Some behaviors that are popularly condemned, yet not harmful -- extreme rudeness comes to mind -- are more Chaotic (= breaking with accepted social mores) than Evil. Such acts shouldn't warrent Powers checks, irregardless of social opinion, unless there's genuine malice behind them (e.g. being insufferably rude to a sensitive person for the sheer, cruel pleasure of watching them burst into tears) ... and even then, it's the *malice* that's grounds for a check, far more than the antisocial behavior, itself.
Conversely, the fact that some Evil is socially endorsed isn't enough to make it otherwise -- e.g. impaling people is never going to be anything but damnably Evil, no matter how much Drakov and his inner circle may proclaim it "high entertainment" -- so the samurai in the previous poster's example has still committed a (Lawful) Evil deed. It might not be of that much interest to the Dark Powers, unless it's part of a routine pattern of behavior -- as another post observed, crimes committed dispassionately aren't as interesting to them as acts of hatred, defiance, desperation and fury -- but it'd still be a black mark against the samurai in question, no matter what his own society (which really only tells us what's Lawful, not always what's Good) has to say about it. Indeed, it's easy to recognize a Lawful Evil society, because its laws/customs/etc tend to endorse harmful and abusive behavior, while neglecting or forbidding charity and mercy.
Assasins in Ravenloft
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Mad Skipper
- Agent of the Fraternity
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:07 am
I really have nothing to respond with. :lol:
Roleplaying an assassin--an extension of evil--would not be that much of a problem systematically as if a player wanted to roleplay a murderer--a creator of evil.
Me, I would initially create some sort of blanket for the PC, one that has the Dark Powers turning a blind eye. Maybe not a blind eye but certainly a lazy eye. And if the PC really starts to dig what they're into and loses a grasp on their conscience, which should always be there in my opinion--like the main character in the movie Sniper--then I'd turn that lazy eye into the slightest of grins tugging at the mouth.
But then again, if I was going to allow such a character to be controlled by one of my players--or myself when we switch hats--then I'd just sit down with all my players and come up with some really wicked NPCs to throw at our characters. Eventually, just to give in to a bit of change, we'd roleplay those characters and make our PCs the NPCs. Be the complete moral opposite. I've never done this, but I'm really liking the idea.
Blows me away how inspiration is often drawn from things that really have nothing to do with it! Thanks "guys", never saw that door... :)
Roleplaying an assassin--an extension of evil--would not be that much of a problem systematically as if a player wanted to roleplay a murderer--a creator of evil.
Me, I would initially create some sort of blanket for the PC, one that has the Dark Powers turning a blind eye. Maybe not a blind eye but certainly a lazy eye. And if the PC really starts to dig what they're into and loses a grasp on their conscience, which should always be there in my opinion--like the main character in the movie Sniper--then I'd turn that lazy eye into the slightest of grins tugging at the mouth.
But then again, if I was going to allow such a character to be controlled by one of my players--or myself when we switch hats--then I'd just sit down with all my players and come up with some really wicked NPCs to throw at our characters. Eventually, just to give in to a bit of change, we'd roleplay those characters and make our PCs the NPCs. Be the complete moral opposite. I've never done this, but I'm really liking the idea.
Blows me away how inspiration is often drawn from things that really have nothing to do with it! Thanks "guys", never saw that door... :)