Could anyone point me to some good inspiration for role playing one of those well dressed fellows with top hats, monocles, pocket watches, you get the idea. (To be clear, I'm looking for speech patterns and behaviors for such a character). I'd prefer if I could read it, as I'm rarely in a place or position I can have my volume on, headphones or no.
He's also Lawful Evil if that helps.
PBS
The Peter Whimsey mysteries has Lord Peter Whimsey, who would be a good model.
Downton Abbey has characters you could use.
Nearly anything by PG Wodehouse for an over the top approach.
Randall Garret did a Victorian wizard, Lord Darcy, a forensic wizard.
Since it is all about expectations and appearances a lawful evil is going to look a lot like the lawful goods, so many things are just Not Done in polite society.
Could you elaborate that last paragraph a bit, I'm not quite getting you're meaning there.
Thasks for the suggestions, I'll look into them.
Edit: You meant the examples were mostly LG, correct?
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Or Grand Moff Tarkin in A New Hope.
Pouring one out on the street for Peter Cushing.
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The examples are mostly basically good individuals, with some exceptions.
The Victorian culture was very cultured and civilized veneer, over a core of ruthlessness. Lawful Evil fits well. Avoiding the appearances of boorishness is everything. You never welsh on a bet, you never do anything to appear crude, that sort of thing.
"Not Done" is a core concept for the mindset. Morality is not your driving force, Society is the important thing, and appearances are everything. You must appear perfect, at least to Society. The nastiness is not public, and not to people who will tarnish your public image. Remember that rumors will destroy you, and being a Cad wil get you cut dead in Society.
Look at Jarred Harris in Sherlock Holmes 2 or Fringe. Terrific actor and that level of charming and eccentric covering pure evil.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h1CnkwfZz4
above clip may be unpleasant for some, tame for others.
Sherlock Holmes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgMPOwt9S-A
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Dotting, as I am playing exactly this in Wrath of the Righteous (Going Diabolist, in fact, with the personal rule to never actually disrupt the party).
Daw's concept is the man with an image - that he is lawful good at all times. A man of esteemed taste and good values, who is always fair and ever dependable.
Play nice, earn yourselves some brownie points, and pay extra attention to everyone's weaknesses and needs. If you've left a good impression on them, they'll open up to you. It'll make great leverage when you call in a favour or two.
I was also doing this for a Diabolist, interestingly enough.
Good ideas there too, though I'm not sure if I'll use them with my character, they don't quite fit the campaign.
Lucius Malfoy from the Harry Potter novels and movies, exclusively before Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is a great example of a villainous but gentlemanly wizard.
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Monkey familiar with the valet archetype. Dress it as a little butler.
I am done here. I have made my contribution.
Murder at the rogue morgue starts with an essay on the virtues of chess vs checkers which might be worth a read because of the way the dude talks in it.
The Great God Pan and The heart of darkness would probably both fit the bill as well.
Or for slightly less stuffy options Alfred from Batman without the bits where he gives a shit about master bruce.
Oh anything by Oscar Wilde but particularly the importance of being earnest.
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Just thought of something. The monkey butler was suggested, but I think I will turn my imp from diabolist into a butler and make him dress up. Now I just need to figure out how to find a tailor willing to cater to him...
Thanks for all the suggestions! :)
Just thought of something. The monkey butler was suggested, but I think I will turn my imp from diabolist into a butler and make him dress up. Now I just need to figure out how to find a tailor willing to cater to him...
Thanks for all the suggestions! :)
Yeah, probably better for a LE caster. But few will disagree- tiny butlers for gentlemen wizards.
And the tiny suit can be seen as a display of wealth- "oh my, it appears that you are strapped for cash, ol' lad? I mean, you allow the... 'help'..to go around naked all day? Really my dear sir- we aren't cultureless savages like those slips. I had mine ordered from the best tailor in town..."
Gary Oldman in Bram Stoker's Dracula. Particularly the scene where he meets Mina on the street in London. He's got the dapper foppery, the top hat, the cane, and even small round glasses with smoked lenses.
At least for speech patterns, Littlefinger from Game of Thrones comes to mind.
