Don't Feel Bad: Be Bad!

7. Doing Things

Villainous deeds take a lot of thought. Think about the sort of image you want to present, and then look at these remarks about different kinds of villains.

He Whose Name We Dare Not Speak? Mention not that man in these parts! Old men still blanch at the mention of his deeds, for no act of depravity was too low for him…
The Condor? A truly dangerous man. You don't want to cross him; the last one to do so died magnificently.
You can say what you like about Sulthran, but he's a gentleman. He's got style. And he only ever kills his own sort!
Cardinal Gomez? H-he is a just, devout and holy man! I-I-I wouldn't hear a word said against him! Others might torture a heretic's children until he confesses, but not Cardinal Gomez!

If you're truly evil, chances are you'll be prepared to do anything to get noticed, but try leaving out a few crimes. Consider a few things that you'd never do, or if you're really not sure if you have any limits, pick a few arbitrarily. Perhaps you never harm women and children, or you don't rob from the poor. Now, that doesn't mean you have to rob from the rich and feed the poor -- you can still be a selfish bastard as much as you like (remember, say 'yes' to you!) but if you appear to have standards, then you appear to have style.

Another key to stylish villainy is audacity. A great thief would never let it be known that she rolls drunks for loose change. She breaks into temples and steals the jewelled eyes of statues, or the Crown Jewels of an empire, something like that. So think big -- if you have contacts among the demons, then they'll gladly sponsor such activities and give you a horde of vicious creatures from the netherworld on tick! Here are some plans to get you going. All you need is an original idea, and if you don't have one, steal one. It doesn't have to be your original idea.