shadow
First Post
With the BoVD out now, DMs are rejoicing with the new opportunities to make their villians depraved and as vile as possible. In spite of the hype, the BoVD presents a pulp view of evil, rather than presenting a manual to role play more "realistic" villians in ones campaign. I mean the BoVD seems to equate evil with shocking and gross, rather than present true evil. While shocking and gross things work well for a four-color or pulp campaign, they aren't necessarily a true depiction of evil.
For example Judeo-Chirstian tradion describes evil as acting against the will of God, and portrays the devil as the source of evil. The devil is a tempter, tempting men to sin. He tempts men not by offers of disgusting and gross things, but rather by offers good and pleasurable things. By getting men to do what is pleasurable in an inapropriate manner, he effectively tempts men to sin. Few people would be turned on by the offer of growing a intelligent tumor on their flesh (like the cancer mage in the BoVD). Evil is most insidious when it appears cloaked in the manner of good or at least pleasure. In fact the name Lucifer comes from Latin meaning something like the Light Bearer. (someone with more Lating skills can provide a more appropriate translation) Contrary to years of folk stories and comics portraying the devil as a guy dressed in a red suit with horns, the bible teaches the devil is a fallen angel, who can appear quite charismatic when it suits him.
Look at the acts of evil in this world. Few people (other than some real sick psychos) commit evil for the sake of evil. In fact many people believe that somehow they are commiting acts of good. Pol Pot's Khamer Rouge killed millions of people to create a "pure" classless society, terrorists destroy buildings and blow up buses to "send a message to imperialists", and in Saudi Arabia, people are executed for blashpemy in the name of creating a moral society. In all these cases people have some type of goal, but evil is created by letting the ends justify the means and persuing the goal in an evil manner (no matter how righteous the cause may appear)
Also where does this idea that evil equals gross idea come from? I stated above that Christianity teaches that the devil himself can appear very Charismatic. This is the same for most evil people in the world. Look at Hitler, he managed to take control of Germany and institute the final solution that was responsible for millions of deaths. The Fuhrer was very popular with the common German people during WW2 because of his natural charisma, and he gave the country a sense of pride and optimism. By blaming the Jews for the countries defeat, he inspired both partiotism and virulent anti-Semitism. Most tyrants also have the same charisma. Look at all these communist revolutions that occured. The people were attracted to leaders who promised reform and an end to poverty. Heck, look at Hannibal Lecter, one of cinema's most evil villians. He is such an effective villian, not because he goes around killing people, but because he has charisma to snare people into his traps.
In none of these cases were any of the atrocities made public. Although Hitler preached out against the Jews, he never publically mentioned the concentration camps. The Soviets never mentioned the Gulags. Evil doesn't go around proclaiming how evil it is. "Look at me! I'm so Eeeeevvvvilllll!" Rather, it often tries to keep a pleasing public face.
All these shocking, gross and evil feats and prestige classes from the BoVD work for the stereotypical pulp fantasy, but they don't have much to do with real evil. Rather than truely explore evil and how to create effective villians, BoVD just regurgitates the standard pulp fantasy evil.
For example Judeo-Chirstian tradion describes evil as acting against the will of God, and portrays the devil as the source of evil. The devil is a tempter, tempting men to sin. He tempts men not by offers of disgusting and gross things, but rather by offers good and pleasurable things. By getting men to do what is pleasurable in an inapropriate manner, he effectively tempts men to sin. Few people would be turned on by the offer of growing a intelligent tumor on their flesh (like the cancer mage in the BoVD). Evil is most insidious when it appears cloaked in the manner of good or at least pleasure. In fact the name Lucifer comes from Latin meaning something like the Light Bearer. (someone with more Lating skills can provide a more appropriate translation) Contrary to years of folk stories and comics portraying the devil as a guy dressed in a red suit with horns, the bible teaches the devil is a fallen angel, who can appear quite charismatic when it suits him.
Look at the acts of evil in this world. Few people (other than some real sick psychos) commit evil for the sake of evil. In fact many people believe that somehow they are commiting acts of good. Pol Pot's Khamer Rouge killed millions of people to create a "pure" classless society, terrorists destroy buildings and blow up buses to "send a message to imperialists", and in Saudi Arabia, people are executed for blashpemy in the name of creating a moral society. In all these cases people have some type of goal, but evil is created by letting the ends justify the means and persuing the goal in an evil manner (no matter how righteous the cause may appear)
Also where does this idea that evil equals gross idea come from? I stated above that Christianity teaches that the devil himself can appear very Charismatic. This is the same for most evil people in the world. Look at Hitler, he managed to take control of Germany and institute the final solution that was responsible for millions of deaths. The Fuhrer was very popular with the common German people during WW2 because of his natural charisma, and he gave the country a sense of pride and optimism. By blaming the Jews for the countries defeat, he inspired both partiotism and virulent anti-Semitism. Most tyrants also have the same charisma. Look at all these communist revolutions that occured. The people were attracted to leaders who promised reform and an end to poverty. Heck, look at Hannibal Lecter, one of cinema's most evil villians. He is such an effective villian, not because he goes around killing people, but because he has charisma to snare people into his traps.
In none of these cases were any of the atrocities made public. Although Hitler preached out against the Jews, he never publically mentioned the concentration camps. The Soviets never mentioned the Gulags. Evil doesn't go around proclaiming how evil it is. "Look at me! I'm so Eeeeevvvvilllll!" Rather, it often tries to keep a pleasing public face.
All these shocking, gross and evil feats and prestige classes from the BoVD work for the stereotypical pulp fantasy, but they don't have much to do with real evil. Rather than truely explore evil and how to create effective villians, BoVD just regurgitates the standard pulp fantasy evil.
