
1d50 Villain Ideas: Doing Evil for the sake of Good
The ends justify the means is a common phrase, and your Villains could transcend the role of just “Bad Guy” to be truly fleshed out people. Someone trying to accomplish good but willing to use evil is a conundrum.
If an NPC is trying to do something good, like stopping rampaging wizards who are trying to lay waste to an entity city, that’s okay.
But if that person is willing to do evil to accomplish this goal, like sacrificing people, stealing, using evil magic or magic items, etc, then that’s bad.
Perhaps your “Villain” isn’t Evil at all?
Instead of using a Lawful Evil, Neutral Evil or Chaotic Evil alignment what if they were Chaotic Good and simply used evil means to justify the good end they were aiming for?
Here are some great traits some “Good” Villains might have that makes them Bad:
- Rich and greedy and spends money to hurt others
- Bullies others
- Gets undeserved rewards
- Responds badly to being questioned
- Disregards or punishes those who disagree
- Oppressive and controlling
- Says one thing and does the opposite
- Frivolously changes mind
- Eats, spends, consumes when others are hungry, poor, without
- Punishes innocents
- Supports inequality
- Rewards unfairly
- Cares not the effects their words and actions have on others
- Makes unfair rules and laws
- Doesn’t follow their own rules
- Lies for self-benefit and believes their lies after awhile
- Is above the law and cannot be punished
- Switches sides – traitorous
- Lazy and makes others do all the work
- Chooses sides for bad reasons
- Distrusts everyone and constantly tests for loyalty and obedience
- Has others fight their battles
- Uses blackmail and extortion to get their way
- Rejects and abuses the rights of others
- Doesn’t take responsibility for their decisions or actions
- Suppresses freedoms
- Makes offensive jokes
- Plays favourites to evil or incompetent minions
- Enforces their twisted version of normal
- Endangers others frivolously
- Indifferent to the struggle they cause others
- Does not listen to reason and makes bad decisions endangering others
- Sacrifices others for their own ego or vanity
- Physically, emotionally abusive
- Spoiled and pampered and lashes out when demands not met
- Keeps others as toys or decoration
- Values appearances over character
- Must kill to feel good about themselves
- Starts or supports war
- Responds well to gifts and flattery
- Expects adoration and punishes when not given
- Has short fuse, temperamental
- Flirts or seduces to get their way
- Stays unpredictable to keep others off-balance
- Hurts other purposefully
- Supports anarchy and destruction
- Destroys property punitively
- Bribes others to do their bidding
- Endangers others capriciously
- Gossips and ruins reputations
Credit to Johnn Four from Roleplaying Tips and creator of Campaign Logger for these 50 traits.