Sick, Twisted Villains?

[cmad1977]

I'd stay away from rape. it's become rejection bait as editors/agents are tired of it. For a % of readers/players it trivializes a trauma they've experienced.

It’s also an extremely lazy way of saying ‘this guy is bad’.

 

[Samloyal23]

It’s also an extremely lazy way of saying ‘this guy is bad’.

Killing people isn't?

 

[Eltab]

Killing people isn't?

In a game where the death of BBEG is an acceptable way to solve the problem he has created ... "killing people", with no further explanation, could be a Good thing.

You gotta give the villain more - like endorsing slavery, beating up children, kidnapping NPCs and demanding a king's ransom, stealing the PCs' stuff - to make him clearly the villain, not simply a rival adventurer.

 

[Bohandas]

You are writing a story or game adventure, what is the nastiest thing you would let a villain do?

Who are we writing for and what are we writing? Because that makes a difference.[/size]

 

[Samloyal23]

Who are we writing for and what are we writing? Because that makes a difference.[/size]

My work is definitely not for little kids. I want to see college kids and older adults digging into it, not children. I am not even sure just what would be considered "sick" for a PG or G audience. What is the worst thing a villain in children's literature has done?

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Bohandas]

Well, if you're into Disney, you know that parents get mowed down ALL THE TIME.

Indeed, and not always in the prologue either. Bambi's mom gets shot in the middle of the film.

I am not even sure just what would be considered "sick" for a PG or G audience. What is the worst thing a villain in children's literature has done?

There's also the matter of PG movies that came out before PG-13 was invented, so you get things like Temple of Doom where there's kidnapping and graverobbing and blatant racism and cutting deals with the mob (and that's just from the GOOD GUYS; the BAD GUY enslaves children, rips people's hearts out, and sets people on fire), or Gremlins where there's a rotting body in the chimney, or Blacula where people get their throats ripped out and everyone curses like a sailor

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Bohandas]

Ah, Jack Valenti, I wish someone would have pushed HIM into a lava pit (I'd say rip his heart out, but I'm not sure he had one)

 

[Eltab]

My work is definitely not for little kids. I want to see college kids and older adults digging into it, not children. I am not even sure just what would be considered "sick" for a PG or G audience. What is the worst thing a villain in children's literature has done?

The witch in Hansel and Gretel was going to feed the kids candy to make them fat, then kill and eat them. You want the top-end plot to take a while to develop; letting the kids gorge themselves until sick (equals 'unable to travel / escape') is Bad all by itself.