If your evil character isn’t at least pretending to be helpful, they’re not evil—they’re just unemployed.

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts dive deep into the dark, morally murky world of evil characters in tabletop RPGs. With Ash leading the charge, the conversation focuses on how to play a character with evil tendencies without destroying the game, the party, or your friendships. The hosts explore different shades of evil alignments, the narrative value of morally compromised PCs, and offer practical advice on how to maintain group cohesion when one of the players is clearly up to no good. From selfish rogues to power-hungry warlocks, the cast lays out the dos and don'ts of roleplaying antagonistic characters responsibly.

This episode balances philosophical alignment discussion with real-world table etiquette, all while keeping things lighthearted, insightful, and occasionally disturbing in the best way. If you've ever wanted to play the villain—but not be one—this is your guide.

Check out our Best of Season 1 and Best of Season 2 playlists!

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MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

• RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes
• RPGBOT.Podcast S2E9 – Alignment (part 1 of 2)
• RPGBOT.Podcast S2E9 – Alignment (part 2 of 2)
• Content from RPGBOT.net
• Otherworldly Patrons and You – DnD 5e
• Dark Gifts or Distinctive Quirks? – DnD 5e
• Villains – RPGBOT.Podcast S2E58
• Other Stuff
• Book of Vile Darkness (3e) (affiliate link)
• Monstrous Races (affiliate link)
• Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (affiliate link)
• Way of the Wicked (affiliate link)

Key Takeaways:

• Evil characters can enhance a TTRPG story if they’re crafted with intention and communication.
• Session Zero is the place to set expectations and make sure everyone is on board.
• A "safe sociopath" in-game should never be a real-life problem player.
• Evil characters should elevate the story—not just hog the spotlight or sow chaos.
• It's okay to play dark themes—but not at the cost of trust at the table.
• Redemption arcs and “gray morality” often make more compelling characters than cartoon villains.

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How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
• BlueSky: @GravenAshes
• YouTube: @ashravenmedia

Randall James

• BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG
• Amateurjack.com
• Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link)

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati