How to play an asshole

[Inks]

Throw dagger figure west.

I have usually found pcs to be selfish and rp realistic overall. Just be aware that you may not know a pc's motivation for evil or good acts. I don't mind players playing villains. They exist in real life.

"Tell me. After my head has been chopped off, will I still be able to hear, at least for a moment, the sound of my own blood gushing from the stump of my neck? That would be a pleasure to end all pleasures."

Peter Kurten, AKA "The Vampire of Dusseldorf," killed somewhere between 9 and 60 adults and children.

[Dresan]

Perhaps my definition of asshole is different but...

You can be horrendously evil without having to also be an annoying obnoxious douche bag (aka, an asshole)

[Fujikoma]

And you can be an asshole without being tremendously evil. The worst assholes are good aligned. In a world filled with evil, one neutral-good asshole soon becomes the biggest asshole in the known world.

[Inks]

Valid. Yeah I was responding to someone earlier who hates evil pcs.

[MeTekillot]

I think the problem with a lot of people who try to play "good" PCs is that they just end up coming across as self-righteous. And not like in an entertaining, narcissistic way, but in an annoying, narcissistic way.

[Inks]

Add paladin class so it is easy to guild sniff white knighters.

[Fujikoma]

Add paladin class so it is easy to guild sniff white knighters.

Haven't seen a Dragonthrall about, myself. I would assume since everything in Zalanthas is an asshole, draining the life out of it in order to zap things to death is pretty lawful good.

[ohrather]

4.) I'm sure I could convince them to greet me and lower their hood with a smile and a friendly greeting.

[Refugee]

I think the big secret to playing an asshole successfully is to give the players you're around something to RP with.  It needs to make sense, and be consistent in some way, so it doesn't just feel like you, the player, is out to ruin everyone else's fun for your own entertainment.

[Majikal]

Play a racist, realize you're the minority when multiple death threats are thrown at you from humans and elves in the same room as the preggo breed you insulted.
10/10 would play asshole again

#goodguyarmageddon

[roughneck]

The trick to playing an asshole is to have the balls to keep at it. People will try to kill you for what you say and what you do, but don't stop, because you're an asshole. I think people don't play assholes very often because it's easier to stay alive when you're nice to people.

[Majikal]

The trick to playing an asshole is remembering a hefty portion of the players around you are the exception to the documentation about prejudices. My homosexual male pc's will get insulted and demeaned for being 'ladylike', my half-elf hating House member will get assassinated by a tribe-less elf who fell in love with the before-mentioned half-elf, humans will regularly try to mate my elves, my mage will be outcast from a group that decides to randomly befriend a defiler that showed up flashing some cool spells when they share an opinion of unease at the situation. I've been slammed by elves in the rinth for not trusting another elf who was proud to be tribe less. All of my pc's tend to be an asshole in one way or another, adhering to the cultural cliche's of prejudice and distrust. The real assholes though are the players who don't adhere to documentation. I roll with the punches and keep on keepin on. I'll continue to play my pc's in that fashion and continue attempting to be the change, it's daunting sometimes though when you see such harsh resistance in the face of cultural norms.

[Fujikoma]

I must be doing something right. Seems like half the playerbase is trying to kill my characters at any given time.

[Bast]

The best nobles and templar I've seen in game have been the ones who knew they were better than everyone else, so they didn't have to constantly remind everyone else about it all the time by being a dick for no reason.

Word.

Stressing social rank at the expense of playing an interesting, engaging character (actually suffered through this bullshit not too long ago IG) is the best way to have my character abruptly change their mind about joining your organization.

Here here! Running around being a asshat just makes you look like some spoiled brat on power trip that needs to prove to everyone how powerful they are by pissing all over everyone just 'because'. It doesn't inspire 'fear' or 'respect' it just makes you annoying to be around. All my favorite 'bad' guy nobles pulled it off without acting like byners and thugs.

[SuchDragonWow]

You know, I bet Pablo Eacobar was the same way during meetings with his lieutenants.  "Don't be mean to people,  They already understand my power, there's no need to remind them."  I mean, that's why so many people loved him. Those wily damn lieutenants, though!

[RogueGunslinger]

I don't care how your character acts in-game. Seems like there is some discouragement of leaders in this thread. Assholes in real life are not just assholes when it's convenient for story. The whole purpose of an asshole is to be disruptive and unliked.

So yeah, play a realistic character, and try to be inclusive with your roleplay for interactions sake. But don't hold back just becuase you think people might get upset. Upsetting people is kind of the point of being an asshole, right? Not everyone is going to find it enjoyable or humorous, probably because they're taking IC things WAY too personally.

[Bast]

I'm not saying don't be a asshole. I am saying play a realistic character that fits your place in social hierarchy. Have actually goals and reasons behind why your doing what your doing. Don't be a cartoon villain. 

[Desertman]

It's a world where people throw fireballs from their hands. Realism isn't an argument for anything.

If you are playing an asshole that is ruining the fun of others you are doing it wrong.

If you are playing an asshole that is creating fun for others you are doing it right.

It's a game. That is the only measurement for right/wrong in this scenario.

[Fujikoma]

And just WHY is that man with the silly moustache tying that woman to the train tracks? Dooooon't have a clue.

[CodeMaster]

Just in case any assholes are feeling called out as a "cartoon villain", I'll just pipe up and say that I have never encountered anyone in this game I'd give that title to.

[RogueGunslinger]

It's a world where people throw fireballs from their hands. Realism isn't an argument for anything.

If you are playing an asshole that is ruining the fun of others you are doing it wrong.

If you are playing an asshole that is creating fun for others you are doing it right.

It's a game. That is the only measurement for right/wrong in this scenario.

Eh, I'd argue there is no right and wrong if you're not breaking the rules. You could just be creating fun for yourself and not ruin it for others. Also some people get way upset at what happens to their character. If their character is having a bad time, so are they. To them it doesn't matter if its fun for you an others, they're having a bad time because you're playing an asshole. Is that ruining their fun? Maybe. But it's not all about them.

That said, as a player I find myself having the most fun when I know others are around me. But not everyone is like that. Some people log in to have fun and don't want to sacrifice it at the expense of others.

[SuchDragonWow]

Just in case any assholes are feeling called out as a "cartoon villain", I'll just pipe up and say that I have never encountered anyone in this game I'd give that title to.

I wonder why it keeps getting parroted in the thread, then.  What I find cartoonish, instead, is characters having to lay out their motivations for others so it can be understood that it's "realistic".

Also some people get way upset at what happens to their character. If their character is having a bad time, so are they.

By observation, I've noticed that the great majority of complaints on the GDB about the roleplay of others has to do with some wrong done to their character, and the times it's been so obvious what they're referencing that happened IG, I wonder how it hasn't been moderated.

[Nergal]

As an aside, we do moderate "vaguebooking" when we catch on to it. Often this requires someone to report it though, since no one moderator or staff member reads everything.

Carry on!

[MeTekillot]

If you're playing a villain and you murder someone and they start making vaguely insulting remarks on the GDB, you're doing it right.

[roughneck]

If you're playing a villain and you murder someone and they start making vaguely insulting remarks on the GDB, you're doing it right.

And player complaints.