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As the title asks. I am in a mixed-alignment party that includes two characters who are very much "good guys" among other varied alignments(we have at least one CN among our little band.) My character also has the absolute lowest wisdom in the party, and the second lowest charisma. Even further, they are LE in alignment(though they don't go openly advertising it) and are a selfish, spoiled, entitled noble who owns slaves(and actually has one traveling with them who is NPCed by the GM) and cares primarily about personal gain. Their only social skill is intimidate. They where not made to be party leader, yet to my surprise in the first session of the campaign the party more or less elected them leader....they pretty much left all decision-making up to my character and followed, rather blindly, whatever they said was the best route, to the point that there was dead silence at the table when my character didn't have the next course of action ready.
So, the question becomes, you have a character very unfit for leadership(negative wisdom mod, only 14 cha and no social skills beyond intimidate), who is LE in a party of very mixed alignments, who has been thrusted into the position of party leader, and I want to know...how should I approach this RP-wise? Why would the party turn to somebody with so little common sense and a personality that isn't all that likable(but still fairly charismatic despite...See the iconic caviler, who also has 14 cha, for an example of what I mean) to set the course of action and be the de-facto leader? Even further, how to I balance my character's IC selfishness with the IC and OOC responsibilities that come with having a character that is the party leader?
Any advice or thoughts on these concerns would be appreciated. Oh, and in case your wondering, in terms of mental stats, my character has 16 int, 8 wisdom, 14 cha, and class wise is a dex/dervish dance magus. They also have the highest int in the party, if that matters at all to your RP suggestions.
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Well lets give an example I guess.
Same scenario for both character types.
Scenario:
Your group hears rumors there is a powerful magic item at a nobels home. You really want magic item X and need to retrieve it.
Chaotic neutral's responses:
1: sneak in like a thief in the night...scout to locate it and then steal it.
2: murder hobo your way in...kill all witness and take it.
Lawful Evils respones:
1: Send in the CN guy to plant evidence of crime at the nobels house and report them to the hell knights (local authorities). Grab the item during the search and confiscate it in the investigation.
2: Plant evidence of a serious crime and kill them in the struggle while acting on behalf of the lawman.
3: Create a business to cripple the Nobel mans business and force him to be desperate to sell you the item for a cheaper than normal price. Or give it to you in exchange for a more open market.
You can plan some dastardly things with the help of that CN person. Act like your acting in thier interest but in reality your using them to further your goals and power. Once you reach
You could also run it like a mercenary guild.
Remember lawful can mean both law of the land or a moral code.
Like: Take no prisoners but dont kill children because they havent reached the age of strength yet. You give them life so they can grow into future soldiers and die on the battlefield like real men. Not any sense of compassion just killing children is beneath you.
If your character is a crappy Leader pehaps in time the party Will elect another. But until then just let him enjoy there lapse in judgement.
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And try not to invade Russia.
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So, the question becomes, you have a character very unfit for leadership(negative wisdom mod, only 14 cha and no social skills beyond intimidate), who is LE in a party of very mixed alignments, who has been thrusted into the position of party leader, and I want to know...how should I approach this RP-wise? Why would the party turn to somebody with so little common sense and a personality that isn't all that likable(but still fairly charismatic despite...See the iconic caviler, who also has 14 cha, for an example of what I mean) to set the course of action and be the de-facto leader? Even further, how to I balance my character's IC selfishness with the IC and OOC responsibilities that come with having a character that is the party leader?
Any advice or thoughts on these concerns would be appreciated. Oh, and in case your wondering, in terms of mental stats, my character has 16 int, 8 wisdom, 14 cha, and class wise is a dex/dervish dance magus. They also have the highest int in the party, if that matters at all to your RP suggestions.
Why it's obvious your minions have recognized your natural superiority and brilliance! Of course it was inevitable... they system exists to cause cream to rise to the top and that is why it need to be preserved.
Your task is to pursue your goals and use your minions to accomplish them. However, you should be smart enough to realize that you need to take care of your immediate underlings to insure that they have what they need to meet YOUR needs. You don't need to bend over backwards with the facetious displays of concern that the less enlightened display for those of lesser ability, however you should make it clear that when they take care of you, you take care of them.
For the RP it should only be natural that these people want to follow you. You are a selfish and spoiled noble. They are lucky to have you. If their is an NPC you don't want to talk to that the party must interact with demand a fellow adventurer does it since it is beneath you (you might say that or not). Never apologize, ever. If you manage to piss off an important NPC claim it was their fault. They were being unreasonable and disrespectful. If you go the wrong direction don't mention it. If your plans fail its due to someone else. This is the natural order and is to advance your goals. If you are feeling bold and have good RPing friends you play with claim better treasure, it was your plan or you are the one doing most of the work.
I hope this helps. Best of luck.
Remember, actions determine alignment, not the other way around.
This is a great RP opportunity for your character to get unselfish and unspoiled, by learning to become a responsible leader.
"OOC responsibilities that come with having a character that is the party leader?"
It's a role playing game. There are no OOC responsibilities other than don't ruin it. Play the character for who he is.
LE characters want one of two things:
1. Power over others to do with as they please (As represented by Asmodeus).
2. Systematic acknowledgement and infliction of pain upon oneself and others (As represented by Zon Kuthon).
You're party leader, which means if you're a Type 1 Lawful Evil, you're as happy as you can be, but you'll eventually want more power. Lead the party on a series of adventures that will form an estate, then a noble house, then a kingdom, and allow the party to be liberal in how it approaches problem-solving, so long as they ultimately delegate to you.
Type 2 is harder, but can be the same as you form an organization that lives up to your character's ideals.
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Well, since we are talking about a slave owner and something of an idiot noble, you could give him weird ideas on personnel management.
Essentially, don't waste resources. Slaves cost money, and replacing them costs time. So of course you are going to save their lives, since you have deadlines and quotas. So they get their cure light wounds spell...then a thorough whipping for making a mistake that damaged your property, and then another cure light wounds spell.
Essentially, don't give anyone permission to die. Which works fairly well with the common goals most parties have. Prepare to smack anyone with the gall to get into a dying state. Fight desperately to protect your 'allies' (read- servants) since you can't let something like a dragon riding lich stop your plans.
Also, you do not necessarily have to be the face entirely. Nobles and slave owners have head butlers to smooze over guests. Let them worry about the little details like 'actually caring about other people's feelings'. Your job is to 'keep everyone in line'.
Overall, I think this would go a lot smoother if you had a manservant who has actual common sense. Preferably a slave that has had to deal with your messes since you were a child, and has a sense of responsibility over you despite the fact that you are a fool.
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"OOC responsibilities that come with having a character that is the party leader?"
It's a role playing game. There are no OOC responsibilities other than don't ruin it. Play the character for who he is.
To be safe, warn the rest of the group OOC that you're not a great choice for party leader (selfish, unwise, a bit of a jerk) and that you will RP appropriately. If this bothers the players, they will choose a different party leader.
Remember, actions determine alignment, not the other way around.
This is a great RP opportunity for your character to get unselfish and unspoiled, by learning to become a responsible leader.
Might happen, but probably not until something's happened to jolt the character out of his comfortable sense of superiority. For example, the character might make a particularly bad leadership call with serious consequences that he can't blame on other party members.