Rping Evil

[*Ultimabob]

Logically, you don't display overt evilness unless you are in a position of unimpeachable power. Otherwise you will be killed or ostracized. Or you are part of a culture of evill (self-acknowledged or not). This is not the case for PCs in Sigil.

So IMO any realistic evil characters would feign to be "normal" virtually all the time. If you do that, what are the opportunities you get to show that you are really evil in Sigil without destroying this necessary veneer?

[*Lucereflame]

give you an example.. Archer Shadowstrider.. my char is Evil.. she enjoys watching people get hurt.. or do bad things.. But dosent openly show it.. she also is an assassin for hire.. though dosent openly advertise it and the such.. She Travels with a wide Range of people.. and hides.. as for Where her evil will come out.. most likely from the shadows if you have done something to her.. or are a target.

[*Synyster Spirit]

Personally I take alignments in general to be a guideline for conduct, morals, and ideals more than a strict set of standards. After all, alignments are subject to change.

I can think of at least one person whose character doesn't necessarily act according to the alignment on their character sheet as a result of character development. It just hasn't been changed on their character sheet yet.

Some "Evil" characters are tactful, deceptive, and cunning. Those are the ones who really mask their intentions and try to earn people's trust in order to use that to their advantage.

Other "Evil" characters are the more blatant about their morals, ideals, and such. I can think of several who are like this, but do so fitting to their character.. They're not running around trying to kill everyone and boasting about being evil, but they do make it pretty clear that they may be masochistic, hedonistic, or bear some other kinds of "Evil" mannerisms.

[*Mr_Otyugh]

Well evil as any alignment appears in many forms. Not everyone are the secretive evil, granted they most often have longer lifespan than the simple evil.

Evil is selfish, they want something most often and do not care what happens to others well being in middle of it. Means differ from each.

Also alignment doesn't step over every other ability and thing which determines also how characters act... most importantly social skills, wisdom, intelligence and charisma :P so fellas with more than 12 wisdom/intelligence are likely to figure out that incase they do something openly destructive they're going to be marked as "criminals" or something along those lines and then they only get further problems on their plans which would be disadvantageous for them.

[*WhenWizardsWar]

There are two principle types of evil that i prefer, very arely do i play NE characters.

Chaotic stupid, those are the types that run around eating babiez and killing everything they see and boasting about the power of their dark god. These types are predicatble and often have their plans fall far shorter then what they hope to achive because they are so open with their plans its hard not to intercept them.

Then theres Lawful smart.

Those are the evil chars who yeah people may suspect hes down right evil but by the time they find out exactly what hes up to its far far to late. Like Karson! Hes a known red wizard, everyones pretty sure he is evil though no one knows what his intent of being in the city is.


Generally most evil chars on any server fall into one of the two catagorys.

NE chars are somewhere in between if you ask me.

Just my opinion on how i look at evil

[*Edge-of-Oblivion]

I'll have to debate that as it sounds as if all CE characters are bumblers and all LE characters are masterminds. It falls less into Chaos versus Lawful and more Overt versus Concealed. Namely, a character who hides what they do unless they know they can get away with it will likely last longer than a character who does it for the whole world to see when they can still be taken down.

I've seen both sides done with all three Evil alignments, so it's not just Chaotic Stupid and Lawful Smart.

[*Cristiel]

Just remember, the evil character does not see himself as evil. He has an agenda and he is driven to his goals, although they may not be viewed as "acceptable" in society. In his eyes, his actions are justified - even though it may be murder, exploitation, etc.

Just think about it, how many "evil" people in real life come out and say they are evil? Even Hitler thought he was doing the right thing. :P

[*Edge-of-Oblivion]

Just remember, the evil character does not see himself as evil. He has an agenda and he is driven to his goals, although they may not be viewed as "acceptable" in society. In his eyes, his actions are justified - even though it may be murder, exploitation, etc.

Just think about it, how many "evil" people in real life come out and say they are evil? Even Hitler thought he was doing the right thing. :P

Eh, it varies... many characters do think they are "doing the right thing" but on the other hand there are just as many who understand they are wretched, evil people, they simply either don't care or actively embrace evil.

[*Product of Void]

Oh there are many types of evil.

Some actually know they are evil, and just do not care. Or like to crupt others showing their faults and seeking to make others as jaded and angry as them.

Sigil is bizar in the fact we have every monster form the manual walking around and sharing drinks at a pub.

Evil or good their actions are more important then their alignment. I have seen the effects of widgets that detect alignments and its not pretty.

While some might consider themselves doing good while doing evil. I know one character who even though evil would do good if they could rub it in others faces.

[*Ceremorph]

One thing we have to recall when discussing Evil is that we're not in Faerun anymore. This is Sigil: fiends and angels openly walk the street, even hold positions of power. There can be no doubt about the evil of a Gelugon met in a bar, or the open worshipper of Graz'zt. However... where such things would be cause for ostracism and worse in most Prime societies, in Sigil it's simply par for the course. And when compared to the blatant innate evil of a Babau or Cornugon, none of our "mortal" characters really stack up, at least in the evil department.