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Forums : Tips and Advice > Roleplaying an evil character is much more difficult that roleplaying a good character.
Alak (Applicant) 5/12/2005 4:00 AM EST : Roleplaying a racist character link
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I have found out, that roleplaying an evil character is much more difficult that roleplaying a good character. It seems that roleplaying being evil is more difficult for most of the roleplayers and also it generate bad reactions from others players.

My characters is a dark elf, so evil. As a dark elf, I am racist and mostly rude with the lesser races. Most of the time, this kind of roleplaying confuse the players. Most of them are insulted in real life by my rude comments, even if I always use IC comments, I never insult anyone OOC. Some of them think that I use roleplaying as an excuse to be rude. Since my character is very mean, they think I am a mean player. But I never harassed anyone or flamed anyone OOC, my character is rude to lesser races because tier'dal are racists.

I try to make it clear that this is roleplaying, and as I said I use IC comments. Saying that humans are weak, ogre are dumb, throlls were made to lick my boots, etc. However, most of the time, the player is offended. My character is not easy to deal with and I understand this. But I thought that others roleplayers will understand that being racist is roleplay. So now I would like to ask you, how can I roleplay a racist tier'dal without offending any players?
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Rasza (Member) 5/12/2005 7:57 AM EST : RE: Roleplaying a racist character link
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It *is* hard to RP an evil character on these games, since so many people do have a kind of "line" between IC and OOC...and often it may be a different idea than the next person.

I think the best way to do this is just let them know OOCly that you *are* a Roleplayer and you are roleplaying a nasty, evil character, but nothing said IC should be taken OOC or personally.

On the other hand, if everyone RP'ed a good guy...it'd get pretty boring.

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Zyei Ahseijz -- Dirge of Thule --
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Deleted User (Applicant) 5/12/2005 10:58 AM EST : RE: Roleplaying a racist character link

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I can understand the difference between IC and OOC so I am never offended by an IC person. When I come across somebody that's speaking in /say or /shout I want them to be IC, and if yours happens to be that of an average Dark Elf then be a racist. What happens IC stays IC, just leave it at that.

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537213539_Inactive (Applicant) 5/16/2005 4:44 AM EST : RE: Roleplaying a racist character link

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Alak said:

But I thought that others roleplayers will understand that being racist is roleplay. So now I would like to ask you, how can I roleplay a racist tier'dal without offending any players?


I would recommend that you accept that there is no way to ensure that your actions will never offend any other player you might encounter - even very innocent and 'proper' actions can offend people.  (Take daily life for example - it is possible to find women that are offended when a man steps ahead of them to hold open a door).  Certain traits suffer from great stigma in today's society, racism being only one of these.  In addition, many people have, or have friends who have been harmed in some way by racism in some way, it is a sort of 'button' for many, especially if it is displayed realistically, and triggers non-play emotions and memories that urge one to step from character with agression.

One way to make sure that you will not offend, is to befriend to some extent everyone that you intend to rp with.  Impractical as anything, if you seek seamless or near constant rp; however, you will have the strength of a positive first impression and the chance to discuss your intended portrayal in a way that wont seem so threatening.

Another way to reduce the chance you will offend, is to begin the interaction with some clear demarkation showing you are in character, one that cannot be easily missed or ignored... I have occasionally used an emote like *Steps firmly into character, and hopes like anything you are ready to deal with it!* right before uping the emotional intensity of how I am roleplaying - usually because the other(s) have set up some situation that has triggered one heck of a reaction from my character.

The method I use, however, accepts that when playing with poorly prepared strangers, there are going to sometimes be misunderstandings and hurt psyches.  Just like at an amusement park, if someone gets on a ride and then starts completely freaking out, the operators usually stop the ride, let them off, and dont let them get back on...  I do much the same when I am portraying deeply and someone does not respond in character... I usually send a tell or say along the lines of "*steps completely out of character*  Hey!  Very sorry to upset you.  I am roleplaying, and this is how (name of my character) speaks and acts.  Game's over though, between me and you - trust me, you do not want to play with (name of my character).  Have fun though!"  And I enforce that, I dont interact with them again with that character in any way, at least not without some fairly extensive discussion about how to interact with my character and the player's comfort levels.
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Alak (Applicant) 5/18/2005 8:11 AM EST : RE: Roleplaying a racist character link
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Thank you all for the comments. I will try to give people a good impression first, but the problem is, this is not easy. My character is not very friendly (except with dark elves), he is rude and mean, so being friendly with an ogre or a throll, will be a change in his personality.

I don't know if some of you know my character (name alak, server lucan), but some people said to me that they don't like my character. This is true that he is a bastard but I don't know what to do, making Alak act more friendly won't be him anymore...

A lot of dark elves (on lucan server), don't RP evil. They live in Freeport but when you ask them to do an evil act (roleplaying of course), they refuse. Only a few roleplayers have no problem with corruption, evil plots, blackmail, manipulation, using fear, betraying friends, etc, etc. Most of the players don't want to do that kind of evil RP. So when I come to them with an evil plot, "let's backstab your friend", they think my character is a monster. But are they not dark elves? O_o Are we not evil? My character feel as an outcast for being an evil dark elf in Freeport, so I really don't understand what is going on.
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537243672_Inactive (Applicant) 5/18/2005 10:55 AM EST : RE: Roleplaying a racist character link

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Just out of curiousity, in your example about people not wanting to roleplay evil .... if you came up to me and said "let's backstab your friend", you better have a good reason for it.  The let's do stuff just to be evil doesn't quite make sense to me.  Now if you say let's backstab your friend cause I just saw him tuck away 5 plat .... hmmmm. 

Also you can be evil without being a full on jerk.  Maybe take a more subtle approach?  Remember too, as a Teir Dal you might want to take on the idea of using other races to your advantage.  Yes you might be superior ... but don't kings need subjects and don't gods need worshippers?

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Rasza (Member) 5/18/2005 11:02 AM EST : RE: Roleplaying a racist character link
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Well that does bring up the issue of the fact that ICly, people might not *want* to group with a really evil character. Unless you're playing the sort of con-artist or suave evil, people ICly won't like Alak (though OOCly they may be friends of yours ) Unfortunately roleplaying a true evil bastard is tough and may lead to a bit of isolation...

but then... you have to ask yourself, if he really is that hateful, would he *want* people to be friendly towards him and to group with him?

OOCly, if you want to group  a lot and have a big friend list, you might have to make a comprimise. (...I think I spelled that wrong....) Though kudos for trying to roleplay a really mean character, it is not easy and not a lot of people understand that just because Alak the dark elf might be a bastard, it doesn't mean the player behind the elf is.

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Zyei Ahseijz -- Dirge of Thule --
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Alak (Applicant) 5/19/2005 5:53 AM EST : RE: Roleplaying a racist character link
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LordZyrin said:

Just out of curiousity, in your example about people not wanting to roleplay evil .... if you came up to me and said "let's backstab your friend", you better have a good reason for it. 


Of course what I said was just a simple exemple, I do not ask to backstab/betray friends without a reason. What I mean is, most of players don't roleplay evil characters. Here a RP situation that happened in game:

My character wanted to take revenge on a wood elf female, she was living at freeport. She had a lover, half elf. Alak wanted to destroy her couple and make her suffer. His plot was to pay another female to seduce her lover and make the wood elf jealous. Alak wanted to pay someone to pretend she slept with the half elf. I asked a lot of roleplayers, dark elves females mostly and none of them wanted to RP this. Players were telling me OOC, this is too mean to do this, to break a couple in a game. (Please note that those elves were not a couple in real life, just couple in game for roleplay purpose).

Since I did not find anyone to help me with this, I gave up. Just sad that no player wanted to RP this, because this is "too evil". My plot was simple and classic, to make the wood elf believe her lover was cheating and no one wanted to RP this. You know what kind of answers I got? Some told me: "why don't you create an alt female character and do it yourself". It was disappointing, because I thought we were evil at freeport.
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Isildursbane379 (Member) 6/2/2005 3:04 PM EST : RE: Roleplaying a racist character link
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I know this post is somewhat dated but...

Personally, I think the idea between the couples would have offered a great RP oppurtunity for everyone involved.  No one said the couldn't get back together, and they could even RP their little tift while in groups, one not talking to the other, etc.  It wasn't too mean, it was innovative. 

I hope the evil RP is working better for you.  I would re-emphasize, what Tabathe wrote if people are still having problems with your character, but you should be free to RP in whatever fashion you choose, and as long as you are not out of character and belittling people, or being vulgar, I see no reason for them to take offense.  Unfortunatley some people will from time to time, even though that is not your intention.  I give you props for sticking to your character though, it's so long I can't remember the last time I grouped with someone outside The Callers who was even attempting to RP with their character.  

I personally play a Kerra who despises the human race, good or bad, has an Ogre who is his best friend, and despite his allegiance to Freeport, is very friendly with High Elves.  I too have found it very hard to RP this hostility towards a human character without some form of insult being taken.  

Well I don't see any clear cut solution to the problem we both relatively share, but I wish you all the best in your future RPing, and hope more people become open to the differentiation between in and out of character for both our character sake 

-Melkorayth         

 

"FRODO!  Destroy it!"
"No Sam..."
"DESTROY IT"
"....the ring is mine!"
Characters: Melkorayth
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Kumek (Member) 6/2/2005 3:43 PM EST : RE: Roleplaying a racist character link
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Zyrik here, local forum junky and all around evil sadistic racist Iksar jerk of the highest order (unless you too are an Iksar of course, then I'm polite and respectful).

As I see it, if your an evil racist character, do you care what others think? Do you want to group with them? If your obviously in character all the time I don't think you'll have a problem. I'm pretty loud on Zyrik and constantly talk down about "soft skins"... if there is a crowd on the road and I'm about to run past through them I say stuff like "out of the way runt!"... and in town if I see a froglok I spit in disgust... stuff like that all the time kinda warns people that your IN CHARACTER and frankly I haven't had a problem so far

Speaking of talking down about people... I think Zyrik mouthed off breifly at Alak in Longshadow this last week, lol. Pity though, considering his personality I'm sure he and Zyrik could get along wonderfully, lol

Also consider that the traditional evil Tier'Dal is different the the traditional evil Iksar. Iksars are openly evil, exaulting themselves over all others and enslaving those that stand before them. Tier'Dal are quietly evil, more subversive and manipulative. What Iksars do with their might, Dark Elves traditionally seem to do with their words.

Being "nice" to others might not be bad for your character, just think of it as gentle manipulation. Give people the velvet glove so they drop their guard... then you crush them with your iron fist so hard that their ancestors reel from the blow!

Zyrik, Iksar Brawler, Lucan D'Lere

Kumek, Troll Guardian, Ascendance, Neriak

Member of the EQ2 Role Players' Union
Weekly Lore Columnist for EQ2 Casters' Realm
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