I read a lot of 5e D&D FB post where people describe what is happening in their game. I am a snob because most of what they describe sounds horrible. In a typical post, a person describes a collection of random actions taken by a character and then justify all the chaos by saying, “I am playing an evil character….” As if this response explains it all.

Are they expecting me to respond with, “Oh that is why you decided to attack your own party members after setting them up to fail so you could steal all their stuff? Cool.”

Too many people believe playing an evil character means being a random stupid asshole that does whatever they want without logic or reason.

Before I get to my advice, I recommend the following two videos of playing evil characters and not playing a Dickish character. Both of these were created by the video blogger Guy at his site Bacon Battalion RPG. In both cases, Guy gives solid advice.

Expanding on Guy thoughts, I want to introduce the Concentric Circle Alignment system for character creation. A Concentric Circle is a chart of a circle within a Circle. Apparently, this name sucks so I will call it Complex Alignments. By using this method, you can use the D&D alignment system to create more complex characters.

First off, playing the selfish evil character just doesn’t work for an RPG.

I know this is an unpopular statement, but as a collective social story, excluding others from the game just by time management alone makes you a bad player. So when playing any character, it has to be a social one. Someone that can function in a group.

The best way to approach an evil Hero is to have a very narrow number of people you care about. I would suggest this group includes family, friends, the party, and perhaps a patron. And that is about it! The rest of the world could all burn to ash if it gets in your way.

Therefore, when dealing with those you do care about, be a good Hero. And as BaconRPG suggests, be a super good character!

As it is, the D&D alignment system is inadequate and limiting. However, with a simple modification, I think it is excellent!

The modification requires you to think of alignment as a Concentric Circle chart with 2 or more circles. Personally I like three circles that I labeled as Friends, Stranger, and Enemies. Then you give each circle its own alignment. If just two then Friends and Others.

By doing so, you will end up making exciting and complex Heroes. And you can play evil characters who can function within a party because they are also good characters.

It is that simple.

Let’s put this into play with building a Human Paladin who worships Bahamut.

The first version will be a by-the-book true good Paladin. I write down my alignment as LG, LG, & LG. In the case of Friends, Stranger, and Enemies, my Hero that is true to his convictions and treats everyone the same.

In the second version, I decide I want to play a crusading Paladin with a harder edge. He has been fighting the followers of a rival god and hates them. I give him an alignment of LG, LG, & LE.

With this alignment, I am kind to everyone except for my enemies. In their case, I am still Lawful, but I am ruthless. I have no mercy for them. I will not break the law, but once judged my enemy then the gloves are off.

In the eyes of my enemies, I am a ruthless LE character. I hunt them down, burn their villages, and kill them. At the same time, to the rest of the world, I am a super nice guy.

This good and kind Paladin might have a mixed reputation in his church. Something about war brings out the worst in him. Perhaps he feels terrible about it and confesses his sins. Or he feels justified saying to the Priest, “Father, you do not understand the followers of Tiamat as I do.”

Now let’s turn to a third version of the same Paladin and make him more involved. Let’s adjust his Alignment to LG, LN, & NE.

He is still Lawful Good to his church and family. He would do anything for these people even giving his life to save them.

However, this isn’t true of the random person he meets on the street. By his nature, he follows the law, but he isn’t compassionate. He would not make a personal sacrifice for them. After all, they follow pagan gods, and therefore he really doesn’t care what happens to them. Perhaps if he were paid, he would help them.

Lastly for his enemies there are no laws, he is Neutral Evil. He must destroy them without exception or mercy. In fact, he enjoys to see them suffer. Not only would he burn their villages, but he would kill their children.

Now I get to play a more believable evil Paladin. Someone who is kind, generous and just to fellow church members, but has less compassion for people as a whole. They must follow the law. Otherwise, he isn’t interested. What he is interested in is destroying his enemies and the law be damned! Rules are for good people, not for those with evil hearts!

Each of these three Paladin I created would play very different, but not so different to party members. To his friends, he would take the shirt off his back to help them. Lay on track if need be. He is a Lawful Good hero.

Let’s make a second character using Complex Alignments.

I want to play an Elf that hates Dragonborn. I decided to create another circle: Friends, Stranger, Enemies, & Dragonborn. I give this Elf the following alignments: CG, NG, LE, & CE.

At first glance, she seems like a mess. But let’s dig into it.

For the people close to her, she believes that for good people worthy of trust and kindness there is no need for rules. Their kind hearts will guide them. For people as a whole, she sees it on a case-by-case basis.

When it comes to the people don’t have the good in their heart to guide them, they need laws and order enforced upon them. A society needs guards and prisons. Bad people need rules.

Lastly, the worst of the worst, are the inherently evil dragonkind. They are beyond laws. Having laws for them is pointless, they don’t have it within them. They should all be destroyed. And while she cannot kill dragons, yet. She can focus her rage on the Dragonborn.

Over time, the center circles must trump the lower Diagrams! Friends > Enemies.

This is important. Imagine a new Dragonborn character joins the party. Here is the trick! After a short hazing period, the Elf must shift the PC from Enemy to the Friend circle. In doing so, she can claim to have found one of the few good Dragonborn. Now she can use the PC Dragonborn to further justify her hatred. “If only they were all like you, but they are not!”

Using Complex Alignment creates complex Hero that are constant in their view. It allows a Hero to be both good and evil. Lawful and chaotic.