Roleplaying advice for a truly evil character

[Nyramael]

Hi,
I was planning to create a character that was truly evil and cruel to the core in the not too distant future. My only concern is that i might ruin some peoples fun in the game and possibly scare away newer players.

Can i have some advice on how to be evil and do mean things without getting banned and spoiling things for people?

thanks

[Karyuu]

My tips would include being extra careful to make sure that your actions are In-Character, and if anyone ever misunderstands (or if you are about to undertake something truly evil involving others\' characters), feel free to send them a small /tell explaining your character and his/her intentions. Most roleplayers realize that evil characters are a necessity, and conflicts can be welcomed, if they do not force their characters into some actions against their will. So before kidnapping or murdering someone, have a small OOC chat between the player and yourself where you come to an agreement that this would be an okay thing to do. You don\'t have to do this all the time, certainly, but if you\'re ever drowning in doubts whether your actions will be perceived as acceptable.

[davvyo]

Spend years making up evil schemes, only to have them thwarted by some kid on steroids.  Then get a pint.  Life is good.

[Sarrow]

I dont know about TRUE evil, as planeshift does not support some of the neccasary pure evil intentions.

But I would start by
1) contradicting people,
2) becoming socially prejudice,
3) become outspoken and bring your views out in the open,
4) convince people to take the \"wrong\" action during arguments or situations,
5) become impatient with people\'s disabilities or limits,  
6) be less optimistic,
7) take roles that will benefit your gain,
7) use con-artist techniques during bartering,
8) dont help new people but either mis-direct them or shun them by laughing in their face.
9) Take the time to either despise beggars or poor people
10) Act as a spy and comitt treason within guilds
11) Steal dropped objects when given the oppurtunity
12) Decline people\'s request to share mob hunting
13) See friendships as partnerships or temporary co-workers
14) Work for tria, not for free
15) See other\'s injuries and favors as pointless liabilities and only help people to use as blackmail or for valuable assistance later despite their usefullness

[zanzibar]

Originally posted by Sarrow
I dont know about TRUE evil, as planeshift does not support some of the neccasary pure evil intentions.

But I would start by
1) contradicting people,
2) becoming socially prejudice,
3) become outspoken and bring your views out in the open,
4) convince people to take the \"wrong\" action during arguments or situations,
5) become impatient with people\'s disabilities or limits,  
6) be less optimistic,
7) take roles that will benefit your gain,
7) use con-artist techniques during bartering,
dont help new people but either mis-direct them or shun them by laughing in their face.
9) Take the time to either despise beggars or poor people
10) Act as a spy and comitt treason within guilds
11) Steal dropped objects when given the oppurtunity
12) Decline people\'s request to share mob hunting
13) See friendships as partnerships or temporary co-workers
14) Work for tria, not for free
15) See other\'s injuries and favors as pointless liabilities and only help people to use as blackmail or for valuable assistance later despite their usefullness

Albatross!





The thing is, Karyuu is wrong in saying that most people will understand.  The exact opposite has proven true in my experiences... people become upity and offended.  A lot of people say that the \"evil\" characters don\'t even count as \"real\" role-player!

[hook]

Yes, it is rather hard in praxis to tell apart an evil character from an evil player

Hmmm... maybe it would be more obvious, if you were more outspoken. Mock players in a very RP-ing way (avoiding \"lol\" and \"n00b\" and such words) and thus make them see clearly that your character is evil. In the start you would probably have to make yourself a name of being an evil character ...which means you would have to persuade a lot of players that doing havoc is your solely character\'s and not your own intention.

But I think the best suggestion, I can give right now, is that you should at first really make people understand - that\'s going to be hard. The best way that I can think of, is that you at first (untill you get a solid bad name as a character and a good one as a player) openly announce your actions ...try to play the role of an evil guy who\'s not trying to be secretive about his actions, I guess.

What I mean:

do this:
\"Why, hello, hello... If I don\'t see a new pray for my little sport right down there\"
*Nyramael grins, his sharp white teeth shining under the shadow of his hood*
(then you jump to the character/pray)
*Nyramael eyes his pray and spits*
\"Hmmm, doesn\'t look like you\'re worth much, but every little thing counts in these hard days.\"
(you pull out your weapon)
\"Say, pray ...do you crave for death? Or do you have something you can offer me, so we both get on our way happier ...me without needing to wash your dirty blood of my dagger, and you ...well ...with your head still on your neck, hahahahaha\"

instead of this:
(you stab the poor bastard without any notice)
*Nyramael rapes the head of the n00b*
\"lolz0rz ..3y3 0wnz j00 n00bz!!!\"
*Nyramael peanuts peanuts t3h peanuty n00b\"

Or when you steal someone\'s stuff on the ground ...return it the first time and tell them kindly (again, in a role-playing manner!!!) that the next time, you won\'t be so kind and that your black heart hurts when you give fairly stolen loot back, but that you have a reputation to maintain

p.s. sorry I carried away with that \"peanuts\" joke

[zanzibar]

Originally posted by hook
Hmmm... maybe it would be more obvious, if you were more outspoken.

:|



(I\'m already very outspoken.  Trust me, there are a lot of factors.)

[miadon]

its always a problem, one reason most people stay nice or neutral.

[LinkN64]

IC= I don\'t know how you will become evil,but when you do....oh when you do.....you will be an enemy of the Warriors! I challenge you!

OOC= You could join some guild with one of these words: dark, theif, theives, or evil. Hope it helps. (Oh yeah,and don\'t say \"Hope it helps.\" )

[hook]

Originally posted by zanzibar

(I\'m already very outspoken.  Trust me, there are a lot of factors.)

I know..

But is there a better way?

The problem is probably not only oriented towards evil characters ...people are prone to like nice people better. And I think the thing is that (some) people mistake nice RP-ing with a nice person and evil RP-ing with a bad person...

I think not only you, but everyone would have to be better at role-playing for evil characters to *really* work as they should.

[Tharos]

Playing an evil (or just annoying) character can be a lot of fun for everybody involved in that plot as long as IC and OOC actions are not mixed. It requires some explanations first to make sure that everybody knows what is going on.

The main problem is that 90% of the players you meet seem to have no clue what\'s the difference between Planeshift and Yliakum, NPCs and players, not talking about IC and OOC actions

[shorty13]

What sarrow said were good ideas.  Just make sure that especially when laughing at noobs or such that you explain afterwards that you are RPing an evil character because they might take it as this game having a terrible community and quit.

[dragonfire999]

You could mock them IC, but help them out OOCly, know what I mean?

[zorbels]

I also want to add keep in mind that some of the players are of a young age and may not understand. I think this is where it gets tricky and alot of people forget it may not be a 25 year old behind the character but a 7 year old who doesn\'t completely understand.  You could even put in your description something like ...

name
what your about
then in brackets (I play evil it doesn\'t mean I am in RL send me a /tell if I have offended you personally)

or as karyuu said put it in /tells explaining what you are trying to accomplish. Though I admit it is a pain in the you know what and can ruin the roleplay, but not everything is perfect. Good luck and I hope you can accomplish making the character you so desire.

[Nyramael]

Wow, thanks for all the responses guys. That\'s all going to go a long way in shaping my character. I think from the begining i\'ll definately edit the character description to show my characters background and why he is evil. I think two good points have been raised. The first is that all insulting and evilness should be done with IC talk refering to character traits and not player traits such as how much of a noob they are. So perhaps being racist to enkis or krans? Then of course i can /tell what i am really doing. The second point is that you can only be evil or good if you\'ve developed a name for being evil or good. So even the player who\'s name takes my forum name has been in the game for a bit over a month i don\'t think too many players know who he is. So i think my evil character will have to start with petty/open crime and eventually become a scheming secrative trouble making devil.

Also LinkN64 that could actually work out quite well. If i could get in touch with a good guild (The warriors, the protectors) as Nyramael and tell your guild leaders about my evil character, then within your guild you can setup a bounty among the newer players to hunt my other character. then as Nyramael i can /tell the guild leader who got me, and they can give out the award. That would give out some nice RP and establish my character as evil As my evil character gets tougher then the bounty can extend to more established players.

This all sounds interesting, now all i need is a working client :\'( [mac release...]