Heroes: Can Lawful Evil Align With Heroism?

In the context of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), a hero can be lawful evil. Lawful evil characters are villains who prefer to operate within the system and are usually in a position of power and authority. They are often self-righteous anti-villains who desire to bring peace through fascism and brutality, or sadistic control freaks who enjoy having power over others. Lawful evil characters can be manipulative, undercover evil, and may try to gain control of other characters through manipulation. They are often aware of the laws of the land and society and will not break the law randomly. Lawful evil characters can have long-term evil goals, be extremely selfish, or be arrogant to the point of believing they are better than others. They can still associate with people, help them if it benefits them, and not resort to serial murder. In D&D, lawful evil characters can be heroes too, as they can efficiently detect and deal with evildoers, and their presence can add conflict and excitement to the game.

Lawful evil characters can be manipulative, working with good-aligned people to further their secret agenda

Lawful evil characters can be manipulative, working alongside good-aligned people to further their secret agenda. This type of character might be everyone's best friend, keeping their true nature hidden until the time is right. They may help the party as long as their goals align, all the while subtly steering the group to serve their own ends.

A lawful evil character is likely to be disciplined, organised, and driven by long-term plans and goals. They are often manipulative and undercover in their approach, covertly pursuing their agenda while outwardly staying on the side of others. This could involve gaining control of other characters through manipulation. For example, a lawful evil character might work with a group of good-aligned adventurers to save the world, not because they are altruistic, but because it suits their plans to have a world to rule over.

In role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, lawful evil characters can be an interesting challenge for players to explore. They can be a fun addition to a campaign, especially when interacting with good-aligned characters. To avoid ruining the campaign, a lawful evil character's goals can be aligned with those of the heroes. For example, a lawful evil character might want to save the world, not out of any sense of altruism, but because it aligns with their long-term plans for power and control.

Lawful evil characters are often self-righteous anti-villains who desire to bring about a certain kind of peace or order, even if it involves fascism and brutality. They can be driven by a tragic backstory, loss, and self-assuredness, like Thanos, who believes that their actions will create a better society. Lawful evil characters are also aware of the laws of the land and will use them to their advantage, employing intricate legal arguments to counter any challenges.

In some cases, lawful evil characters can even become untraditional heroes, especially to NPCs who have experienced the failings of the system and turned to unconventional lifestyles. Lawful evil characters can be a valuable asset to a party, as their experience with breaking the law can help detect and deal with determined evildoers, despite creating tension within the group.

Lawful evil characters can be self-righteous anti-villains who genuinely desire to bring peace through fascism and brutality

Lawful evil characters believe in discipline, long-term plans, and following a set of rules or personal codes. They can be highly intelligent and strategic, manipulating others to further their secret agenda while maintaining a facade of cooperation. This makes them difficult to defeat as they work within the system, exploiting loopholes, and employing intricate legal arguments to justify their actions.

An example of a lawful evil character is Thanos, driven by a tragic backstory and a strong belief in his vision for a better society. He is willing to go to extreme lengths, including committing inhumane acts, to achieve his goals. Another example is Darkseid from DC Comics, who seeks to rule the universe by finding the Anti-Life Equation, which would destroy everyone's free will except his own. He has been referred to as "the god of fascism."

In role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), lawful evil characters can be played as heroes. While challenging, it adds depth and conflict to the story. Lawful evil characters in D&D can be the party's saving grace as they are skilled at detecting and dealing with evildoers. They can also help protect their companions from danger by eliminating enemies.

To play a lawful evil character effectively, it is important to have a well-developed backstory and motivation. The character may believe that their extreme actions are necessary for the greater good, making them an anti-hero. They might even have a code of honor or a sense of loyalty that prevents them from harming certain individuals. However, they are ultimately driven by self-interest and a lack of compassion, making them willing to sacrifice others for their goals.

Lawful evil characters can be the hardest type of evil to get rid of, especially when working within an established system

Lawful evil characters are often the hardest type of evil to get rid of, especially when working within an established system. This is because lawful evil characters tend to operate within the system, using it to their advantage and exploiting loopholes to maintain and gain power. They are often manipulative and undercover, covertly pursuing their agenda while staying on the side of others.

Lawful evil characters can be defined as those who have a general leaning towards discipline, rules, long-term plans, codes of conduct, and firm ideals. At the same time, they lack compassion and any moral vulnerability, exhibiting an extreme self-centric worldview with a sociopathic level of apathy for others. They are driven by monstrous and inhumane levels of sadistic or aberrant behavior, believing that their actions will lead to a better society. Thanos, for example, is a character who is driven by a tragic backstory and mind-numbing levels of regret, loss, and self-assuredness, which pushes him to pursue his evil goals.

The DCU's Darkseid is another example of a lawful evil character. He seeks to rule the universe by finding the Anti-Life Equation, which would destroy everyone's free will except his own. Darkseid is a fascist and a tyrant, willing to employ any means to achieve his goals. Lawful evil characters are often self-righteous anti-villains who desire to bring peace through fascism and brutality, or they are sadistic control freaks who enjoy having power over others. They are usually villains who operate from a position of power and authority and are willing to manipulate and exploit the system to achieve their ends.

In the context of games like Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), lawful evil characters can be challenging to incorporate into a campaign, as they can create conflict and tension within the party. However, they can also add depth and complexity to the story, and with careful planning, they can even become heroes. For example, evil-aligned characters in D&D can be the party's saving grace by dealing with risks and detecting determined evildoers due to their experience with breaking the law. They can also work with good-aligned characters towards a common goal, such as saving the world, as their survival may be necessary to achieve their evil plans.

Overall, lawful evil characters can be a fascinating and complex aspect of storytelling, but their manipulative and power-hungry nature, combined with their ability to work within established systems, makes them a formidable and persistent force that is challenging to overcome.

Lawful evil characters can be the easiest way to play an evil character as a hero

For example, a lawful evil character might be manipulative and covertly work against the other characters while staying on their side. They might also try to gain control of the other characters through manipulation. As long as the lawful evil character's goals align with those of the heroes, they can work together without causing conflict.

In addition, lawful evil characters can be more nuanced and complex than other types of evil characters. They can be self-righteous anti-villains who desire to bring peace through fascism and brutality, or they can be sadistic control freaks who enjoy having power over others. They can also be Noble Demons who fight honorably, Affably Evil characters who believe that bad actions can lead to good outcomes, or Anti-Villains who believe that the ends justify the means.

Lawful evil characters can also be beneficial to the heroes in the story. For example, they may be relied upon to act consistently in accordance with their chosen rules or personal codes. There are certain lines that lawful evil characters won't cross, even for their own benefit. This can create interesting dynamics and storylines, especially if the lawful evil character is working within an established system or has a long-term evil goal that the heroes are trying to stop.

Overall, playing a lawful evil character as a hero can add depth and complexity to a story or campaign. It can also provide opportunities for character development and exploration of moral grey areas. By incorporating a lawful evil character, a DM or storyteller can create intriguing conflicts, alliances, and plot twists that enhance the overall narrative.

Lawful evil characters can be the only evil alignment that can work well with a party of good characters long-term

In a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaign, a lawful evil character can be played as a hero without ruining the campaign. This can be achieved by giving the character a goal that aligns with the heroes' goals. For instance, if the heroes want to save the world, the lawful evil character might also want to save the world because it aligns with their evil plans for domination. Additionally, lawful evil characters can be beneficial to the heroes because there are certain lines they won't cross, even for their evil agenda.

Lawful evil characters can also be reliable and consistent in their actions, following their own set of rules or personal codes. This predictability can make them easier to work with than chaotic evil characters, who are unpredictable and untrustworthy. Neutral evil characters can only be trusted as long as your interests align. Lawful evil characters, on the other hand, can be manipulated by appealing to their sense of honour or personal code.

In some cases, lawful evil characters can even be seen as heroes. They can represent where the system has failed and become untraditional heroes to NPCs who have experienced similar failings. Lawful evil characters can also be more efficient at detecting and dealing with evildoers due to their experience with breaking the law. While this may create tension within the party, the long-term heroic effects can benefit the group.

Overall, lawful evil characters have the potential to work well with a party of good characters long-term due to their ability to cooperate, manipulate, and pursue their evil agenda covertly. They can be reliable and predictable, making them easier to work with than other evil alignments. Additionally, they can bring unique skills and perspectives to the party, contributing to the dynamic and conflict that makes D&D campaigns engaging.

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