Post by Julius CMXCIX on Dec 19, 2010 4:38:56 GMT
I've realised only relatively recently that in all my released AoK work the villains are rather bland. The overwhelming majority are either otherworldly demons bent on conquest, a powerful neighbouring nation bent on conquest, a dictator bent on conquest, asassins bent on making money, bandits, and rebels. There are a few exceptions such as An Unseasonal Tale where the villain is a farmer and his family and to some extent humans generally, but that's really more player v environment and so doesn't really count. Practically all of the villains fit neatly into the above categories and have nothing more to them. I don't think this is a weakness unique to me, and so I have two questions.
What do you think makes a good villain?
Which do you think are the best villains in AoK works?
On the second question I feel that there are only a couple who emerge from utter mediocrity. It's necessary I think to exclude historical figures unless the designer genuinely fleshed out the character. Hence no Vlad Dracula.
The Shogun from Ingo van Thiel's When The Wheel Breaks was nicely mysterious and motivated by an understandable instinct for survival. Jun would probably also have been a good villain if the campaign had been completed.
I also liked King Ulug from Ulio. Determined to cling on to life until all his enemies were vanquished, ruthless and somewhat unpredictable but always within the bounds of plausibility for his character, and his illness made him memorable also. Probably my favourite.
King Praag in our very own VonCorgath's ACSC entry was also rather promising, and I wish he had been more fully developed in a finished work. Being proud to the point of fatally wounding his kingdom by killing Colarin is his distinguishing feature.
Perhaps you can think of some I missed?
I have by the way tried to avoid this flaw in the team project.
It may also be interesting to consider the same questions for heroes. My conscience is a bit lighter here as although I have my share of boring heroes I was rather pleased with Bernard and his nameless companion.
What do you think makes a good villain?
Which do you think are the best villains in AoK works?
On the second question I feel that there are only a couple who emerge from utter mediocrity. It's necessary I think to exclude historical figures unless the designer genuinely fleshed out the character. Hence no Vlad Dracula.
The Shogun from Ingo van Thiel's When The Wheel Breaks was nicely mysterious and motivated by an understandable instinct for survival. Jun would probably also have been a good villain if the campaign had been completed.
I also liked King Ulug from Ulio. Determined to cling on to life until all his enemies were vanquished, ruthless and somewhat unpredictable but always within the bounds of plausibility for his character, and his illness made him memorable also. Probably my favourite.
King Praag in our very own VonCorgath's ACSC entry was also rather promising, and I wish he had been more fully developed in a finished work. Being proud to the point of fatally wounding his kingdom by killing Colarin is his distinguishing feature.
Perhaps you can think of some I missed?
I have by the way tried to avoid this flaw in the team project.
It may also be interesting to consider the same questions for heroes. My conscience is a bit lighter here as although I have my share of boring heroes I was rather pleased with Bernard and his nameless companion.