So I'm trying an Evil Character

[robberbaron]

Some of the most fun gaming I've had was with evil characters (LE Half-Orc Cleric/Assassin and a NE Bard - both 1e), and my current 3.5 campaign has a mostly evil party.
I've found (for me; might not work for everyone) that the trick is to decide on your character's motivations and personality then see what alignment is the best fit. If it isn't the one you really wanted, think about it and change the character as necessary.

My take on alignment:
LE characters, to the casual observer, look pretty much the same as LG ones. They really only differ in their methods - LG will beat a foe down and capture him/take him in for justice with the possibility of landing a killing blow. LE is much more likely to beat the foe down and make sure he stays down - killing blows much more likely.
LG will make every effort to reduce collateral damage, whereas LE will see it as acceptable as long as the primary goal is achieved.

 

[Merkuri]

In a mature group you're probably fine, but be aware of how evil is seen in the world. I like the way Eberron does it, where evil people aren't representative of some dark force underlying the world that wants to destroy it. They are just people who are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish their goals. They may be backstabbers and cheats, or people who will take credit for their coworkers good works, but they don't have to be someone who kicks puppies or kills people. If you're in a world like that, you're good (...or evil?). But if you're in a place where paladins have a right to run anyone through who shows up on the evil radar then you might wanna think about your alignment again.

It all depends on the attitude of the group (and especially the DM) on what an evil alignment means.

 

[Aus_Snow]

In my opinion, one Evil character in a group of otherwise Good characters in D&D. . . is just a bad idea.

But I hope it works out, regardless.

 

[DonTadow]

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?

YUP
This just reeks of the batman syndrome. The character who has to be the brooding loner who disagrees with the party and plays by his own rules. This type of character does not work in a typical dungeons and dragons campaign. Save the evil characters for a specific evil campaign.

 

[Ry]

Read the prince of nothing series by R. Scott Bakker.

Read it right now.

 

[scholz]

I think the main trick to play smart. Avoid being greedy, petty, mean and cruel. Those are dead give aways and tend to bring parties into conflict, or worse yet, force other party members to watch as you do things they don't like for the sake of party unity.

However, one role playing challenge is to try to convince the other characters to "eat the apple" of evil. I could see such a character appealing to practical concerns of the other characters, like not letting bad guys escape, getting revenge for any slight, challenging threats of a variety of sorts. Think of yourself as the little devil on one's shoulder. Use rationalizations, persuasion, and deceit (self and other) in order to get your evil done, not force and threat.

By I agree with lukelightning, your job as a player, is to stay in charge of your character. YOU give him reason to play along with the good party, don't let his alignment rule you.

 

[Tharen the Damned]

Being Evil does not mean doing evil things (like stealing the candy from an orphan) but can also mean doing the right things in an evil way.
Your Monk might be a strong advocate of the laws -especially his interpretation of the laws. He might hate thieves and tyrants and the evil wizard next door.
And he will try to right all things wrong.
But where the noble paladin settles for chastising the Thief, the evil Monk might simply kill him. One less lawbreaker in the world. Even if it is a child.

And I can only chime in and pimp Bakker and his "Prince of Nothing"

 

[Merkuri]

I could see a LE character fitting in with a bunch of good guys with no problem, if maturely played. Lawful characters are often very obedient, so it wouldn't be out of character to follow the party leader's orders if he says something that goes against the LE character's instincts.

A LE character in a good party can easily act as the "devil's advocate," suggesting paths to the party's goals that might be easier, but have dastardly side effects (like the loss of innocent life). The party does not have to follow his advice, and he will follow whatever orders the party leader gives, but simply having somebody being there to suggest a different course of action can make for good roleplaying and perhaps cause a party to do things they might not think of with a truly all good party.

Somebody already mentioned it, but such a character would be kinda like Belkar in Order of the Stick. Nobody listens to his advice except on rare occasions, but he's entertaining and a valuable party member nonetheless.

 

[painandgreed]

We've had a LE monk character in our party since creation. We're now 8th level and just now found it out when some outsider cast some good smiting spells and it didn't affect him. Wasn't a surprise, mind you, but it was never caused any trouble in the party.*

Well, not really. He is playing a bigotted elven character who enjoys demeaning other races. He even sleeps in the stable with the horses because he claims the "inn smells of human stench". While we have had to shuffle him out of a conversation or two or let him start a fight, it hasn't caused us any real issues that would stand out from any other RPer with firm ideas for his character.

 

[Khairn]

Another vote for taking a look at Darkwalker: The Evil Within.

Lots of very good idea's on running evil characters without destroying your gaming group