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My next character is going to be evil...

Started by Bagpuss, March 08, 2006, 11:00:14 AM

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Bagpuss

I've been persuaded to play a Warlock by the GM in our next D&D game. We have a large group 6 players and a GM, and the games already been going for a little while (I'm starting at 3rd level). All the traditional slots are take, fighter, Fighter/Rogue, Cleric, Wizard (Evoker), Druid/Monk. So there wasn't much left without treading on others toes, or being second fiddle.

The alignment restriction for Warlock is Chaotic or Evil. Since I generally don't like playing chaotic characters the GM has allowed me to go Lawful evil (with a little 'e'). While the GM is okay with I'm wondering if the rest of the party are going to kill me as soon as they know my alignment.

How would you react to a LE joining the party?
 

Knightcrawler

You'd need to give us more info, like the alignment of the other party members and whop the clerics god is.
Knightcrawler

"I Am Become Death, Destroyer Of Worlds"

Nicephorus

LE can mean lots of different things. You could be someone who craves structure so they follow the letter of the law for fear of impinging on the integrity of rules.
 
Or, you could be someone who uses rules to their advantage such as Scrooge.
 
As a fellow player, I'd be fine as long as there was an in-game reason to work with them (that's true of pretty much any character). And, I'd have to trust the player not to do stupid things that ruin the game and then claim that they just did it because they're evil.

Krishnath

Quote from: BagpussI've been persuaded to play a Warlock by the GM in our next D&D game. We have a large group 6 players and a GM, and the games already been going for a little while (I'm starting at 3rd level). All the traditional slots are take, fighter, Fighter/Rogue, Cleric, Wizard (Evoker), Druid/Monk. So there wasn't much left without treading on others toes, or being second fiddle.

The alignment restriction for Warlock is Chaotic or Evil. Since I generally don't like playing chaotic characters the GM has allowed me to go Lawful evil (with a little 'e'). While the GM is okay with I'm wondering if the rest of the party are going to kill me as soon as they know my alignment.

How would you react to a LE joining the party?
First I would try to figure out the LE characters goals and motivations, if these traits are not in conflict with the goal of the party, I usually let them be.

But then again, I like playing LE characters, they have such a marvelous range. They always gets the job done, regardless of the consequences, and they do not mind a little "Collateral Damage", after all, they're only civilians. :D

LE characters do not need to be treacherous wordtwisters (like devils are often portraid), part of their alignment is Lawful after all, which can give them traits such as loyalty and honor. A LE character knows how to keep friend and allies, after all, you never know when you might need a favor. But since they are evil, they are not adverse to break laws if they know they can get away with it, and it suits their goals.
We have been hurt.
We are bleeding.
We will survive.
We will evolve.
We will become stronger.
We will become more than the sum of our parts.
We are The Damnation army.
We are Legion.

Bagpuss

I think at least two are good aligned, but no paladins or else I wouldn't even consider it.
 

Limper

If you work with the group I never care what your alignment is. If you don't work with the group then it makes a convienent excuse for your 'accident'.
 

Krishnath

Quote from: BagpussI think at least two are good aligned, but no paladins or else I wouldn't even consider it.
Good can work with evil, particularly if their goals happen to coincide.
We have been hurt.
We are bleeding.
We will survive.
We will evolve.
We will become stronger.
We will become more than the sum of our parts.
We are The Damnation army.
We are Legion.

Knightcrawler

As people have already stated Lawful Evil can be law abiding and honorable.  If you play the evil part relatively low key I don't think your going to have any problems.
Knightcrawler

"I Am Become Death, Destroyer Of Worlds"

Bagpuss

Well the evil was basically going to be greed for wealth and power (Hey normal D&D motivations) and a disregard for the life of the others. Not going to murder folks as that would be unlawful, but not likely to save a town unless there was some reward involved, or the rest of the party decide to and he considered it better to stick with them in the long run.
 

Limper

Quote from: BagpussWell the evil was basically going to be greed for wealth and power (Hey normal D&D motivations) and a disregard for the life of the others. Not going to murder folks as that would be unlawful, but not likely to save a town unless there was some reward involved, or the rest of the party decide to and he considered it better to stick with them in the long run.

That sounds more NE to me.
 

Bagpuss

Neutral evil you'ld more likely murder and steal if I thought I could get away with it.

I'm also planning that with maxed out Bluff and Beguiling Influence I can pass off any Know Alignment effects used on me as an unfortunate curse.
 

Enkhidu

I like thinking about comic book characters whenever I want inspiration on alignments. So with that in mind...

Victor von Doom. Doom is the epitome of LE. Ordered in thought and in goals, and completely ruthless in treatment of his enemies: an extreme case of the ends always justifying the means.
 

Sobek

As others have said, it'd depend on the boldness of the evil.
 
One character I played was an absolutely remorseless killer and assassin/bounty hunter.  He would not kill for no reason, but he would coldly kill anyone who was less trouble dead than alive.  This could include random townsfolk or even PCs.  
 
However, he included the hassle of dealing with pissed off party members and armed city guards, as well as the potential posses, in his estimates of "less trouble dead".  He also understood that, as a hired killer, he was marked as one of dubious trustworthiness.  The only way to establish his credentials was to always deal squarely with people and never turncoat for more money.
 
Finally, he was smart enough to realize that a lot of evil extraplanar entities would not make good additions/rulers of the Prime Material (sorta "That's where I keep all my stuff!").  While he would accept various small jobs from them, he was very willing to oppose their grand machinations pro-bono (although he never turned down profit).
 
The end result was a character that actually worked quite well with good PCs.  The character would rarely risk destabilizing a group that was helping him meet his goals (good living, basically).  I considered him evil, rather than neutral, because he really had to moral objection to murder.  Pure pragmatism is what kept him in check.
 

Cyclotron

We recently had a Lawful Evil Drow Wizard-Warlock in our Gestalt game.  He had the same goals as the rest of the party, but he was exceptionally cruel...  He didn't go out of his way to mess up the party's Good-driven agenda, but he did go out of his way to infict exceptional pain upon any enemies he got his hands on.
Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace,
 NFPA 70E, Article 330.4 (F):
"Laser beams shall not be aimed at employees."

Vermicious Knid

Lawful evil characters make better team players than chaotic neutral ones, in my experience. LE (played properly) can be reliable, honorable dicks. I'll take a honorable asshole over "my alignment dictates I behave like a lunatic" any day.