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Question: Dear Dungeon Monkey, currently I’m playing a paladin in a fantasy campaign and I am beginning to find my current alignment a bit…restrictive.  I’ve reviewed the rules for my particular game and I understand how to change alignments, my DM is okay with the idea of changing alignments to something a bit more…evil…but she wants me to come up with a compelling story for why I’m changing my characters outlook on his alignment.  I’ve tried a few different approaches, like I’m questing for a new source of power or I desire something that will better allow me to shape my destiny, but my DM keeps pointing out that I can achieve all those goals in my current alignment.  What is something really compelling I can use to argue my case?

Answer: Well the first thing you need to really ask yourself, and your Game Master (GM), is is she really okay with your character changing alignment?  Some GMs will say that they feel comfortable with the idea of changing alignment but in reality they are just trying to avoid making you feel disappointed or defensive.  If your GM is dealing with her distaste for your plan in this matter, the best thing to do first is talk with her about it and find out if this is the case.  If it is either negotiate making a new character or simply buckle down to being a character with a positive alignment.  You should think about the necessity of changing alignments in any case, if you are looking for ways to unleash uncontrolled havoc upon the world with a bit of creative work a good alignment can open up more havoc doors then an evil one, as long as you follow some special guidelines.

But in general I understand the appeal, evil is a bit more sexy in some ways then good and definitely can offer more immediate perks in the physical pleasures department/wardrobe upgrades.  If your GM is okay with the alignment change and just wants a really compelling story you need to give her one, something truly over the top.  You should practice it first in front of a mirror, telling it with excitement in your voice and a gleam in your eye.  Be sure to work in at least two moments of horrible maniacal laughter, at appropriate points in the story, if you are unsure of how to do a proper maniacal laugh then check out a classic horror film with Vincent Price as the main character.  You want to do that voice and that laugh, anything less then that and you are missing the power of the evil laugh.  You might even want to invest in a bit of wardrobe, dark colors are usually good and a cape is quite stunning as a means of delivering an image of evil in a compact package.  Also be sure to practice rubbing your hands together in a smooth, grasping motion, you want people to believe that you are full of dark intent and cunning.

Your actual story should be one of personal fall to temptation, you did not start out seeking evil but instead it came knocking at your door, evil is always trying to tempt good.  You resisted the evil in many forms, perhaps it tempted you two or six times unsuccessfully but on the third or seventh time, it succeeded in drawing you towards it.  Focus on the weakness in your character that sparked his or her fall, the chain of events that lead to your character falling to the dark side.  Personally I like to use a weakness that taps into your own personal darkness but, if you are unable to channel that sort of thing, the classics work wonders.  Fear of pain, physical pleasure/sexual pleasure, drink or intoxicating drugs, or simply the raw lure of evil power drunk in off some inappropriate furry portion of your tempting local demon or demoness.  From there you should make up some sort of horrid ritual that you had to undertake to prove your loyalty to the dark forces, usually something involving personal humiliation or swearing some sort of scathing personal oaths.  If you are having trouble look up any sort of Navy hazing event or any fraternity initiation ceremony, really those are the best sources for this sort of thing.

Of course if all of this fails you simply have to tell your GM the honest truth, you want to join team evil for its excellent dental plan.  For those unsure take a look at demon’s sometime, tusks, fangs, and other bizarre dentition takes one heck of a good dental plan to maintain.

Have a question for the Dungeon Monkey?  Want to seek out some gaming suggestions?  Email Dungeon Monkey at dungeonmonkey@umich.edu and get your answers!