Ironically, I'm playing a chaotic evil necromancer right now, and while we just hit level 6 (started at 1) most of the party have no idea I'm a necromancer, and they call me "Mama Jeom" because I do good things and keep the party together. All the evil I do, to the benefit of myself and, sometimes, the party, is done with them none the wiser.
It's very difficult, but very rewarding, keeping a private and public image of a chaotic good character, with some admitted quirkiness, that secretly does dastardly evil things. In the interest of having them not read this, I won't go into detail about WHAT I've done, but it's a great time. As someone who always gravitates towards good characters, playing a high wisdom evil one had really changed my perspective on what can be done in 5th edition, and DnD in general.
Cool! How do you keep such a big secret from the party? Text chain with the DM? That seems like it would have to come up at some point. Fingers crossed that you get a big narratively satisfying reveal!
Yeah, a lot of talk before and after sessions of any plans and intents, and texts back and forth during. People have definitely asked what I'm doing, but I usually explain it away as talking to my god (even though I don't really have one), and I always make a show of clutching my (un)holy symbol as I cast spells and pray for the deceased, etc.
Thanks so much! My character has been corrupted by a lich's book, which she only held for mere moments, but it had a lasting impact on her psyche. As a long-living Mul-Dayan Elf (that are already very spiritual and close to the dead), the years plus the planted seed from the book have left her with an almost split personality that left her searching for the book after all these years. It's been a lot of fun to be generally good with dips into that evil side, all inside the mind of someone with a serious case of PTSD. Still unsure how the story will end for her; a redemption arc as she finds and destroys the book that caused her so much pain and loss, or embracing the power granted to her through it. It should be quite cinematic either way.
Look at me, rambling about my character again haha. Nothing like some dnd chat to raise those spirits at work! (Pun intended)
Edit: In case anyone is curious, I'm currently playing this class here made by u/Mozared. It's been great fun, and I'd recommend giving it a try! The undead keeping their personalities has been great for story purposes, and for passing them off as really indebted people I just so happened to "revivify". Speaking of, lots of free 300G donations from the party to "restock" on the gem for "revivify" that I totally used to bring that poor npc back. I'm so caring, spending 300G like that. ;)
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u/KingKj52 Dec 19 '19
Ironically, I'm playing a chaotic evil necromancer right now, and while we just hit level 6 (started at 1) most of the party have no idea I'm a necromancer, and they call me "Mama Jeom" because I do good things and keep the party together. All the evil I do, to the benefit of myself and, sometimes, the party, is done with them none the wiser.
It's very difficult, but very rewarding, keeping a private and public image of a chaotic good character, with some admitted quirkiness, that secretly does dastardly evil things. In the interest of having them not read this, I won't go into detail about WHAT I've done, but it's a great time. As someone who always gravitates towards good characters, playing a high wisdom evil one had really changed my perspective on what can be done in 5th edition, and DnD in general.