What is a villain?
I'm going to quote Clark Peterson from a previous year:
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You know what a villain is. A villain is more than just a "monster" or an "encounter," though your villain may be a monster (as in not humanoid) and you may in fact encounter him/her/it. A villain is more than just an NPC. We want to encourage a broad reading of what a villain is, but here are some guidelines. A villain:
*Is a unique NPC;
*Is an individual creature or entity;
*Is as much a plot device as an encounter;
*Is an antagonist for the PCs;
*Does not have to be a final boss, but he/she/it must be more than just a simple henchman;
*Must be capable of being a proactive opponent, not simply reactive;
*Must be capable of independent thought and be able to both come up with plans and take actions to thwart the PCs.Can you give us some examples of what a "villain" is, or isn't?
Darth Vader is an excellent example of a villain.
Its clear to me that some people didnt follow this instruction and instead only created neat monster NPCs with little to no conflict with charcters other than as an encounter. We didnt just want a bad guy monster, we wanted a villain--a plot device.
We didnt say create a cool NPC, we said a "villain."
I definitely agree with what Clark has said.
This is my opinion, but to me, a villain has to have a goal, or goals (even if they are crazy or impossible), as well as an agenda and a plan to accomplish this. Basically, some way of achieving victory. This goal should be something that interacts with the PCs, and makes them want to disrupt the plan and defeat the villain.
The PCs probably shouldn't encounter the villain straight off the bat, beating up an NPC that you don't even know the name of, is nowhere near as satisfying as defeating a villain whose plans you have repeatedly foiled and who you have a personal reason to hate, despise, or even pity. If the PCs gain some insight into the villain's motivations as they thwart his/her plans, that's even better.
I also like a villain to have a background and motivation for their agenda. A reason that comes from some pivotal event or events in their life that made them what they are. As a player/GM, I want to have some understanding of why the villain is the way s/he is.
Dennis Hopper in Speed really chews up the scenery but he is a villain that really gets his villain on.
That’s my 2 cents.
I definitely agree with what Clark has said.
This is my opinion, but to me, a villain has to have a goal, or goals (even if they are crazy or impossible), as well as an agenda and a plan to accomplish this. Basically, some way of achieving victory. This goal should be something that interacts with the PCs, and makes them want to disrupt the plan and defeat the villain.
Amen. I find it amusing that the best villains in my personal campaign were not designed as such; it just fell out that way.
That’s my 2 cents. (Apologies to Neil for stealing his catchphrase.)
Aw that's okay. You probably don't get 98 cents a word like he does either.
Aw that's okay. You probably don't get 98 cents a word like he does either.
Wow! At 98 cents a word, Gulga Cench must have made him a fortune!
Wow! At 98 cents a word, Gulga Cench must have made him a fortune!
Gulga Cench has gone into deep hiding. About the only time he becomes relevant again is...right about this time of year. ;-)
Whoo… I'd better pull out the Lysol and painter's masks then.
Wow! At 98 cents a word, Gulga Cench must have made him a fortune!Gulga Cench has gone into deep hiding. About the only time he becomes relevant again is...right about this time of year. ;-)
That is ... until you get to use him in a gaming product. ;D
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My thoughts on villains are 'not enough pirates this year' (and there was at least one perfectly good nautical illustration), but maybe all the ninjas up in the playtest forums scared them off....
If it helps, I try to create characters who don't resemble me in real life, so any pirates are right out. I spend my real life looking like a pirate and working with rigging, so I needed something different...
Wow! At 98 cents a word, Gulga Cench must have made him a fortune!Gulga Cench has gone into deep hiding. About the only time he becomes relevant again is...right about this time of year. ;-)
Dear Mr. Leaping Gnome,
What Mr. Spicer should perhaps have said (instead of 'gone into deep hiding' - a most un Gulga Cench like activity if ever there was one) was 'Gulga Cench is (purportedly) currently on a tour overseeing his interests in the underworlds of Kaer Maga, Riddleport, Oppara, Cassomir, Katapesh and a number of other locations (too sensitive to currently disclose) which are hives of scum & villainy and/or major centres of the arts. Gulga Cench is thus too busy at present to make any personal appearances, and I can neither confirm nor deny any rumours in circulation that at least one judge kneels before an arcane artifact every night to ask of him "What is thy bidding, my master?"'Hoping that you have found this post Helpful.
Yours,
Ask A Succubus.