Playing a halfling, want to be more mean than normal. How do I go about this?

[Rannan]

I would talk to your DM and other party members before playing an evil character. The actions you discribed above can cause problems in a group dynamic if not done in a mature fashion.

Im rolling neutral so I'm not evil exactly, I just have some mean tendencies. As an example, if it came down to intimidating someone into not saying something or just killing them, I'd opt to kill them so I didn't have to worry about them coming back and causing problems for me later or anything. I just don't want to play a happy go lucky guy all the time. I plan on being witty and sarcastic, just kind of in a mean way like grumpy dwarf or something. I'll have kind moments, but probably just as often be a prick.

Also, is it odd to have physical deformities when playing? Like if I wanted a scar down my face or missing an eye to add to character? I don't know how it would come up of if it would affect gameplay in any kind of way (you have one eye, therefore you have about a third of your vision missing) that would limit me. Or to seem too cliche.

 

[Ryujin]

Two words: Mini Me.

 

[Nebten]

It is OK. We are all friends here. You don't have to use the "I'm chaotic netural/unaligned" excuse to play when you really want to play an evil PC with us.

You still need to let your DM know that you are going to play a disruptive character. This may not mesh well with his playstyle and other players may have issues. One of the best rules in D&D is "Don't be a jerk."

As for how you want your character to look, pretty much anything goes. Most of the time, as long as it doesn't give you a mechanical advantage, you can be as creative as you want.

Ask your DM what penalties he would impliment for having only 1 eye. Typically it is a -2 to perception and a -4 to ranged attacks, but every table is different.

 

[Breaks]

I've finally decided on a character and started using a halfling rogue, which works great because I like to steal and plan on causing trouble/being a smartass but I also plan on having a mean streak and even killing when we have the option not to. Should I just have a rough background to explain for that or what? I don't want to play too far out of character (I wanted to roll a drow, it suits my play style and attitude but from what I hear there is a lot of controversy over playing a drow so I'd just rather avoid it) but I don't want to be a "typical" halfling. Any suggestions?

where do you hear/see controversy over playing a drow? I've never heard of anything like that, other than the occasional dm restricting races for their campaigns because they want it to be all-human, or fey-centric, or tolkeinesque. If your dm allows drow, there's no reason you can't play one.

but theres also no reason you can't be a mean halfling. there's really no way, mechanically, to build either a mean or a nice character. their backstory, personality, mannerisms, etc are entirely up to you, both to create and to convey through dialogue and actions.

I've always been opposed to mechanical penalties for fluff decisions like physical appearance. If you want a scar and one eye, just say you have a scar and one eye. if it impede's anyone's sense of realism that a "blind seer" psion can see normally, and is affected as normal by light and concealment and the blind condition, then it's silly that they're playing a fantasy game to begin with.

 

[radja]

play an athasian halfling. eat your enemies (but not enemy halflings... you're not a cannibal!). be ruthless to your enemies, but loyal to your friends.

 

[Rannan]

Ooooh I like the Athasian Halfling idea. I didn't even know they existed thanks

As for the missing eye, I'll probably not roll with it if there is a chance of a minus to stats. At least not in the beginning of the game, maybe later I will talk to the DM and lose an eye in an important battle or something when I can spare a small loss in stats.

Also, I've only heard of other players having issues with players being Drow as a race because they are supposed to be inherently evil and some players don't like the idea of having a drow in their party. I've yet to see an issue, but I don't want to cause any.

Will other players have an issue with me playing a strange character? I mean I now plan on definitely eating the bodies of our enemies if my food or water runs low, or just to role play being more intimidating to the enemy as my face is soaked with the blood of their allies, but I don't want other players to be sighing or anything as I make these decisions (unless of course they are role playing as well, like of they were a human priest who found it disgusting) and making it awkward to play my character and enjoy it fully.

I don't think my character will be too disruptive to a DM but I will let him know so he can still plan accordingly in case I kill someone he did have future plans for and to avoid the "you can't kill him. You just can't" argument that could kill a surprise down the road.

I just plan on having my character out for himself really. I will work with the group and make sure they all get what they want as well (my wife plans on playing as well so there will be some interesting dynamics there, still unsure if our characters should have a relationship in the game or not, especially if she isn't a halfling too because halflings sexing just about anything not their size is strange to me) so everyone is happy, but I've no problem sacrificing anyone else to get what I want. Kill a villager to get a weapon from someone evil? Sure. Help poison a town for some experience? Sure. I just won't betray teammates because that's just rude and can ruin a game for everyone.

Also, are we allowed to "break off" from the group in towns or anything so my actions won't reflect on my group as much of are we pretty much all in it together all the time?

 

[Wednesday Boy]

In addition to talking to the GM about your character, the best way to find out if the other players will have an issue with you playing a strange character is to ask them. In my experience it's best to talk about your character concepts in the open, prior to the start of the campaign. This will allow you or the other players to tailor your expectations for the campaign and will ensure the group won't implode when someone starts eating enemies.

 

[The Red King]

A friend of mine played a halfling fighter/thief named Mean back in the day. He wore a fake beard, insisted he was a smaller than normal dwarf, and had a penchant for taking shots a men's nuts. He was mean.

THAT IS AWESOME!

I like playing my Drunk Dwarven Cleric. "its only sacred wine you wanker!"

 

[mkill]

First of all, you're a Rogue. Other players kind of expect the Rogue to be a bastard. It just doesn't pack the right punch if the Rogue goes and stabs someone in the back.

It's much more effective to play a class that doesn't immediately say "bastard" on the tin. Think Wizard. If you play a Wizard like Samuel L. Jackson who can slug Fireballs, now that's a memorable character right there. And really, who argues with a guy who can Thunderwave you right in the face?

Playing a "mean" character can be huge fun, but you have to draw the line very carefully.

RULE 1 of playing a bad character: NEVER CROSS THE PARTY. You're evil, not stupid. You understand the long-term value of allies vs. the short-term value of stealing their possessions.

In fact, a token evil teammate can be very valuable to a party - Sometimes you need to make a decision where there is no morally right answer, like when you need to kill innocents to stop a plague from spreading. Or when you need to lie, cheat and steal to get the right information. This is when the goodie-two-shoes are held back by their moral codex, and the anti-hero is free to act.

Remember: The only way for evil to stay ahead is to be smarter than the good guys.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

RULE 1 of playing a bad character: NEVER CROSS THE PARTY. You're evil, not stupid. You understand the long-term value of allies vs. the short-term value of stealing their possessions.

Bah, humbug.

Johnny Bones, my FTR/TH, was the one who suggested the party Wiz be used as bait fior mountain lions (the plan worked), and who shoved the same Wiz through a wall of flame to show the party where it was safest.

And decades ago, it was someone else's thief who stole indiscriminately- in AND out of the party- and put the party in jeopardy. But he was shielded from the others by MY PC, his thrall/bodyguard, the gentle giant Bear (whose story has been told often on these boards).

It's HOW you're a bastard to partymates that matters.