I want to ask the people and have a collective discussion of what would be a good idea in a Villain RP and what would not I just want to figure out what would be awesome to do as a Villain that would thrill you and make you happy or maybe sad I want to discuss collectively ideas and suggestions for the RP I am planing to star and what theme it shoul be I kind of lean towards Fantasy but if you have any other ideas and very good suggestions on the Theme shoot Han!

-Your Dark Necromancer of Righteous Evil and Mommy's little Boy-

Blackmist16

There are many tropes you can access as a villain. There's the Evil Overlord trope. There's the Evil Senator/Nobleman Trope. If you want an unconventional villain, use Valentine from Kingsman: The Secret Service as an example. Hilariously dark in that while he is trying to kill people, the actual act of violence and bloodshed disgusts and repels him to the point where he upchucks at the sight of blood.

There's the psycho killer trope. There's the evil mad scientist trope. There's the Purge Evil at all costs/Catastrophic Ends justify the means trope. Return of the Evil god/entity trope.

Yeah... there's a lot there.

You can also use the anti-hero. Its not a villain per se, but neither is it a true hero.

but one important thing to remember. Unless you're going for the comedic, you won't see a villain that considers himself/herself to be evil. Virtually all proper villains have some sort of justification for what they do. It might not make sense or seem right to the "heroes", but that doesn't make it less justified in the Villain's mind.

What's the context?

A villain without setting... meh.

You can also use the anti-hero. Its not a villain per se, but neither is it a true hero.

but one important thing to remember. Unless you're going for the comedic, you won't see a villain that considers himself/herself to be evil. Virtually all proper villains have some sort of justification for what they do. It might not make sense or seem right to the "heroes", but that doesn't make it less justified in the Villain's mind.

Not sure I agree with you there, as the thread title mentions Vampires. Now, Vampires are probably one of the most diluted and often times terrible and overused concepts for a character, but I would argue they can easily fit into the category of a villain that considers themselves to be evil. Though it highly depends on what sort of lore you're going for, in the most stereotypical format many vampires hate themselves for their actions. Some also lay the blame at the hands of the Vampire which turned them, or the Devil, or their own Bestial nature, so it's not black and white so to speak.

Also, I'd argue that any character which fits into Chaotic Evil is definitely aware that it's evil, as they commit terrible actions for its own sake, basically for shits and giggles. Neutral Evil is the realm of assassins and others who have no particular limiter on their actions but neither any particular drive to do things without proper motive, alongside Lawful Evil these are the characters I'd agree with your assertion of their self perceptions of being 'the good guy' so to speak.

Just my two cents, for whatever it's worth.

As to my favourite villains, I love the ultimate utilitarian pragmatist villains that pop up ever so rarely, my favourite example of this being Ozymandias from Watchmen, aided somewhat by the success of his plans. They're as Ellri said villains with very clear and important motives, they become villains simply because they are willing to do the things that the heroes won't, or because of a certain ideology that puts them into contention with the 'good guys' but in the end a little part of you wonders if they weren't right all along.

I meant the context like you are the villains and I want the setting to be Fantasy.

Would you consider the xenomorphs from the Alien franchise as creatures that consider themselves evil, @MelonHead? They're always chaotic evil.

For the more interactive characters of that alignment, the less complex excuses used will typically "its fun" or "I can" or "its necessary". Just because everyone else considers their acts to be evil, rarely means that they themselves do. Many chaotic evil characters are incapable of restraint for some reason or other. When you're incapable of that, you generally can't decide whether you're good or evil.
For far better explanation and examples, we send you here.

We'd suggest going with a fairly standardized plot,@Blackmist16. Maybe a small twist or two to make it unique, but make the essence what others have done before.

I meant the context like you are the villains and I want the setting to be Fantasy.

Ah, fair enough.

Very fair enough my lad and I think I will call the Thread: HORDES OF EVIL!!!!!!!

I think a lot of evil characters don't really prescribe to the good and evil concept. They simply don't acknowledge it. They do what they do because concepts of good and evil are crutches for the weaker minded plebeians. In their world right and wrong can be subjective. What's right for them is what benefits them. It's a very selfish and introverted mindset. So while there are many evil characters that can acknowledge that what they do is cruel or brutal or evil, there are just as many who don't even think of it that way.

Indeed, @Loud Angry Dead... Many evil characters don't consider their acts evil, but instead consider them necessary. Some few might consider their acts to be cruel, brutal or even evil, but at a necessary level, that anything less will not achieve the goal. That is the justification we spoke of earlier in the thread.

Would you consider the xenomorphs from the Alien franchise as creatures that consider themselves evil, @MelonHead? They're always chaotic evil.

For the more interactive characters of that alignment, the less complex excuses used will typically "its fun" or "I can" or "its necessary". Just because everyone else considers their acts to be evil, rarely means that they themselves do. Many chaotic evil characters are incapable of restraint for some reason or other. When you're incapable of that, you generally can't decide whether you're good or evil.
For far better explanation and examples, we send you here.

We'd suggest going with a fairly standardized plot,@Blackmist16. Maybe a small twist or two to make it unique, but make the essence what others have done before.

Heh, Xenomorphs are a bad example because they are definitely not Chaotic Evil, everything they do is based around their drive to see their species survive and so they must acquire hosts to propagate themselves. They would probably be neutral in terms of alignment.

I'm not saying I disagree with your view that 'evil' characters are usually labelled as such by the good guys as a result of their differing ideologies, but I think there are definitely some exceptions to this, certain archetypes which are fully aware that they are evil and their actions are morally reprehensible. Demons for example, which just don't give a shit that they're doing terrible things, and Vampires sometimes as I mentioned.

I suppose the only evil characters which are aware they are evil are characters capable of having doubts about their actions, or have a sense of morality that they are breaking for some reason (like Vampires)

@EllriUh Whoops?

It's not us that defined them as always chaotic evil,m@Loud Angry Dead & @MelonHead. They frequently destroy and kill rather than capture for the use as hosts. That is where the chaotic element comes in.

But as we mentioned above, it's far better to look on TVtropes for exactly why they are defined as they are. Just keep hold of your soul if you go there.

@EllriI didn't define anyone as Chaotic anything? I decided not to go into the standard D&D alignment system.

Ah. We misread,@Loud Angry Dead. 'Twas early morning.

I always found Neutral Evil a playable evil alignment.

@Blackmist16For some reason... whenever I hear neutral evil I think of someone being nonchalantly evil. Like they don't go out of their effort to do it... it just happens.

Neutral evil is a fun alignment... Generally operating under a plan, but not bound to a series of rules. If the rules prove inconvenient, break them.

Chaotic evil is too unpredictable, while lawful evil is too bound by rules.

Granted, it's even more fun when someone plays it well on the bacon / necktie axis. That's the Z-axis to good-evil, lawful-chaotic's X and Y axesif you wonder.

Characters well out on that axis operates contrary to what most consider logical. Not out of need for Chaos, but because they have a different set of logic. But few can play that well.

@Ellri

I can agree with u on that one all right!