How do you roleplay a Chaotic Evil Sorcerer?

[Luvian]

What is the complete name of that book?

[Lemmy]

Xen:
How do you role-play a Chaotic Evil Sorcerer?

Well, how do you roleplay any character? Get to know them.

I've found BG2's user-journal excels as a roleplaying device. What better way of chronicling a character's (mis)adventures than doing it on the spot and in their own words? I find I have the *best* understanding of my characters when I write about them, and the user-journal and custom biography are excellent in-game devices. I suggest making use of them. [img]smile.gif[/img]

That said, how does one roleplay Chaotic Evil? The first step is recognizing Alignment as a tool rather than a defining characteristic. Alignment describes your character's usual mode of behavior, and your behavior is not dictated by your alignment! Your character isn't a walking moral, so don't play him like one. Never look for the "most chaotic" or "most evil" dialogue response. Look for the response that best matches your character, even if it doesn't happen to be the most "chaotic evil" response. Personality, philosophy, temper, religious beliefs, and personal goals are all influential factors.

Do you kill all Athkatla and Underdark?

Only if you're a genocidal maniac. "Chaotic Evil" doesn't necessarily mean you get your kicks murdering folk wontonly. Look at Korgan. He likes a good battle and probably very much enjoys the kill, but he's also practical about whose head he buries his axe in. He doesn't go around lopping off the heads of the peasantry. It doesn't serve his purpose.

"Whoa. Korgan? Purpose? What purpose?" No purpose at all. (Chaotic, yes?) Korgan's an aimless adventurer. He gets his kicks from battle and treasure. He doesn't need much more to be content. He has no great drive to cause genocide, nor do most other Chaotic Evils. Any number of things can drive a character.

So, how do you RP Chaotic Evil? Come up with a character. Write about him. Get a feel for him. Then describe him in terms of alignment. If he's CE, you've succeeded. If not, have fun anyway. There's no special prize for RPing CE. [img]smile.gif[/img]

For fun, a brief exerpt from the journal of my CE Sorc.

Day Fifteen, Part Three: A happy thought intruded on my gloom: I wonder how long Jaheira can survive on Goodberries while trapped in Irenicus' dungeon. I hope she shares with Minsc. It'd be awful if he had to eat Boo. Heehee.

-Lem

[ 06-11-2003, 09:53 PM: Message edited by: Lemmy ]

[Nerull]

Originally posted by Luvian: What is the complete name of that book?

Evil is the name, though the name I keep seeing it listed as is AEG-Evil Sourcebook. It is published by Alderac Entertainment Group, for Wizards of the Coast. It is a d20 book that requires 3rd edition Player's Handbook. The cover is black with a big red "Evil" on the top, with a picture of a bald white-skinned guy with a sword in the middle, and at the bottom it says AEG (Alderac Entertainment Group). I not only details evil campaigns, it also talks about different kinds of evil characters (NOT just alignment differences, but also different things that lead to people falling off the path into evil). It has MUCH better definitions of evil than even the Book of Vile Darkness does (though using both in the same campaign, especially if you add Call of Cthulu, will make for an extremely nasty evil campaign). It also talks about why an evil party would work together (good solid reasoning that will allow an evil team to stick together). Has new prestige classes, skills, feats, character concepts, etc. Just ask at your local place that sells D&D stuff; they can probably order it for you ($19.99 U.S.).

Probably more details than you wanted, but rather give you more details than less.

[Luvian]

Oh... I'm a purist, I only buy official D&D products.

[Nerull]

Originally posted by Luvian: Oh... I'm a purist, I only buy official D&D products.

Actually, I usually don't use the feats, skills, classes, etc. in the book. I use it as inspiration to help design the villians in the campaign. Solid material in that area (Book of Vile Darkness has general tips on how to play evil in general; AEG-Evil Sourcebook instead talks about the mindset of evil and the evil alignments, and states how these would apply in situations). Book of Vile Darkness is just too vague about what can be constituted as "evil" behavior (it gives the standard stuff, but the Evil Sourcebook shows how someone could have the best of intentions and still be all too evil).

[Omicron]

You really can't play Chaotic evil in this game. Why? Because the story element doesn't let you.

Remember that dream you have with Irenicus? It goes like "Follow and receive blah blah, if you don't innocents will suffer because of your weakness"

If your chaotic, like hell do we care about Innocents, or Imoen for that matter!

[waverider]

there has to be some kinda of story line to follow i think
if there isnt whats the point of playing ( fun not included )

[Vedran]

Originally posted by Omicron: Remember that dream you have with Irenicus? It goes like "Follow and receive blah blah, if you don't innocents will suffer because of your weakness"

True, but why would CE character care about ravings of some bald mage?

[Lemmy]

Omicron:
If your chaotic, like hell do we care about Innocents, or Imoen for that matter!

The game assumes you care about Imoen, care about power, or care about revenge. This doesn't mean you can't be CE, but certain decisions are made for you. This unfortunate, but you can work around it by providing an alternate motive for rescuing Imoen. For instance, maybe she turned down your advances and you want to flay her. Maybe she stole something from you (like your false teeth) and you insist on having that item back. Maybe, in BG1, you found her so bloody annoying you outright killed her and as a matter of principle you've sworn to find her and make sure she stays dead this time.

You may have to follow the story, but it's up to you *why* your character is following the story. Think outside the box. [img]smile.gif[/img]

-Lem

[Russ]

And dont' be afraid to leave lots of loose ends, frayed edges, and things undone --- because your character only cares about what he cares about right now.

If you want a really good look at CE, check out a website called "no-nonsense self-defense" and do some reading up on your average violent aggressor. You'll be surprised at how close a fit it is to CE.