Bad Good Guys, and Good Bad Guys

Reynard

Reynard

Legend
Supporter
I was listening to the podcast "History That Doesn't Suck" (highly recommended, by the way, if you have any interest in American History) and the episode introducing American Prohibition got my imagination going (as good history often does). Specifically, the discussion was about the vigilante prohibition activist women of the era, who would go into saloons throwing bricks and smashing bottles. I immediately thought of a paladin organization in a fantasy campaign that did the same thing: going into taverns, brothels and gambling dens and smashing the place for the good of the poor sinners who frequented those locales. I won't make any judgements on the real historical prohibitionists, but in a fantasy game these paladins would make for some interesting Bad Good Guys (especially in the minds of more freedom loving chaotic types).

What ideas for or examples of Bad Good Guys or Good Bad Guys do you have from your games?
 
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payn

payn

I don't believe in the no-win scenario
To get the concept straight, are we talking about folks doing bad things that generate good outcomes? Also, the reverse, bad folks having good results from their bad actions?
 

Reynard

Reynard

Legend
Supporter
payn said:
To get the concept straight, are we talking about folks doing bad things that generate good outcomes? Also, the reverse, bad folks having good results from their bad actions?
Click to expand...
Yes: Good guys using what would be considered bad/wrong methods, and Bad Guys who are actually right (Magneto) or who end up doing good (the Nazi-punching gangsters in The Rocketeer).
 

payn

payn

I don't believe in the no-win scenario
Imma strap butter side toast up onto a cat then toss it by saying the assassin that only kills bad dudes.
 

Reynard

Reynard

Legend
Supporter
payn said:
Imma strap butter side toast up onto a cat then toss it by saying the assassin that only kills bad dudes.
Click to expand...
That is indeed a well worn trope. I have used it a couple times myself, usually with the "the victims were the real bad guys" twist thrown in. I would put Punisher type vigilantes in the same Good Bad Guy bucket.
 

Micah Sweet

Micah Sweet

Level Up & OSR Enthusiast
Reynard said:
I was listening to the podcast "History That Doesn't Suck" (highly recommended, by the way, if you have any interest in American History) and the epsidoe introducing American Prohibition got my imagination going (as good history often does). Specifically, the discussion was about the vigilante prohibition activcist women of the era, who would go into saloons throwing bricks and smashing bottles. I immediately thought of a paladin organization in a fantasy campaign that did the same thing: going into taverns, brothels and gambling dens and smashing the place for the good of the poor sinners who frequented those locales. I won't make any judgements on the real historical prohibitionists, but in a fantasy game these paladins would make for some interesting Bad Good Guys (especially in the minds of more freedom loving chaotic types).

What ideas for or examples of Bad Good Guys or Good Bad Guys do you have from your games?
Click to expand...
First of all, that is an amazing podcast and I love it!

I like the concept you're outlining here, in large part because it has that setting verisimilitude I'm always looking for. I like the idea of "Bad Good Guys" as dramatic foils for the PCs. I'm thinking of a Frank Grimes-type, who sees how ridiculous the premise of adventuring is and is basically crusading for normalcy. Just brainstorming now, so I need to bake the concept some more, but it has potential.
 

GMMichael

GMMichael

Guide of Modos
Good bad guys? Well, there goes my whole notion of Alignment!

How about the councilor who gets in an uproar when one village is attacked by a duchy, but doesn't blink an eye when a different duchy attacks another village?
 



Snarf Zagyg

Snarf Zagyg

Notorious Liquefactionist
Supporter
In my various Greyhawk campaigns, one of the tensions is that some of the "good guys" aren't actually that good.

The prime example is followers of Pholtus, who is "lawful good," but his followers tend to fanaticism and a completely rigid world view.

The Theocracy of the Pale (in my conception) is a place that is creepily good, but you will quickly learn that they impose goodness, and small infractions are punished disproportionately. Also, it's only good to worship Pholtus. So there's that.
 

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