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How To Be Evil

I'm sorry for those of you coming here looking for tips on conquering the world or, at the very least, kicking small puppies, but this is actually a question to all you knowledgeable players out there. How does one stay evil? As a good aligned person IRL, I find it hard to want to play with an evil party, but I am consistently tempted to do so, due to their exceptional abilities. My question is, though, how do I do it? How do I keep my party at the 15-17 Reputation mark for all the juicy shop prices? What are the ways in which an evil team can keep their reputation low enough, all while getting the good prices? I know you can kill people, but I need more information than that. This is more for BG1 than BG2, but I readily welcome any and all tips on staying evil in the sequel as well.
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  • Glam_VrockGlam_Vrock Member Posts: 277
    BG2 Tweaks, low reputation discount component. Happy pillaging.
  • ElrandirElrandir Member Posts: 1,664
    No mods. Using ipad version.
  • Glam_VrockGlam_Vrock Member Posts: 277
    Oh.

    In that case, you don't have many options where BG1's concerned. Either get caught stealing or don't do half the quests. BG2 you can just abuse Slayer Change.
  • KamigoroshiKamigoroshi Member Posts: 5,870
    Dang, I would have recommended you to sell Boo (after editing some files) for the ultimate EVIL playthrough. :(

    But since you're on Ipad, your chances are rather limited. You could either play with 0-4 Reputation and basically become the most wanted person along the Sword Coast. Or play a scheming, lying bastard character with 14-18 Reputation. Both types have their merits if played right. The sad thing is Baldur's Gate doesn't nearly have enough Lawful Evil or Neutral Evil dialogue choices to roleplay the latter case in a satisfying fashion. So, yeah... choose your poison.

    As for staying at your current Reputation level: Simply avoid any and all Good aligned quests usually helps. That, and flooding mines.
  • ElrandirElrandir Member Posts: 1,664
    Well the character I have in mind is a manipulative female bard, so the high rep is kind of the goal. I guess I'm mainly stuck with not doing good things (like flooding the mines) and killing random peasants when my rep gets too high? Dang... I suppose I can say Dorn convinces my character to let him satisfy his bloodlust occasionally...
  • SCARY_WIZARDSCARY_WIZARD Member Posts: 1,438
    Attack Flaming Fist Mercenaries!
  • ElrandirElrandir Member Posts: 1,664
    Since they always say "I AM the law!" does that mean I'll be striking against the law?.. =D

    I regret nothing...
  • BlackravenBlackraven Member Posts: 3,486
    Some quests that give reputation increases are inevitable, but many aren't. You can stop Krumm and Caldo if you want to, just don't talk with the Dryad. You can decide not to flood the Cloakwood Mines and simply leave (if you're too "soft" like me, to flood the mines without helping the miners escape). Dorn, Vicky and Baelth also help...
  • ElrandirElrandir Member Posts: 1,664
    edited April 2014
    @CrevsDaak‌ I don't know if pyromaniac quite fits the idea I have, but it is amusing!

    @Blackraven‌ I was planning on having all three of them, so that will be useful information.

    Also, how can I tell Hexxat I'm not interested without becoming a feast? No offense, but I think my little half-elven bard would prefer a half-orc's big strong muscles than the cold dead flesh of a vampire...
  • the_spyderthe_spyder Member Posts: 5,018
    From an Role playing perspective, understand that being Evil doesn't have to mean being a right B@$tard. It just means that you are a bit more selfish about your needs than others. If you do something, you expect to get paid, well. If someone isn't forthcoming "Enough", then you have to 'Incent' them to do more.

    And just because you are EVIL, doesn't mean that you can't "Think" that you are one of the good guys. How many dictators in this world have thought that they were merely doing it "For the public good"? Probably most of them.

    Do all of the quests. If your rep gets beyond reason, you may have to 'Get caught' occasionally doing stuff you shouldn't. Break into the odd house. Pick pocket some poor sod who doesn't deserve it. Be a little bit free with your AOE spells in public places. that kind of thing.

    As far as keeping the Rep in the 15-17 range, Why? Money is so plentiful that you will honestly not be hurting for money, at least not after mid game or so. And some of the quests give you surprise rep boosts which can, unless you are heavily meta-gaming, cause your evils to suddenly leave the party. So why bother?

    What I say is play the morally ambiguous type and manage your rep to the 10 range if you don't want the world to be chasing you. Otherwise, embrace your Evil and "kill em all, let the Gods sort it out." After all, that is why you play the role, isn't it? or do you just want the Characters?
  • ElrandirElrandir Member Posts: 1,664
    I just want the experience of playing with all these characters and this style of gameplay I normally don't touch. I'll probably outwardly be the "good guy", keeping my rep at about 15, but only keeping it there due to my large and frequent donations to the church.

    I'm also not sure I want to be a bard now... I love bards, and an evil manipulative bard seems perfect, but a fighter\thief seems a better choice... I could outclass Hexxat and wouldn't have to lose my burly blackguard lover when I want to recruit Sarevok. I'd probably be sick of her by ToB anyway. Maybe a fighter\mage\thief so as to keep similar to the bard thing, even... Now I feel like this character is slowly becoming a female Nale...
  • BlackravenBlackraven Member Posts: 3,486
    @SCARY_WIZARD, well-played. I agree with @the_spyder n both accounts: (1) there are many ways of playing evil. Personally I have little experience with it, but I know I want my evil characters to be likeable or awesome, and (2) money isn't a big deal, you'll be a bit slower in acquiring everything you desire.
  • jackjackjackjack Member Posts: 3,251
    edited April 2014
    Nale!
    On Bards vs. F/M/Ts (last 5 panels):
    http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0050.html
  • BlackravenBlackraven Member Posts: 3,486
    Elrandir said:

    I just want the experience of playing with all these characters and this style of gameplay I normally don't touch. I'll probably outwardly be the "good guy", keeping my rep at about 15, but only keeping it there due to my large and frequent donations to the church.

    I'm also not sure I want to be a bard now... I love bards, and an evil manipulative bard seems perfect, but a fighter\thief seems a better choice... I could outclass Hexxat and wouldn't have to lose my burly blackguard lover when I want to recruit Sarevok. I'd probably be sick of her by ToB anyway. Maybe a fighter\mage\thief so as to keep similar to the bard thing, even... Now I feel like this character is slowly becoming a female Nale...

    F/M/T in a full party is rather slow in levelling up. You'll feel that most of all in your spell progression, though you'll still be a good fighter, and a competent mechanical thief or backstabber (late game you'll be both). Fighter/Thief is one of the best classes IMO in the game. You could also consider Tief/Mage.
  • ElrandirElrandir Member Posts: 1,664
    I think F/M/T is the best for the character, however. I'll always have a main thief, mage, and fighter, so the character's role won't change from when I was thinking of being a bard. (Support wherever it's needed.) The only time I'll drop a main role will be Hexxat in ToB, at which point my thieving will be quite sufficient for all my needs. My main isn't supposed to be a monster (heck, I was planning on going bard, for goodness'... er, evilness' sake!) as the party has enough monsters anyway. Why try and outcast Edwin, or out fight Sarevok, Dorn, and Korgan? Why try to out thief a pure thief like Hexxat, or even a two class multi, like Monty? (for most of the game anyway) In an evil party, you don't need to be perfect, because the rest of the team is brutally evil and powerful for you. That said, this character will still be running with all 18's. (minus Wisdom, that poor malnourished stat...)
  • SCARY_WIZARDSCARY_WIZARD Member Posts: 1,438
    edited April 2014

    @SCARY_WIZARD, well-played. I agree with @the_spyder n both accounts: (1) there are many ways of playing evil. Personally I have little experience with it, but I know I want my evil characters to be likeable or awesome, and (2) money isn't a big deal, you'll be a bit slower in acquiring everything you desire.

    Yep. Hell, you can even do good things with sinister ulterior motives.
  • ElrandirElrandir Member Posts: 1,664
    No one suspects the adorable elf girl with the muscles of an 18 STR rating and a team of blood soaked evil people, right? =D
  • jacobtanjacobtan Member Posts: 655
    Easiest is to go into some house with just one inhabitant, punch or kill him, and you get your rep decrease without risking the anger of bystanders.

    Though tbh I don't really find a great difference in power between good and evil characters. Evil characters are pure-classed, so they tend to reach your desired power level more quickly. But BG1 is forgiving on party composition in that you can clear the game with most lineups. For BG2, pure-classed characters start to lose their edge as you move into late-SoA and TOB, because power does not scale well beyond 20th-level and pure-classed characters will slowly turn into one-trick ponies.

    As in life, the path of goodness can be long and torturous with no quick fix, but it will yield returns in the long term :)
  • BlackravenBlackraven Member Posts: 3,486
    Elrandir said:

    I think F/M/T is the best for the character, however. I'll always have a main thief, mage, and fighter, so the character's role won't change from when I was thinking of being a bard. (Support wherever it's needed.) The only time I'll drop a main role will be Hexxat in ToB, at which point my thieving will be quite sufficient for all my needs. My main isn't supposed to be a monster (heck, I was planning on going bard, for goodness'... er, evilness' sake!) as the party has enough monsters anyway. Why try and outcast Edwin, or out fight Sarevok, Dorn, and Korgan? Why try to out thief a pure thief like Hexxat, or even a two class multi, like Monty? (for most of the game anyway)

    Ok, if you're aware of the role your F/M/T will be playing and if you think it's the best fit for your party, then by all means go and have some heinous fun :)
    Elrandir said:

    I
    In an evil party, you don't need to be perfect, because the rest of the team is brutally evil and powerful for you. That said, this character will still be running with all 18's. (minus Wisdom, that poor malnourished stat...)

    In a good or neutral party you won't have to be perfect either imo. I've read more than once on diferent forums that the evil NPCs are better than the good ones, but in my experience Edwin's necklace, Vicky's MR, or Korgan's rage do not change the game that much.
  • ElrandirElrandir Member Posts: 1,664
    edited April 2014
    But five one trick ponies can decimate the enemy. Especially when they have a multiple trick pony with 19's in almost all stats.

    @Blackraven‌ That's true too, (And I frankly don't care about Korgan's rage) but they are strong. That's not to say that good isn't, though. I still like sticking to my good teams, but a monstrous team of mortal demons seems fun. We've got all seven deadly sins! Korgan pulls double duty with sloth and gluttony, Dorn is wrath, Sarevok is envy, my PC is lust, Edwin is greed, and Viconia is pride!
  • BlackravenBlackraven Member Posts: 3,486
    I like the reference to the seven sins... :)
    Hopefull you'll enjoy it. I have difficulty acting an *sshole.
  • ElrandirElrandir Member Posts: 1,664
    As do I, which is why this'll be an interesting run-through. I think this'll be my next documented run-through, since it's so different than my previous ones.
  • jacobtanjacobtan Member Posts: 655
    edited April 2014
    @Elrandir‌

    Maybe it's me but I prefer overkill... a herd of multiple-trick ponies with an ultra souped-up PC LOL Your party looks capable and decent. Perhaps a bit too fragile for my comfort, but should be more than sufficient ^_^

    @Blackraven‌

    I echo your sentiments, and your observation about Edwin/Viconia/Korgan not changing the game with their special abilities is spot on... conceivable in theory and verifiable in practice. Korgan is basically a berserker with a few perks, and Edwin/Viconia are overrated as spellcasters late-game (what's the use of being able to memorize 1000000000 spells when all you need are just a few strategically cast spells...), though Viconia can always be an anti-magic decoy.
  • jackjackjackjack Member Posts: 3,251
    It's very difficult for me to play truly evil characters. On my current run, I'm playing as a kind-hearted, but selfish and irresponsible man who doesn't vet his companions very well as he is utterly naive about the world and the people in it. As such, he's currently rolling around with Kagain, Dorn, Viconia, Safana, and Xzar.
    After all, they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
  • ElrandirElrandir Member Posts: 1,664
    edited April 2014
    @jacobtan‌ How would it be any less fragile? By keeping Hexxat?.. Three solid warrior classes with average or better stats all around, with a good priest and mage, and the PC who would be even less sturdy as a bard. Seems pretty good to me. Besides, that's basically all the useful evil NPCs in BG2. Who else is there, even?
  • jackjackjackjack Member Posts: 3,251
    Having run with the evil party members, (replacing Dorn instead of Hexxat with the 'Vok in ToB as I was a Blade and so needed a thief), I can confirm that they are monstrously powerful. You will have no issues with your setup.
  • jacobtanjacobtan Member Posts: 655
    edited April 2014
    @Elrandir‌

    You have three warrior classes (Korgan, Dorn and Sarevok) but of the three,

    1. No access to physical protections
    2. Limited access to magical protections
    3. Some of our friends have remarked that Dorn is a glass cannon, so before you get Sarevok, your front-liners may need a little more tender loving care :)

    But as I said, it's fragile for me, and it's not true for most players. Unless my entire party has 1000 HP each, immune to physical hits and magic, etc. etc. etc., I'll always feel SOME discomfort ;)
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