Gavin Howe
In the context of role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), character alignment is a system that describes a character's moral and ethical perspective. 'Lawful Evil' and 'Lawful Good' are two ends of the alignment spectrum, with the former representing a character who is driven by personal gain and willing to exploit laws and rules to achieve their goals, while the latter embodies a character who acts with honour and upholds the law for the betterment of society. While the two alignments differ significantly in their motivations and ethical stances, the multiclass option in D&D allows players to combine classes and create unique characters with varied abilities and backgrounds. This raises the question of whether a multiclass combination of Lawful Evil and Lawful Good is possible and how such a character would navigate the conflicting philosophies of these alignments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alignment | Lawful Evil and Lawful Good |
| Multiclass Options | Duskblade, Sorcerer, Fighter, Rogue, Cleric |
| Personal Code of Conduct | Respect for life, treatment of people, tradition, loyalty, and order |
| Behavior | Ruthless, cruel, selfish, vengeful, power-hungry, sadistic, reasonable, restrained, diplomatic |
| Motivation | Force, power, intimidation, personal gain, societal improvement |
| Loyalties | Allies, friends, family, cause, government, religion, organization |
| Trustworthiness | Somewhat trustworthy, but may break their word or betray |
| Examples | Scrooge McDuck, Ultimate Thanos, Grogar, Colonel Sharon Hillridge, Dr. Elias Dreschner |
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What You'll Learn
- Lawful Evil characters can be loyal to their cause, government, religion, or organisation
- Lawful Evil characters can be selfish, cruel, power-hungry, or sadistic
- Lawful Evil characters can be diplomats or negotiators
- Lawful Evil characters can be honourable
- Lawful Evil characters can be comfortable serving in a hierarchy
Lawful Evil characters can be loyal to their cause, government, religion, or organisation
A Lawful Evil character will define their terms and live by them, whether anyone else likes it or not. They are comfortable in a hierarchy and would like to rule, but are willing to serve. They care about tradition, loyalty, and order but not about freedom, dignity, or life. They play by the rules but without mercy or compassion. They are loath to break laws or promises, partly because of their nature and partly because they depend on order to protect themselves from those who oppose them on moral grounds.
Lawful Evil characters are often found in charge, but they also make good henchmen. They respond well to concepts like "loyalty", "duty", and "honour". They also respond poorly to bad bosses and dirty cowards, and may decide to find a more worthy master or take over "for the good of the cause". They are usually found in more Lawful examples of the professional killer, just following orders, family values, and churchgoing villains. Many soldiers and henchmen working for an evil government or ruler fall into the "lawful evil" category by default.
Lawful Evil characters can be found in any kind of society, including Neutral and Good-aligned ones. They are prepared to commit evil actions for it and are prone to invoke Moral Myopia or A Million Is a Statistic to justify their deeds. They are the most "reasonable" in their actions compared to other Evil Alignments and can be trusted to some extent.
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Lawful Evil characters can be selfish, cruel, power-hungry, or sadistic
Lawful Evil characters are often selfish, cruel, power-hungry, or sadistic. They follow a strict code of conduct or rules and are driven by a desire for order and control. This type of character is comfortable in a hierarchy and is willing to serve or rule, depending on what will help them achieve their goals. They are ruthless and cruel in enforcing their idea of order and are not concerned with freedom, dignity, or life.
Lawful Evil characters are often villains who are obsessed with order and control. They are disciplined and follow a set of rules or a personal code of conduct, which they use to justify their evil actions. They are often cruel, punishing those who break their rules through abusive and sadistic measures. They are also power-hungry, seeking to increase their power over others and elevate themselves within a hierarchy.
These characters are selfish, acting only in their self-interest and seeking to attain their goals through force, power, and intimidation. They are loyal to their allies and those who serve them but are quick to punish any sign of disloyalty or treachery. Lawful Evil characters are also calculating, using any information or evidence they find to their advantage, even if it means harming others.
While Lawful Evil characters are often villains, they can also be anti-heroes or even protagonists. They can be found in any type of society and are willing to commit evil actions to achieve their idea of order. They are the most "reasonable" of the Evil alignments and can be trusted to some extent, as they value loyalty and will keep their word unless they can find a legal way to break it.
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Lawful Evil characters can be diplomats or negotiators
Lawful Evil characters can be trusted to some extent, and they will listen to demands, although they may not accept them if they do not benefit from them. They value allegiances and loyalty, and they will punish disloyalty and treachery. They will keep their word if they give it and will never lie, but they may mislead or withhold information. They are selfish and power-hungry, and they use society and its laws for their own advantage. They believe in a strict order and that each group should be properly placed in the cosmos, with the strongest first and the weakest last.
Lawful Evil characters are often found in charge, but they can also make good henchmen. They respond well to concepts like "loyalty", "duty", and "honour". They are cautious and will not tolerate incompetence or a bad boss. They are also willing to serve in an attempt to gain more power. They support laws and societies that protect their own concerns and will use the law to destroy their enemies.
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Lawful Evil characters can be honourable
Lawful Evil characters are driven to attain their goals through force, power, and intimidation, and they are comfortable in a hierarchy. They may believe that an orderly society is best and are willing to commit evil actions to enforce it. They use Lawful codes of conduct or honour to dissociate their Evil motives and deeds from other aspects of their lives. They may sincerely believe in a strict set of rules or a rigid Code of Honour, and they will follow these even if it means committing evil acts.
Lawful Evil characters can be devoted to deep religious practices, leading towards malevolence and extremism. They may also be Totalitarians/Imperialists/Fascists, who favour a system in which the state has unlimited power over every aspect of public and private life. They may be enforcers, always loyal to their leaders and right-hand minions, or they may be tyrants who hate freedom and seek to enslave everything around them, using law and order as tools to enforce evil.
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Lawful Evil characters can be comfortable serving in a hierarchy
Lawful Evil characters are often comfortable serving in a hierarchy, as it allows them to pursue their personal goals and gain more power. They believe in a strict order, with the strongest at the top and the weakest at the bottom. They are willing to serve those above them in the hierarchy, as long as it helps them achieve their own goals and increase their power.
Lawful Evil characters are known for their personal codes of conduct and their commitment to laws and rules. They believe that following an ordered course of action is the best way to achieve their goals. They are comfortable working within an established hierarchy, as it provides a clear structure for them to climb and gain power. They are also willing to exploit the rules and power structures for their own gain. They see laws as a means to elevate those who deserve to be masterful over those who are meant to be subservient.
While they value loyalty and respect tradition, they often lack compassion and mercy. They are not concerned with freedom, dignity, or the lives of others. They are driven by their desire for power and are willing to use force, intimidation, and manipulation to achieve their goals. Lawful Evil characters are also known for their reliability and their willingness to listen to demands, even if they don't always accept them.
In a hierarchy, Lawful Evil characters are often comfortable serving those who they believe are deserving of power. They respect the power and authority of those above them, as long as they believe they are worthy of their positions. However, they may also strive to better their position within the hierarchy, hoping to climb to the top themselves. They are ruthless and cruel to those beneath them, fearing that they may be replaced by an underling.
Overall, Lawful Evil characters can be comfortable serving in a hierarchy as long as it aligns with their personal goals and provides an opportunity to gain more power. They are willing to manipulate, exploit, and dominate others to achieve their objectives, all while following their own strict code of conduct.
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Frequently asked questions
Lawful good refers to a character who is dedicated to doing good deeds and upholding the law.
Lawful evil refers to a character who is driven by evil desires and goals but also believes in order and follows a personal code of conduct.
Yes, a lawful good character can have a neutral or evil alignment, but they will still prioritize upholding the law and promoting good.
No, a lawful evil character is primarily driven by evil desires and goals, and they use laws and power dynamics to elevate themselves over others.
Examples of lawful evil characters include Grogar from Kintsukuroi, Colonel Sharon Hillridge and Dr. Elias Dreschner from the same series, and Scrooge McDuck from Disney Ducks Comic Universe.
