Turning a PC into a villian?

[silverblade]

I've got a player who wants to retire his character, and have him become a villian. What would you do with a Human Fighter 6/Order of the Bow Initiate 2 with Str 14, Dex 18 (with gloves), Con 16, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10 to make him a really nasty villian? Assume some leveling and acquision of some magic items and minions.

 

[reveal]

I've got a player who wants to retire his character, and have him become a villian. What would you do with a Human Fighter 6/Order of the Bow Initiate 2 with Str 14, Dex 18 (with gloves), Con 16, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10 to make him a really nasty villian? Assume some leveling and acquision of some magic items and minions.

Off the top of my head: He is an Order of the Bow Initiate. After a little bit more training, he a) starts to think he knows more than his mentor (someone's got to train him, right?) or b) starts to think that his archery skills are above reproach and he needs to be in charge. Either way, he will either assasinate, or plot to assasinate, someone in power, therefor making him an enemy of the Order of the Bow.

He, of course, is not alone in his quest. He has talked many others into following him and breaks off to form his own Order, where his word is law and anyone who doesn't follow it is killed. In order to fund his Order, they murder, kidnap, extort, steal, etc. They also war constantly with the Order of the Bow.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Becoming a villain might not be the best thing.

Imagine that instead he becomes a mercenary, working for what at first appart to be hostile foes, but latter turn out to be truly deviant abberations with plans to annhilate all life. The character could come back to the good guys only in time to die. Of course if you're using something like mind flayers, they often have psychic symbionts and other factors that may force your loyalty so the party would have to free him first and wonder whose side he was really on at that point.

Then again, have the character fall in love and due to the player's (even if the GM fibs it a little), the love dies and the character swears revenge against them, and they keep missing him as he begins to amass his power.

One thing I'm trying to make clear in my head is what do you want with this character as a villian? A one shot opponent? A foe who leaves clues and hints? A recurring enemy?

 

[Darklone]

SPOILER! Players from my group do not read!
Spoiler beginning

Spoiler

: I got a female paladin who got captured by the BBEG ... that's tricky to turn into something evil. Easy solution: Vampirism. You have your alignment change at once and can proceed to turn her into a nice little blackguard. That class wouldn't hurt your fighter type too.

SPOILER END.

Then get some charisma booster and Divine Might. Archers love it.

 

[Patlin]

SPOILER! Players from my group do not read!

They shouldn't read my reply either.

Spoiler beginning

Spoiler

The gods offer atonement to all vampires once a day, at dawn. A paladin with decent strength of will might manage to throw herself into the nearest sunbeam before the evil urges of her vampiric state overcome her. Even if she is prevented from doing this, IMO the plot would be more interesting if the former Paladin constantly fought against the BBEG's control. In my campaigns, I like to steal from "lost boys." Becoming a full vampire requires a voluntary act, killing another so that you might live. That's why they are evil...

SPOILER END.

 

[LeifVignirsson]

Easiest way to do it is have the retired PC continue to go the path that he is on, THINKING that he is doing good. Instead, have an action that he does trigger a world affecting event. That character still thinks he is righteous and now the WORLD (and new pcs) are out to get him. There starts your slippery slope...