S
Sunseeker
Guest
I'm going to preface by saying I agree that "lawful evil" is not an oxymoron.
Lawful Evil is simple: Evil with order. A lawful evil person is someone who uses rules, order and "the law" for personal gain. They're the king because the law says whoever marries the princess becomes the next King. Well wasn't it odd that both the king and the prince-to-be died in a horrible hunting accident that can in no way whatsoever be blamed on the Grand Vizier, and oh, what's this, the princess must marry the Vizier if the king (who is dead) cannot find her a husband? I reference Jafar because by-and-large, Jafar was lawful evil. He used the rule of law to gain power, control others and further his agenda.
A lawful evil character doesn't kill people for no reason, and they certainly won't do it, even if they want to, when there is a good chance they'll be caught or can be reasonably blamed for it. And if it is obvious that they are responsible, they'll have been within their rights to do so, or at least appear to have been within their rights.
Disagreement: I think the missing component in this argument is not the "Lawful=Legitimate" but that "Lawful=Good." I think that's why people find "Lawful Evil" to be an oxymoron, because if Lawful=Good then Evil=Unlawful.I suspect that to some people's minds, "Lawful" = "Legitimate". Therefore, when they hear/read the term "Lawful Evil", they think it means "Legitimate Evil", which would indeed be a oxymoron!
Commentary: What an odd assertion.Another assertion was that "Lawful" characters must be honorable, and that Devils do not behave in an honorable fashion, therefore they could not be "Lawful".
Lawful Evil is simple: Evil with order. A lawful evil person is someone who uses rules, order and "the law" for personal gain. They're the king because the law says whoever marries the princess becomes the next King. Well wasn't it odd that both the king and the prince-to-be died in a horrible hunting accident that can in no way whatsoever be blamed on the Grand Vizier, and oh, what's this, the princess must marry the Vizier if the king (who is dead) cannot find her a husband? I reference Jafar because by-and-large, Jafar was lawful evil. He used the rule of law to gain power, control others and further his agenda.
A lawful evil character doesn't kill people for no reason, and they certainly won't do it, even if they want to, when there is a good chance they'll be caught or can be reasonably blamed for it. And if it is obvious that they are responsible, they'll have been within their rights to do so, or at least appear to have been within their rights.