Which of these can we find more often: Dwarfettes of Evil Guys?
Since I started playing (about 6 months ago), I think I could use my fingers to count evil characters I've met (as any of my characters), and my other hand goes for the dwarfettes... Actually one finger in each hand goes to a certain evil dwarfette...
The point is: why is it so uncommon to find evil characters? I'm gonna be blunt on this and a bit simplistic, if I may. The problem behind not having more evil characters is, IMHO, bad RP:
a) Because RPing evil is hard(er) and many players don't expect it to be so they start playing evil but they don't go through with it when it starts getting more challenging.
b) Because RPing evil gets even harder when other players can't see the difference between OOC and IC (seriously, though, I'm not a serial killer... hmm, I should make a T-shirt with that phrase).
c) Because many who claim their characters are evil don't do anything at all except saying "
[my char is evil]" or, even worse, they claim to be the incarnation of evil (Lord of Darkness? Master of the Shadows? Prince of Hell? Mistress of Chaos?) but they have no problem with being surrounded and being friends with all the goodie-goodies they meet while camping a rogue or working on their training. But if you ask them, they are reeeeally evil (and they don't do GOD-RP, of course...).
d) Because many players have little tolerance for evil. They forget to stay IC sometimes, letting perfect opportunities to RP with an evil guy go and some other times they just don't let evil plots to (un)tangle. For example:
Victim: I've been cursed!
"Hero": I know a spell. *blinks* Done!
Victim:

Player behind the evildoer:

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How can you help Save the Evil Ones?
- Try being one. Create an alt. Choose an evil purpose and go for it. A common mistake is to think that you must wear black robes and be part of a dark religion or be an uber character nobody can defeat and whose mission is to take over the world. No, no need for that. Just think of something bad, do it and then find a way in which you can make people know what you've done (without actually saying things like "I'm a murderer").
- Do IC evil, not OOC evil. Stealing items from other players and then deleting your alt is not good RP. The point of playing evil is to throw something that would spice things up. As a player behind an evil character you should attempt to make other characters talk about you, run away or attack you on sight. You become an entertainer. So, by playing evil you are providing fun for others and you'll get yours in return.
- Do evil, don't just say you're evil. Actions generate reactions and both are needed in RP. Think of what makes your character evil and find evil things to do. Make enemies, plot revenges against them, make more enemies on the way. The possibilities are unlimited.
- If you're a good character, take the opportunity to come up to that bad guy buying training from Harnquist and say "
Get out of here, you pile of ulber crap!". This won't necessarily end up in a duel, but it's important that we all play our characters consistently.
Finally,
Save the Evil Ones! Yliakum needs them! You need them!Aaaand I'm done ranting.