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| An Evil Protagonist; The Mind of Toegoff | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 15 2010, 11:24 PM (290 Views) | |
| Toegoff | Oct 15 2010, 11:24 PM Post #1 |
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I got a lot of responses from my babbling in Skies of Arcadia grinding so I figured I'd develop a bit more of my 'evil protagonist' theory. There are a number of 'funny' evil protagonist games. Overlord, Dungeon Siege Even, etc. There are also plenty of games where there are good and evil paths. Most of the time though, the game is geared obviously towards playing good with evil as an option. My idea is a bit more complex. I'd love to see a game where you play as a truly evil character. A manipulator. Someone searching for power strictly for the sake of having it. I wouldn't want a villain who just kills for the sake of killing. That's a boring villain. And one that doesn't make sense. Evil for the sake of evil is boring. Being bad just because you 'want to be bad' is uninspiring and really only fun for a small audience of children who think that there is nothing better than slashing apart countless peasants for the sake of doing so. I'd love a game where you manipulate and control the forces of diplomacy through several means. Assassinating a prominent figure and framing a rival. Not because you want to kill, but because there is a motive to advance you further. Or attempting to invoke a revolution by poisoning a water supply or other nefarious deeds. The greatest villains are seen as heroes until they are too powerful to be stopped. Society teaches us to be a hero and to want to emulate the hero. Self sacrifice, fighting for the underdog, and defending justice. What a breath of fresh air it would be though to travel with a companion in search of a powerful artifact only to slip a dagger into their back upon finding that artifact, returning to whatever town, and mourning him as a casualty of goblins. To be the one pulling the strings, turning people against each other. A truly evil character to be interesting MUST be clever. It's just too cliche to be the big bad dark knight who rides into a town to slaughter all in his path. That's such a boring evil. A villain's final goal is almost always power and using whatever means necessary to get it. I guess I'm just tired of being the goody two shoes hero who charges in and saves the day. Just once I'd like to feel truly evil playing a game. I'd like to feel dark and twisted, pulling the strings and fate and playing with people's lives as if they were dolls. Sadly though, I really do doubt an idea like this could ever come to light. Who knows though, maybe one day. |
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| aphexsam | Oct 15 2010, 11:48 PM Post #2 |
Woof Woof Woofies!
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In GTA Vice City you have to dress up as Cuban and instigate a gangwar with the Haiatians as the gang war will make property prices fall and the propery developer/ gangster your working for will make alot of money from being able to take advantage of the low property prices. I know theyr'e not your type of games but GTA IV especially has a great storyline with the chance for you to be the "Betrayer". I never really play "evil characters" nor truly good characters. I suppose I'm more a neutral guy, being on either end of the spectrum is boring in my opinion. However I understand what your'e saying about becoming a truly nasty character with a proper purpose. I just might not enjoy it much. I mean sure I like being cruel and selfish (In games and real life) it's wrong yes, but it makes you feel good. So from that point of view I get what your'e saying. Dragon Age for example is dark heroic fantasy. You can be the selfless paragon of the people or you can be a nasty sociopath, but at the end of the day your still a hero, just a hero with uncoventional means. I would like to see a game like this though. "A villain's final goal is almost always power and using whatever means necessary to get it" Funnily enough DA2s tagline is "rise to power by any means necessary". Who knows maybe it could allow you to be evil. |
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| Reishadows | Oct 16 2010, 12:38 AM Post #3 |
Neener Neener Neener
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Writers are to lazy to put that in a games where it would make sense. I don’t think I really grasp your idea, but it sounds more like you want a behind the scenes villain in a way. He could be in the spotlight for the most part but the corruption out of sight. Raise among ranks in society, kingdom, army, but very tactfully on the way twisting, changing, corrupting, poisoning the minds of those around them in a very slight way without anyone taking notice. So in dear time when he is looked on as a hero his corrupt ways are unbeknown to any secretly imprinted into their minds. A change unseen even to one who knows their own heart better then anyone else...they think. A slight manner or words, you hold two opposing factions, people, countries, in you hands. No spells holds kings/rulers to your will, but just you pure cunning mastering it all unbeknown. No rash emotional villain, but tactical, calm, willing to wait. Sorry I could completely out of the ball park on this. |
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| Shadow Dragon | Oct 16 2010, 03:17 AM Post #4 |
Chicka Bow!
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Rei, that's what he's talking about. While the methodology may be different, they'd be doing for the same reason as the kill everyone, their end goal is basically the same as the kill everyone villain. From a story line stand point, it could become boring and you could easily end up with a two dimensional character. However, it could make for a fun and challenging game. You make one mistake or forget one detail, and your plain could go to ruins. So, I think I would certainly want to at least try out a game like that. |
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| Toegoff | Oct 16 2010, 05:09 AM Post #5 |
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The hardest part is truly doing it right. It is SO simple to make a two dimensional villain where killing 'heroes and knights and peasants' is your only goal. But to play a character that seeks ultimate power and isn't ...*gasp* screwed over by it. How many villains do we see falling to their own ambitions. Give the villain motive, intelligence, and skill. Don't punish him for 'not adhering to a moral code' A villain born out of injustice could be very interesting. One who seeks ultimate power because he could wield it better than the hypocrites in charge. One who believes that sometimes people must be sacrificed for the greater good. If an innocent needs to die so that a revolution can begin...hmm Torturing a person for information...and actually gaining something out of it. Don't play this game of 'if you didn't torture this guy, he becomes your friend and helps you further down the line.' Punish your character for not torturing, for not walking the darker path. I just think it could be so interesting and so gripping to have a character that didn't have to adhere to 'I fight for my friends! I fight for truth and justice!' Using 'friends' as pawns, manipulating the hearts of people, growing in power while convincing those with the power to stop you that you are not a threat. It really could make for an extremely interesting character, and an extremely interesting game. I think many of us would like to be evil and not be punished for it in a game. I just hate the idea that the only 'evil' fantasy characters have to be total sociopaths it seems. "I kill this guy because he didn't pay me 200 gold for a mission when I was promised 150" ...makes no sense. We'll see if any gaming company has the balls to make a truly dark world. |
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| Shadow Dragon | Oct 16 2010, 06:04 AM Post #6 |
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Chicka Bow!
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I think a hero being put in a no win situation is possibly the better option. Where you're given the option Like, you have to allow some people to die or betray a friend/lover for the greater good. And if you don't, you'll end up causing more suffering then needed. But by going the darker route, you could lose all your allies. Just a game where the decisions aren't just black and white would be really nice. |
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| Icee77 | Oct 16 2010, 06:33 AM Post #7 |
Big Sweaty Moose Bleepers
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I'm thinking more of a Knights Templar. Starting out as a crusader for justice and slowly dissolving into a corrupt soldier. You might not even notice until your knee-deep in assassinations and corruption. you don't have a choice of fixing your past so you just tread on hoping for the best. You shouldn't be an evil guy to your eyes, just a man who would do anything for the greater good. sure there are tortures and hangings but those were heretics. those people coming after you are paid scum. When your playing a character like this it should be in the eyes of someone who looks at life in a different way. |
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