Antagonists

[The Naked Emperor]

Having a villain with no reason to be a jerk other than taking over the world or just because makes it a lot easier to smash their faces in. When it's for a good personal reason I want to help them find a way to accomplish their goal without being a "villain", i.e. the kitten example, if they want to kill all kittens because they killed their family, I'd suggest they only kill the kittens that did it, etc.

And leave the other kittens free to kill? Hell no!

 

[krugerrand123]

The mad scientists with crazy schemes, they are always cool.

 

[plugav]

There are many ways to do a good antagonist, but "pure evil" is usually not one of them.

Andrzej Sapkowski had some wonderfull antagonists in his Witcher short stories, usually ones the reader could sympathise with. Renfri from "The Lesser Evil" was a good one, as was the creature from "The Eternal Fire."

 

[VivaciousDeimos]

I enjoy Affably Evil [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AffablyEvil] types. The guys you could have a polite conversation and a cup of tea with, but who wouldn't hesitate to slit your throat if it would help them accomplish their goals. It's almost more chilling that way because the violence can be so much more unpredictable.

I think the importance of antagonists is best summarized by The Law of Bruce [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheVillainMakesThePlot?from=Main.TheLawOfBruce]: Any story where you have good guys versus bad guys can only be as smart as the intelligence of your baddest guy.

[small][small]Ha! Two TvTropes links for the price of one. [/small][/small]

 

[OldNewNewOld]

He wouldn't be an Antagonist though. An antagonist is someone opposed to the protagonist (The main character). The Antagonist in Code Geass is The Emperor.

Spoiler: Spoilers

Then Schneizel after The Emperor is killed.

Lelouch is an example of a Villain Protagonist.

I know, I just couldn't find and antagonist that behaves as Lelouch. Charles is similar, but not the same. Schneizel is to neutral.

Spoiler

Lelouch is the one who was ready to redeem him self by arranging his own public assassination. While the Emperor was simply doing it his way without sacrificing him self.

Although Lelouch is a protagonist, he is the perfect antagonist. Byronic Hero

 

[willofbob]

I completely agree with you. I like a villain who has his own beliefs even though they differ from society. Often times I don't even see them as a villain, just a person whose views are different.

'Is it right to do evil things for a good cause?'

This I believe in as the ends justify the means.

have you read the Eisenhorn trilogy? Inquisitor Quixos believes this, and almost destroys an entire system in a (flawed) attempt to close the Eye of Terror.

a character even has a conversation with Eisenhorn about this; "Sometimes you have to break the rules just to survive."
"So the ends justify the means?"
"Ahh... now there's the kind of thinking that gets you in trouble. No, there are some means that no ends can ever justify. In my experience, it's OK to break the rules as long as you do one thing..."
"what's that?"
"Understand the rule you're going to break..."

also, my favourite villains are probably either the Auditors of Reality from Discworld or the xenophobic Enclave from Fallout. Both of them believe there cause is right and both crave the destruction of all conscious beings apart from themselves.

 

[Soluncreed]

I completely agree with you. I like a villain who has his own beliefs even though they differ from society. Often times I don't even see them as a villain, just a person whose views are different.

'Is it right to do evil things for a good cause?'

This I believe in as the ends justify the means.

have you read the Eisenhorn trilogy? Inquisitor Quixos believes this, and almost destroys an entire system in a (flawed) attempt to close the Eye of Terror.

a character even has a conversation with Eisenhorn about this; "Sometimes you have to break the rules just to survive."
"So the ends justify the means?"
"Ahh... now there's the kind of thinking that gets you in trouble. No, there are some means that no ends can ever justify. In my experience, it's OK to break the rules as long as you do one thing..."
"what's that?"
"Understand the rule you're going to break..."

also, my favourite villains are probably either the Auditors of Reality from Discworld or the xenophobic Enclave from Fallout. Both of them believe there cause is right and both crave the destruction of all conscious beings apart from themselves.

I actually have a copy of the trilogy that I have been wanting to read, it's just that I can never seem to find the time. It's been recommended by quite a few of my friends and I have been looking forward to reading it. I've also read disc world, but it has been quite awhile. I barely remember it. You have a good taste in literature.

 

[Hunter15]

i liked sullivan cause hes the one that turn chuck green into CHUCK NORRIS

 

[-Dragmire-]

Kefka - psychotic nihilist

not the go-to villain all the time but when it's done right - classic

 

[MellowFellow]

I really liked Saren from Mass Effect 1 as an antagonist, because it seemed like he thought what he was doing was good for everyone. So I guess I prefer the misguided hero, for the fact that they are trying to do what they believe is right.

Then again, he was indoctrinated by Sovereign, and seems to be aware that what he is doing is wrong.

Spoiler

If you have high enough Paragon or Renegade, you can after all even convince him what he's doing his wrong, and he'll kill himself in the end-fight, which furthers the point that Saren doesn't truly believe he's doing the right thing, nor even wants it himself, he is simply being mind-controlled.

Yeah I convinced him to do that in one of my playthroughs, but I still think he was a good antagonist even if he isn't necessarily under the misguided hero category.

 

[kane.malakos]

I completely agree with you. I like a villain who has his own beliefs even though they differ from society. Often times I don't even see them as a villain, just a person whose views are different.

'Is it right to do evil things for a good cause?'

This I believe in as the ends justify the means.

have you read the Eisenhorn trilogy? Inquisitor Quixos believes this, and almost destroys an entire system in a (flawed) attempt to close the Eye of Terror.

a character even has a conversation with Eisenhorn about this; "Sometimes you have to break the rules just to survive."
"So the ends justify the means?"
"Ahh... now there's the kind of thinking that gets you in trouble. No, there are some means that no ends can ever justify. In my experience, it's OK to break the rules as long as you do one thing..."
"what's that?"
"Understand the rule you're going to break..."

also, my favourite villains are probably either the Auditors of Reality from Discworld or the xenophobic Enclave from Fallout. Both of them believe there cause is right and both crave the destruction of all conscious beings apart from themselves.

Your mention of Terry Pratchett reminded me how good his villains are. He's written a lot of good ones, like Deacon Vorbis, Edward D'Eath, or the Gonne...

 

[willofbob]

Your mention of Terry Pratchett reminded me how good his villains are. He's written a lot of good ones, like Deacon Vorbis, Edward D'Eath, or the Gonne...

He makes some great ones, doesn't he?

I actually have a copy of the trilogy that I have been wanting to read, it's just that I can never seem to find the time. It's been recommended by quite a few of my friends and I have been looking forward to reading it. I've also read disc world, but it has been quite awhile. I barely remember it. You have a good taste in literature.

thanks, I pride myself on it.

 

[ServebotFrank]

I really liked Saren from Mass Effect 1 as an antagonist, because it seemed like he thought what he was doing was good for everyone. So I guess I prefer the misguided hero, for the fact that they are trying to do what they believe is right.

I felt bad for him because it turns out that he followed the same ideals Shepard did and went out to destroy Sovereign himself. However, when he encountered Sovereign he's affected by the indoctrination and unknowingly develops that ideal that he's doing the right thing. If you're high in Charm or Intimidate you can even talk him out of the indoctrination long enough for him to make sure he never falls victim again. That was a powerful villain.