1E D&D - Lawful/Evil -

Looter Guy · January 19, 2013, 11:48:00 PM

I like to think of movie or book characters when I roleplay sometimes to help me base a character motive or goal upon and alignment usually will steer me in my choice.

Lawful/Evil in 1E has been hard to put a character to so far.

Any ideas?

James Gillen · January 20, 2013, 12:12:49 AM

Gul Dukat in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Well, actually, almost any Cardassian.

JG

Benoist · January 20, 2013, 12:15:13 AM

A lawful evil character uses order and laws to further his or her own ends. It's the archetypal tyrant, seeing no value in individual freedom or choice, believing that s/he knows best, and that the system only exists to make his or her own wishes come true. Individual freedom, empathy, "goodness", all these things are for the naive and the imbecile. The only true value in this world is the value of law and order, and that's where the buck of civilization stops. Chaos is bad, because it represents anarchy, a lack of obedience to the character's own aims and edicts. Everything has to fit into the Order imposed by the Lawful Evil character. If you are not a submissive friend, you are an enemy. Choose your side carefully.

RPGPundit · January 20, 2013, 12:47:10 AM

Stannis Baratheon?

RPGPundit

Benoist · January 20, 2013, 12:48:43 AM

Quote from: Benoist;620060A lawful evil character uses order and laws to further his or her own ends. It's the archetypal tyrant, seeing no value in individual freedom or choice, believing that s/he knows best, and that the system only exists to make his or her own wishes come true. Individual freedom, empathy, "goodness", all these things are for the naive and the imbecile. The only true value in this world is the value of law and order, and that's where the buck of civilization stops. Chaos is bad, because it represents anarchy, a lack of obedience to the character's own aims and edicts. Everything has to fit into the Order imposed by the Lawful Evil character. If you are not a submissive friend, you are an enemy. Choose your side carefully.

Darth Vader.

Opaopajr · January 20, 2013, 04:13:14 PM

Uh, most politicians and tyrants.

Here's a mere sprinkling of some well-known historical examples:

Qin Shi Huangdi, 1st emperor of China (of where we get the name "China")

Stalin of USSR

Saddam Hussein of Iraq

But just about any selfish politico using the crushing power of institutionalized law and bureaucracy to further their own ends would qualify. In many ways it's the most historically prevalent (and for me) easiest to image form of evil.

In fiction? Scrooge. Just about all the barristers in Bleak House. etc. It's a very prevalent alignment archetype.

thedungeondelver · January 20, 2013, 09:59:21 PM

Any of the mafiosi aligned against Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather.

jibbajibba · January 20, 2013, 10:26:39 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;620066Stannis Baratheon?

RPGPundit

Isn't he more LN?

I always go Hitler for LE or Torquemada

Interestingly you might cast some fictional serial killers in the LE mode as well. The ones that have really set patterns and codes Dexter springs to mind as a left field choice but a lot of the bad guys that always get caught due to repetition of choice of victim or MO, so the tooth fairy in Red Dragon, Jigsaw etc etc

Old One Eye · January 20, 2013, 10:45:39 PM

Quote from: jibbajibba;620284I always go Hitler for LE

Nah, that dude screams chaotic evil.

jeff37923 · January 20, 2013, 11:06:45 PM

Nobody thought of saying Lucifer as an example of Lawful Evil?

Dan Vince · January 20, 2013, 11:24:16 PM

Quote from: Benoist;620068Darth Vader.

"I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it further."
Tarkin from the first movie is a far better example.

Benoist · January 20, 2013, 11:36:36 PM

Quote from: Dan Vincze;620296"I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it further."
Tarkin from the first movie is a far better example.

He's got the authority of the Empire to do this, because in his mind there is no area or planet that should escape the Empire's authority, and he is the special envoy of the Emperor himself in the matter. And his idea from the start is to work with the system to shape it in a way that, in his twisted mind, makes for a better galaxy, cf. talks with Padme about tyranny and "well someone should MAKE THEM agree" in Episode II, the offer to Luke in Empire Strikes Back "Join me, and together we will rule the Galaxy...", how he wants to bring "peace to the Galaxy" in his last exchange with Padme in Episode III, etc.

In the end, it all stems from a selfish need to rule to get what he wants however he wants it. It's Lawful Evil.

RPGPundit · January 21, 2013, 12:27:22 AM

I would think lucifer would kind of be cheating.

RPGPundit

jibbajibba · January 21, 2013, 01:06:33 AM

Quote from: Old One Eye;620290Nah, that dude screams chaotic evil.

Well.... he gets to power through the system albeit with some pressure but he doesn't mount a bloody copu d'etat. He removed disidents once he is in power but he defines them legally as disidents first.
So he don'e just shoot all the jews and gypsies he defines them as jews and gypsies then he makes it illegal for them to own property etc etc ...until they have no real value then he sends them to the concentration camps and gas chambers where even the genocide is well organised and efficient - lawful evil to me.

Philotomy Jurament · January 21, 2013, 01:16:31 AM