The Wykydtron said:
I can't do evil very well either. I have to rationalise every decision I make and many RPGs' evil options are so pointlessly cruel I can't do it. Remember the evil option in Jade Empire and how it comes down to basically betraying everyone and everything for full power over the world? All my attempted Closed Fist runs eventually devolved into standard good guy runs after a few hours. I played that game like 10 times at least too.
Personally, i useally do play a good character.
But in for example TES series i do steal just about anything thats not nailt down.
It isn't considered evil (bay the game anyway), but just don't get caught.
Same goes for killing for the dark brotherhood.
I find a binarie good or evil system flawet at best.
Like you said, the evil options are often pointlessly cruel.
Or are not evil, but just make you look like a jerk.
Also asking for a (higher) reward often puts you in the evil camp, but in the end you did help even when it was not required.
But the option to betray everyone and rule the world sound pretty evil though.
I like a reputation systems a bit more.
like Fallout:NV, You still have a overall karma rating, but how people response to you depends on your reputation with certain factions.
Although there were way to many points to do a 180' and jump sides
Skyrim did an atempt at this as well, but slightly less well in my opinion.