An evil pc ?

[Ramon de Ramon y Ramon]

Possible spoilers, especiallly about alternative paths to take in quests, in BG I and BG II ! As I myself have not yet got ToB, please try not spoil me too much on it ! Thanks !


After not having played for three months I've decided to create a new pc and take him all the way from BG I over TotSC, DSotSC and SoA to ToB.
So far I have always played heroic pc/parties and for me that will always be my "natural" choice, but nevertheless this time I am seriously considering playing an evil pc as I've heard that it is a great challenge and makes for an entirely different game. But I have still serious doubts if that can be true and if the general layout of the allows for a gaming experience as rewarding with an evil pc as with a good pc:

- isn't the general plotline too much set up as the clasical confrontation between good (you) and evil ( Sarevok, Irenicus, whatever foes, I suppose various other Bhaal spawns, you face in ToB)
- and isn't too much of the main suspense coming from your personal battle against your evil heritage, against giving in to the lure of the call of your blood ?
- why should I fight Sarevok if I am as evil as he is and not simply join forces with him ? (Okay, I could of course strive to have ALL the power for myself).
- are there enough viable plot options, both in the side quests and the main plotline for evil-doers to make the gaming experience really entirely different ?
- does the advantage of being able to steal whatever you can get away with really offset the disadvantage of having to pay twice as much when you pay due to your bad reputation ? And how dangerous and calculable is relying on habitual stealing ? I gonna strive for divinity - spending most of my time running away from town guards doesn't fit too well into that plan !

If I choose the evil path I'll probably play it along the lines of Sarevok: a superintelligent schemer/plotter/intrigant who knows only too well that his evil
deeds and goals are most efficiently and easily accomplished by keeping the disguise of being a respectable and even benevolent citizen as long as and whenever possible. That would of course enable me to choose the "good path" in many side quests. But still the key question from above remains: are there enough interesting and viable "evil" options in the main plotline to provide for a rewarding new gaming experience ? Without spoiling me too much could you please explain from your experiences with playing an evil party how you played at critical points of the plot and why you chose the options you did from a roleplaying point of view. (example: with a evil party in BG II what did you do with the Silver dragon quest ? Did you kill her after returning the eggs or did you just betray her already before that or did you just choose the good path at that point because it seemed to be the safest way back out of the Underdark ? )

Also, what would be a good alignment for a pc as I described him above ? Surely not chaotic evil, rather lawful evil or neutral evil ?

Thanks in advance for your inputs !

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So long !

R³ - proud to be the official spokesman for the most noble Lady Bilqis, Desert Rose of Ironworks

Btw, the cow is queuing in the slaughterhouse right now !

[Lord of Alcohol]

Why bother playing an evil PC if its not "you"?I personally cant play one, obnoxious as I am I'm just not into being evil. I mean whats the fun killing all the townies? I'm not Lt Kallie and its not Mai Lai. Its a game, but to change yourself to play evil ....well ....think about it......

[Throntar]

Ramon,

I'm not really into playing evil PCs either (I usually play a Paladin or a good Cleric), but I wanted to try it out for many of the same reasons that you stated. I'm currently playing SoA with a dualled Berserker/Thief (9/14) who is Neutral Evil (I wanted to play as Lawful Evil, but a Berserker can't be Lawful). I've found it to be a lot of fun...but sometimes overly challenging. I think that you answered most of your questions yourself...but I would say that, "Yes." I think that it is worth it to play through as an evil PC just for a change of pace. However, you are correct in your assumption that the game quests are geared towards "good". I found it to be *much* harder to take an evil path in a quest (i.e. - What's in it for me?) and get any worthwhile XPs out of it. I often find myself taking the "good" path in order to get more XPs and rationalizing it as it gets me to my end goal (higher levels and more power). There are a handful of truly "evil" quest paths that you might enjoy...it is just tough to play it correctly though (for me anyway...).

Bottom line...I'm enjoying my evil party. However, you level up more slowly if you stay true to the "evil" path, and (as you stated) everything costs a whole lot more in shops. If you steal and get caught, you're rep. drops and you can become a hunted man if it falls too low (I think Rep. = 2 is when the Cowled wizards and guards begin popping up and attacking you all of the time).

OH! One last thing... I don't really feel like the plotline is about you resisting the call of your blood. I think that it is more about finding out what the hell is going on and why everyone wants you dead. Join Saverok? Why would you do that? He'd kill you as soon as he had the chance as you represent a threat to his pre-eminence. Towards the end of SoA and in ToB, you have the opportunity (if you are evil) to embrace what you are and continue on that path. You don't necessarily have to fight it...
Hope that helps!

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Now where did I leave that doughnut?!

[Ramon de Ramon y Ramon]

Thank you very much for your inputs, guys !

Throntar, do you know Gamespy's strategy guide for an evil party ? You might want to take a look at it. There is a link to it in a reply to the identical thread I posted in the SoA Forum .

Does anyone have "ten golden rules" for intelligent thieving ? I have not stolen anything so far during my games !

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So long !

R³ - proud to be the official spokesman for the most noble Lady Bilqis, Desert Rose of Ironworks

Btw, the cow is queuing in the slaughterhouse right now !

[robertthebard]

I don't have ten, but I do have two really good ones:


1. Potion of Master Thievery

2. Potion of Perception

Also, not really a rule, but, always leave every one else outside, when possible, or right by the door, and have a potion of invis ready in the quick item slot, so that you can disapear, and disapear quickly, if need be.

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"...and that's the
bottom line, 'cause Robert the Bard says so!"
Robert the Bard TLH

[Pennance]

I could never play an evil role...now a harsh role is another point entirely.

In my current game my character is a Half-Drow Fighter2/Cleric1/Barbarian1 named "Vilyn". Every NPC the group encounters assumes he's drow and evil, and why not live up to the expectations.

The latest venture had the group escorting a captured Cult of the Dragon Worshipper to Suzail, and when she began to talk to much Vilyn piped in, "Your chatter bothers me and there are two options...you can wear this gag, or I can cut your vocal chords with my Ax..."

She accepted the gag graciously.

I do so love the path of Chaotic Neutral...

[Worm]

BAH firstly Sarevok will not work with you my necromancer ohhh how he tried to convince him! Look evil charecters don't have to kill townies that's stupid! But still being an evil nut lets your have some fun my ol' necro wrym he wanted to rob that museum in baldurs gate I didn't know the guards left at night so I did it in the day with a loud of stinking clouds knocking everyone knocked out but still they noticed me curses so I commanded jaheria to kill her self as I made my way out back. Hahaha so much fun!

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Worm, About as interesting as traveling with an angery cambion.