So I'm Evil, now what?

Mandarb34

First Post
I was just recently made into an avatar of an evil god and had my alignment changed from CG to NE. My question is how do you play a Champion of evil. I don't really have much experiance being the bad guy in an adventure.
 

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Grab a copy of AEG's Evil. Good stuff. NE PCs don't last long -- you can't be trusted to follow any particular agreement (LE), you can't be predicted to be a run-of-the-mill bully (CE). You'll abide by the laws only to the extent of your benefit, then abandon them when they don't suit your goals. You won't betray your comrades out of whim -- but you'll dispose of them when they become a burden. You do not exhibit the selfishness and short-sightedness of Chaotic Evil. But laws and organizations of Lawful Evil are silly, as are principles and honor.

Another AEG point is that Evil schemes, Good foils. Evil **is** difficult to play because you're the one taking over the world, plotting to steal the artifact, or planning the assassination of your superior. That takes work -- ask any GM. (: One thought is to work with your fellow evil players and suggest ideas to the GM of doing nasty deeds. And if any of your fellow PCs can't be trusted... well, you know the rest.


Cedric.
aka. Washu! ^O^
 

What is the particular portfolio of this evil god, and abilities-wise, how has this posession changed your character? That might offer some clues on how to proceed.
 

Well, the predominant focus of most NE is self-preservation and greed. Get money, and use it to buy power. I suggest starting or taking over a criminal organization; something both illegal and lucrative, like extortion, smuggling or prostitution. Move from there into bribing political figures and taking over "legitimate businesses". Eventually bring the planes into it: I'm sure the yugoloths would love a trade depot on the Prime.

Demiurge out.
 

First, buy non-detection magic. You cannot allow yourself to be detected by annoying spells. No scry etc... talk to your god about getting some commune/speak with other plane protections.

second, get an alter ego. Only deal with other when shapeshifted into another form. Never Never Never let anyone see you.

Third, leave human controlled lands. They tend to have a nasty habit of sending adventurers/soldier/agents of the king out to get you.

build a support network among the primatives (orc/goblins/trolls whatever).

organize them into a fighting force and tax them on the riches they take. kill those who don't pay.

use the wealth to open negotiations with powerful creatures (dragons/ outsiders) and then begin to use shapshifters to infiltrate enemy strongholds.

have fun!

joe b.
 

Avatars: Another thought is the extent you'll be a servitor (servant of the deity) vs. an instigator (create and carry out your own plots). For example, your deity tells you to obtain the Book of Vile Evilness. (; You're a servitor in that you have to get the book. However, you're an instigator in that it's up to you to get the book. Getting the book is obviously the Evil act that fits the Evil part of your alignment. How you obtain it doesn't matter -- being Neutral Evil, any way of getting the book is fine. You can hire a party to get the book. You can trick a party to retrive the book for you. You can be part of the party that obtains the book. You can be the party that ambushes another who retrieved it. You can join a party and trick them to obtain the book, stealing it once it's obtained. You can enlist followers, forcing them to prove their faith by joining you on this quest.

If you're having trouble deciding what evil things to do, your GM should create an adventure more suited as a quest by your deity. Indeed, as a new champion, your first duties should be proving your worthiness to your master.

Finally, if you have problems with being NE, consult your GM. He's had lots of experience. (;


Cedric.
aka. Washu! ^O^
 

Look at your gods domains and build from that. Think big, come up with evil plans. :)

Don't confuse evil with mean.

Get either evil or the book of vile darkness.
 

Evil is a handbook to how to Roleplay evil. BoVD is how to do horrible, inhumane, nasty things.

My vote is for Evil. Be a Smart evil, not an 'I'm evil, so I can do what I want' type.
 

I always saw evil as - among other traits - an abundance of selfishness and greed. IMHO, just being evil alone does not warrant the character does anything particulalry evil for the sake of evil (although being a champion of evil and in service of an evil god may change that...), but that he will be ruthless in the pursuit of his own goals, and those are all that matters.

As an example, recently I had my party enter a demiplane in the service of some oriental gods retrieve a powerful artefact. The demiplane started to corrupt the PCs and NPCs, turning them slowly evil with each failed will save over a couple of days. Only the chaotic good barbarian remained - surprisingly - neutral, the rest had become evil after a few days. Now, the characters did not give up on their quest, or went freelance, but they became more selfish, and ruthless. Minor quarrels almost led to blows, the originally chaotic neutral sorceress was plotting the death of a chinese martial artist out of jealousy, the aristocrat became possessive of all females, and ready to kill any rival, and in the end the party leader, who had taken to motivate the sorceress with slaps and blows to "work harder", traded the chinese martial artist (or rather, her body) to an evil soul-trapped mage in order to get the necessary help to recover the artefact.
All in all a good portrayal of a "smart evil" party, imho. No irrational evil acts "just because", no stupid killing of potential allies just to do something evil, just a bunch of ruthless opportunists without any scruples to take the easy solutions to any problem and a willingless to sacrifice others to save themselves.
 

"Smart Evil" allows you to pretend to be good -- to the extent of starting orphanages, saving little old ladies, etc -- just as "Smart Good" allows you to fight dirty on occasion. The only difference is that you don't do good because of moral reasons, you do it purely for show.

Imagine if you made a big public announcement about how you were building orphanages, and somehow neglected to mention that they were each based on top of an ancient pagan burial ground / a Hellmouth / etc. When the kids start growing horns, execute the landscaper.

Think about everything a public relations person at a big corporation does -- that's how you will have to act. Big corporations are perfect examples of "Smart Evil".

-- Nifft
 

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