Playing Evil
JediMindTrix
Member Posts: 305
So, I've never played an evil character...
Unnecessary Exposition:
The reasons for this vary. When I was younger, I couldn't bring myself to make Evil choices, and later, it was because I had heard the game was skewed towards good. (You couldn't even have a full evil party). I didn't start finding enjoyment in Evil until I force-persuaded two thugs to give me all of their credits and jump into the pits of Nar Shaddaa in KOTOR 2, and finally until I started playing Renegade Shepard. Point is, I think I'm ready now.
Necessary Questions:
1) What is there to do as an evil character, that you cannot do as a good character?
2) What mods are available to enhance the experience in the series as an evil character, that you would recommend?
3) NPCs?
Unnecessary Exposition:
The reasons for this vary. When I was younger, I couldn't bring myself to make Evil choices, and later, it was because I had heard the game was skewed towards good. (You couldn't even have a full evil party). I didn't start finding enjoyment in Evil until I force-persuaded two thugs to give me all of their credits and jump into the pits of Nar Shaddaa in KOTOR 2, and finally until I started playing Renegade Shepard. Point is, I think I'm ready now.
Necessary Questions:
1) What is there to do as an evil character, that you cannot do as a good character?
2) What mods are available to enhance the experience in the series as an evil character, that you would recommend?
3) NPCs?
0
Comments
2.) There aren't really any mods out there that improve the game for evil characters, except the assassination one in BG2 and then some evil NPC's.
3.) Valen is evil if i remember right, and i'm sure there are more NPC mods out there that are evil.
2) No clue
3) If you mean NPC mods I have no clue. Otherwise go with Viconia, Korgan, Edwin, Yoshimo, Anomen (chaotic neutral path), and Sarevok (ToB).
You do lose out on a fair bit of coin but you can make some of that up by stealing more (doesn't obviously work in the case of some stores). Basically playing evil just requires more effort but it opens up other opportunities (like being able to use Blackrazor).
As for wanton murder, that's dangerous, because you might kill a critical quest npc if you don't know what you're doing. That, and swarms of Flaming Fist up your butt in every town is a pretty big punishment for being evil, if you ask me. Not to mention the higher store prices, up to and including total shutdown of some merchants.
I absolutely *hate* the game's reputation system, for an evil character. I might occasionally enjoy playing with an "evil" party, since a lot of those characters are the most interesting in the game, but merely completing quests usually raises your reputation to the point where they leave you. I think that's kind of lame, as in "stupid evil" lame. "Smart evil" would know how to manage reputation to its advantage.
Speaking of "smart evil", I would submit Dr. Malocchio from the Hulu series "The Awesomes" as an example. Not to mention Sarevok, Irenicus, and Bodhi. The list of "smart evil" examples from film and literature could go on and on - Palpatine, Khan, the Goa'uld, Torak, the Evil Prophecy, Saruman, Sauron, or, in fictionalizations of our world, J.R. Ewing, Alexis Colby Carrington, or, in comic books, Dr. Doom, Lex Luthor, etc., etc. In fact, making a list of archetypal story-effective, "love to hate" villains could make its own thread.
I just don't see that the BG game as implemented gives you *any* choices to play "smart evil".
Yes, I know how to manage reputation down, either by very carefully timed murder, or just flat out using Keeper to raise and lower it. But that just feels so phony and unsatisfying to me, when contemplating fun, entertaining villainy.
I think that this issue is why so many people who want to play a villain in BG, who will ultimately
Once you've come up with a set of motivations for your character, the way to respond to dialogue and quests becomes a lot simpler. Do they want power? Do they want money? Are they willing to hurt others to achieve their own ends? How about innocents? "Evil" characters are more difficult to play that heroic ones.
For example a Lawful Evil Mercenary character might take no pleasure in hurting others, but will certainly kill anyone who stands in their way. They would also have no qualms about asking for as much money as they can get. But at the same time, they would disapprove of stealing and other petty lawbreaking.
Just try something new, be a little evil. It wont change YOU as a person.
Or will it? :I
Writing a character biography for them may help though, or at least having one in your head. Understanding their goals, motivation and personal history is key to playing them true to alignment.
Example: There is a stupid bragging swordsman in Firewine Bridge, who is saying something about being the best swordsman in the world. And has the Gauntlets of Weapon Expertise. I´ve always found it difficult to find acceptable reason to fight him with good character. Yes, he is evidently stupid and delusional but it isn´t enough to kill (for a good character). So with good character I let him go.
There are other similar situation in BG1 (Sendai, party of adventures in the basilisks location)
Another example is Drizzt. I know that others kill him even with good characters, but I think that their justification is artifical at best.
Or breaking into houses and looting the property which evidently belongs to someone else.
If you evil, you can do whatever you want without roleplaying concerns.