Tips for Villains

Motivations, Decisions, Consequences

Before making an evil character you should realize it can be more difficult than others, make sure you have a good idea beforehand of what your character’s goals are. You most likely won’t get far role-playing an "evil" character if you can’t make any friends. Allies can be beneficial even if the character doesn’t use violence or warfare to exact his evilness. Lastly make sure to be convincing, in general not many people are evil. Define your character as being one of those unique few and you’ll have a great time. Just remember that the Good Guys almost always win.

Mottos for Every Villain to Live By

• What makes you a villain? Most characters don’t just decided on a whim that they want to be evil. This should stem from your character’s history and not the player’s desire. Be unique. Some-thing that is not often seen, or that people fear or misunderstand is often labeled "evil". Go against the grain. This means speech and mannerisms as well as appearance.
• "Evil is in the eye of the beholder." So you want to be evil to some - not all. Perhaps even most, but always have a way out. If you don’t, you’re setting yourself up for the fall.
• Focus. Know what it is you want to accomplish. Be open to change. Nothing stays static for too long. If it can go wrong, it will. Plan ahead. Might does not equal malevolence. You can have the biggest chakram, an infinite Dreamsoul elemen, and a whole slew of offensive arts, and are still just a thug.
• Violence does not equal villainy. A politician in power can be ten times more corrupt than a convicted killer who acted in self-defense. Destruction isn’t always the answer either. Hostages present a much more complicated situation than simply planting a bomb.
• Crime is not always the best avenue for those of the dark alignment. This is especially true in Underlight. Be creative and find other methods to achieve your goals.
• Morality is important. Most evil doers have compromised moral values. Either they’re working for themselves and don’t think the rules apply to them, or they’re working for the common good but don’t understand what’s appropriate and what’s not.
• The end can justify the means. You’re saving the Dream the way you see fit. If a few souls get lost along the way, what is that to compare to the lives you’ll save after the fact? You can either end up the hero or a martyr if you’re not careful.
• Remember that you didn’t do anything wrong if you didn’t get caught. And the more people that support your side of the story, the less likely you are to be labeled a "threat" to society as a whole.
• Set standards. Be prejudice. If you think one way, then others are misguided or utterly wrong. They’re either agreeing with you, or they disagree with you. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe, and teach it to those impressionable Newly Awakened.
• Honor is for the dead. The difference between a hero and a fool is luck. The difference between a coward and a corpse? Stupidity. Live to fight another day.
• Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Never let them see it coming. A good villain always has his/her ace in the hole; and usually the joker as well.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help in your endeavors. Just be careful what you wish for. Minions are just that. People will work for reward before friendship. Greed can be good motivation. Re-member that if they see a way to use you as a stepping stone, they will. Especially if it gives them what -you- have.
• Take small steps at first. Test the waters. You can’t be bad until you know what good is.
• Trademarks. If it’s been done, it’s probably been done better. Find your own path, and let that aspect be yours and yours alone. Make yourself memorable.
• Achilles heel. Every bad guy has one. Illness. Disability. Pangs of regret. Love for family. A persistent obsession. Maybe this is what drives your character.
• Turning over a new leaf. Evil doers don’t make many friends. When it becomes unbearable, there are always other options. This also makes an incredibly good smoke screen.

References

• https://web.archive.org/web/20060111195845/http://www.underlight.com/Tips_for_Villains.rp_tips.0.html