiest "bad guy" persona to pull off. It doesn't require you to stay in the shadows or work underground, but making friends with goody heroes might prove difficult. A problem that's easily resolved by making friends with other not-so-good guys.
The Wolf Cult (Alliance)
For those who might not know, the Wolf Cult was started by a big meany named Alpha Prime, one of the first and only night elves to master the form of the wolf. He eventually made his way to Gilneas in search of the powerful artifact, the Scythe of Elune. Joining with the Forsaken, Alpha Prime began inducting humans (Gilneans) into this cult, and eventually built up a large army of feral worgen who launched a devestating attack on Gilneas City (this is where the player character comes in).
Alpha Prime was eventually defeated and the remenants of the Wolf Cult are now in hiding. This is where your Worgen (or perhaps human) character could come in. Working deep underground and trying to spread your glorious affliction with the world! A member of the cult would have to operate with great secrecy.
The Greedy Priest
This one isn't as fleshed out. Basically a character who professes their faith in the Light, but really only worships profit and power. A priest or warlock would be good for this, balancing their time "spreading the faith" but also secretly working to fill their coffers with precious gold and jewels.
The Seductive Zealot
She didn't have a huge role played in Deepholm, but High Priestess Lorthuna was a good example of zealotry evil. She was thoroughly under Deathwing's sway and was ready and willing to kill anyone that defied it. Even after you beat her, her faith in Deathwing is so absolute that she feels her death would still usher in a new world order where none of us would be around.
Kormok Wraithverge said:
Just a concept list, or a full discussion about evil characters? I could write a dissertation about this topic. :D
It's an open discussion. Post whatever you'd like.
Target the top "Golly we're so good we shine" RP guild. Infiltrate. Sow FUD. (Fear, uncertanty & doubt) Splinter group in the name of "True Good". Play out the reveal. Timeline - one year. Profit.
Did I mention the Character deletion after?
Evil is a rotted core with a candy coating to die for. The trick is to get the candy coating just right.
For me personally - too much hand holding and coordination. I'll keep my evil to write-ups. Censored, of course, for the good of the community. ~.^
(disclaimer: My views are based on my observations and experiences w/table-top rp groups and three RP servers. ER not included. I just got here!)
Evil Role Play is squared up in my opinion -of- being just what the player considers to be "bad." There are so many varations of BAD...
Last night, I entered a brief dicussion with some one who pointed out there everyone had their limits..
To some killing may be going to far, To others it maybe kidnapping. rape, robbery, war, stealing, or fighting... etc... there is always a too "far" and before doing any bad guy scenes it is best tot see what the limitation is (ocly) of your victim or subject.
Myself, as a dark Rper or 'Bad Guy" I enjoy almost any kind of dark scene you can come up with. I do not restrict myself in dark role play.
Syvbia was the bad guy that gave Sir Taldrus Dawnstrider his 'Silver hand' I trapped his hand in gloved gauntlet cast and poured molten metal trough it, *nods*. It was a torture technique but one that he and I both agreed on too prior,( and despite that it gave me a knot in my gutt in RL -- I enjoyed the heck out of it - the scene that it, not the knot) :P
Syvbia is not in herself DARK as she is just corrupt . As a Forsaken--it is not uncommon for the dead/ undead to become jealous. Life has taken something from them-- and they will work to take back what they think is owed them. now I am not speaking in the stead of ALL forsaken---but having heard stories about lingering ghost and spirits- it seems to apply that the unliving and the undead... they seem to cling to old ways... corruption is easily set.
Wretched Souls- though considered a Dark Rp guild.-- actually has nuetral members who are very well opposed to what Syvbia does. We do try to keep balance in the Rp scale. I dont knock them for what they do nor do they knock me (ocly) for what Syv does, Wretched Souls are "Bad guys' in a corrupted mercenary kinda way.
Order of Wrath- an undergoround dark order obessed with obtaining antiquities and delves into other dark matters for merely the shock value of it. This is perhaps one of my darkest based Rp guilds ---very lttle to no folks actually in it due to the fact of a explicit dark nature.
I play Lord Valthar Wrathstone- The King Pen of Order of Wrath,.. he is the kinda bad guy/ boss who pays others to do his dirty work,
Sometimes being a BAD guys doesnt mean you have to do all the work yourself. :P
One of the largest problems I've found with playing an "Evil" roleplay character is that it's a role that very few can play. Many want to rush into an evil plot that gets a lot of publicity, while others don't take the necessary steps to truly be considered One with the Dark Side. It's either an all-too-quick flash of glory, or nobody knows you exist. There have been a very uncommon few that have been able to pull it off in public roleplay, namely Veras and "The Voice" (Malifact). The truly corrupted characters are best reserved for private plots, if only because of the immense weight that others place upon you with blame and guilt. Take, for instance, Shorbecca.
Shorbecca has a wonderfully created character, with clear objectives and a well thought-out persona. He is, without question, an Anti-Hero. He can, has, and likely will continue to threaten those around him with disembowelment simply for looking at his adopted neice the wrong way. This is no empty threat, as he has, in the past, ripped out more than his fair share of spines. On a character development level, he's about an 8/10. On a public opinion level, though, he's probably more of a 3/10. This is due in no great part to any large fault of his own, but primarily because most people don't enjoy roleplaying with such an overtly vicious character in a civilized area like Stormwind. They think the character is bad, so they (sub)conciously link his toon with negative thoughts.
AshaVal Taivaanye said:
One of the largest problems I've found with playing an "Evil" roleplay character is that it's a role that very few can play. Many want to rush into an evil plot that gets a lot of publicity, while others don't take the necessary steps to truly be considered One with the Dark Side. It's either an all-too-quick flash of glory, or nobody knows you exist. There have been a very uncommon few that have been able to pull it off in public roleplay, namely Veras and "The Voice" (Malifact). The truly corrupted characters are best reserved for private plots, if only because of the immense weight that others place upon you with blame and guilt.
You know, I was gearing up to write this whole huge thing, but AshaVal pretty much summarized exactly what I was going to say. So yeah, this.
