So I'm trying an Evil Character

[Tclynch]

Old group/ new game. I'm planning on running a Lawful Evil Monk. Bad child hood, raised by Monks, 'till a tribe of Hobgoblins came along, grabbed him and finished raising him (killed the Monks in the process, right in front of him).

Anyway, he is Lawful and I have no plans on betraying the party, but he's warped in some ways. Into pain, revenge, personal power and making his skills better than anyone else (proving, he's at the top of the food chain).

The rest of the group is NG, LG & CG (but, no Paladins). Am I asking for trouble? Our group is pretty mature and I think it will go ok. Any tips or thoughts?

 

[Voadam]

There is potential trouble, but it should probably go OK if everybody is mature and fine with it and you are not going against the group. Some though only want to play D&D to be heroes and therefore will have trouble with anybody playing an evil character who does evil things. So it depends on your fellow PCs.

 

[lukelightning]

I'm a big fan of evil characters that are really just evil because of their attitude and motivation, without going out of their ways to do evil things. After all, just about anything a good character does can be seen as evil with the right mindset. My current character, Orly Yarly the evil gnome anima mage has this sort of attitude:

Slay the Dragon to Save the Kingdom:
Good Characters: We do it to save innocents.
My evil Character: I do it to increase our wealth and power and show those dragons who's boss!

Root Out a Criminal Organization:
GC: We must stop these wrongdoers.
MEC: I must eliminate the competition.

Stop the Evil Wizard:
GC: We must stop this evil person!
MEC: I can kill the competition and take his stuff, woo hoo!

Seal the Gate to Evil Plane:
GC: We must save the world from the forces of evil.
MEC: This plane is my turf! Demons and Devils keep your hands/claws off of it! Besides, fiends are meant to be servants of mages such as myself; that's why planar binding was invented!

Stop the Evil Cult:
GC: For god and glory!
MEC: If you're not worshipping me you're misguided fools who deserve to die!

 

[Old Drew Id]

It depends on your group. Are the CG and LG characters able to get along? If so, then the LG character and your LE character may get along, too.

However, the CG character and your LE character will probably be at odds with one another on some things. It really depends so much on your group's in-character goals and play style.

 

[Stormborn]

If your PC is willing to have his actions modified to at least some degree by the wishes of the party or its designated leader then you should be able to avoid most of the complications ususally associated with playing an evil character - and given your lawful nature that should not be a problem. I would just add "Don't push it." Don't go out of your way to prove that you are evil. Be evil but be smart and be a team player.

EDIT: However, part of the issue is going to be how hard the other players push it. If there are any idealistic champions of good (likely the CGs) they might not only insist on right action but also right motive. Better to discuss it with them than with us and talk about in game expectations.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

As someone said before, there is potential intra-party conflict, but if you have a good sense of what your group likes and what they can handle, I say go for it. There's as much potential for a great RP experience as well.

 

[Firedancer]

A mature group can come away with no problems, it depends on how evil you go.

There's no harm adding a bit of narrative and gloating to your actions - you use flurry of blows to deck a foe, but you can make it that bit more with a bit of boasting (nimbly dodging their futile blows, goading them).

Have you seen Jet Li's Fearless? His fighter (to the point when he changes) has a tendency to fighting because he's the best, he wants to show it and enjoy everything the locals offer such a martial artist.

Do your group normally let foes bleed out? Deal the finishing blow; martial artist stamping on the neck. Small things can convey his alignment without any double dealing.

It might even make some of the Goodly PC's actually consider how hard it is to be good.

 

[BRP2]

Depending on what kind of campaign is being run, it can be seen as working with a lesser evil to expel a much greater evil. For example: Let's say the focus of the campaign to protect a city/country from a demonic invasion. Suddenly, the help from the Thieve's Guild doesn't sound too bad.

 

[Tclynch]

Thanks for the feedback. One thing I am going to do is not reveal my character's LE to any of the players (I have sent background info to the DM and have told him the character is LE).
I think the Evil part of the character is going to be in the background while around the other characters (I like the example about dealing finishing blows, etc).
Being Lawful, I would see the other's as being useful in adventuring. The group leader (7th lvl fighter) I would tend to support his decisions as long as they were for the group's (and my) "good", so I think that will help.

 

[sckeener]

If you'd like a good example of a LE (maybe LN) monk, check out the Prince of Nothing series. Anasûrimbor Kellhus (Ah-nas-soor-imb-or Kell-huss) is a 33 year-old monk that rocks. He's from a hidden monastic sect that has repudiated history and animal appetite in the hope of finding absolute enlightenment through the control of all desire and circumstance. For two thousand years they have bred their members for both motor reflexes and intellectual acuity.

It is beautiful watching him manipulate people.