Preferred RPG characterization?

[The Eggplant]

Dunno if this has been done recently, but out of curiosity, how do you tend to characterize your avatar in RPGs that allow for moral ambiguity? (i.e. KoTOR, any of the Fallout games, TES series to an extent, even something like Fable or inFamous if you're going to allow for a VERY loose definition of "moral ambiguity") I'm working through my fourth playthrough of FO3, and have discovered that I get actively uncomfortable trying to be evil. The most I've ever managed to do is remain evil through James' death, but there's something about Liam Neeson telling you that you have "a cloud hanging over you" that makes me feel incredibly ashamed of myself. Maybe it's just that it's Liam Neeson, though.

So, escapists, what are you if given the choice--a paragon, a demonspawn, or just a dude trying to get by?

 

[Legion]

I always choose what I think I would do. Usually that is being a good guy who makes the occasional "evil" decision, but only when the person deserves it.

For example Mass Effect 1 and 2 I was all nice and helpful, but told any criminal or irritating person (Udina) where to shove it. I only went for Renegade options when they were genuinely asking for it.

Fallout 3 I was good to everyone who needed help but showed no mercy to slavers and whatnot. I didn't even tend to speak to them, Paradise Falls was a bloodbath.

 

[linwolf]

At the start of the game I form the characters personalty and then I react like that in all actions I make.

 

[soren7550]

Spoiler: Mass Effect 2 Pic

Does that help answer your question? (all the renegade points are either from the pop up disruptions or times that I have no idea why the dialogue choice was considered bad.)

I'm almost never evil. I just can't really bring myself to do that really. I did start a Fable 2 playthrough where I was going to be more evil, but I didn't go very far in that.

 

[Sampsa]

When its fantasy I'm wizard aiming for ultimate destruction rather than buff-magic. When magic is not an option I prefer class that relies on stealth and hit and run tactics.

 

[Zarokima]

I do whatever has the most benefit. So I guess that makes me chaotic neutral.

 

[BabySinclair]

I tend to be one not to walk into open confrontation in most RPGs. Backstabbing and sneaking around is fine but I'll try to avoid a fair fight, bit of a scoundrel in my characterization, probably from too much of Han and Mal.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I have serious trouble trying to be evil, to the point where I usually just don't bother. I can occasionally go for the neutral, "selfish" path, but I always wind up going out of my way to help people...

 

[Summerstorm]

Depends on the game. But normaly i play a "realistically nice guy" so no Knight Templar or lawful stupid. Often i do a "lawful evil"-kind of game in the second try, a selfish evil dude, but true to his word and in the end doing it all because i would be a more efficient ruler than the OTHER evil dude *g*.

Of course most games in one situation or MANY do not allow for some things. (Often it is that you can either be an idiot or a monster)

 

[Marter]

I start out on one extreme, then I'll move to the second extreme on the second playthrough. If I'm still enjoying the game, I'll go for a neutral approach on a third playthrough.

 

[RadicalDreamer90]

I'm abnormally direct in Games with too many choices. Usually it's the first thing that comes to mind, that ends up coming out. Like when I played FallOut 3 and that kid punched me at my b day. I was willing to accept that fact and get even when I was older, so I waited and when I was a teenager and charged him and punched him in the face, but then his guys jumped me -.-. So I was intent on making sure he died, and thus as I escaped the first time I slit his throat and broke his skull XD. I guess I just do what rules naturally prevent me from doing, and do whatever I feel is okie =P

 

[Chamale]

I usually role-play a Good character, although in Oblivion I'm trying to act out a gradual spin into evil so I can experience everything in one go. I played through Fallout 3 multiple times, first as a Good character, then a Neutral character with maxed-out stats, then as an Evil character. After that, I tried going through the game as a baby (boring, too slow) and with no HUD or VATS (really hard, awesomely fun).

 

[Flour]

Chaotic Neutral.

I grab the best rewards, doesn't matter if it means killing a puppy or saving one.

Sometimes I do a specific playthrough but those are usually very short if evil simply because you're playing an idiot and nobody ever comments on it.

As an example: Great, the blacksmith just got the sword for the king/whatever back, and now you're given the 'evil' option to kill him because the reward wasn't high enough? Well, if someone commissioned a sword for several thousand gold, it's obviously a good idea to kill the person that was supposed to deliver the sword. YOU'RE NOT EVIL, YOU'RE JUST AN IDIOT FOR PISSING OFF THE RICHEST GUY IN THE AREA.

 

[Srdjan]

Mostly chaotic evil, sometimes lawful evil or even chaotic good.

Most game have evil way very badly done, with limiting freedom (some games don't have even that) but I like being bad anyway.

P.S. I loved playing KotOR 2 like Sith, it wasn't perfect but I had tons of fun.

 

[Tucker154]

Im a good person all the time.In ME1 i started 5 playthroughs with evil in mind.Each time i did nothing but good,and i still have to get the renagade achievement...

 

[Blazing Steel]

First go: All good
Second go: All bad
Third go: Myself
Fourth +: Whichever I most enjoyed

 

[Leftylol]

I do what I believe I would do, it generally involves good decisions with a few selfish bad ones depending on how I see fit, mainly for the sake of survival.

I try to stay neutral in things but always ending up swaying towards the good path.

 

[Oktanas]

I pick those options that benefit me or are the shorters. Usualy I go for the evil character.

 

[Sirch.Cajnos]

In Mass Effect 2 i found that some of the renegade options actually left a bad taste in my mouth, like the Batarian in Mordin's recruitment mission or the first Salarian in Thane's. Not saving those two made me just feel like an asshole. so i tend to go more towards the good options

 

[Frapple]

Why do people still think Mass Effect contains a Good/Evil choice system, it's not. It's Paragon/Renegade, it says right there in the game!

You're an inherently good character, all the choice system is quantifying is whether or not you support 'the greater good' for example in the Bring Down the Sky DLC for ME1, you can fight and kill the leader but he will blow up innocent hostages before you do, or you can let him live and save the innocent people. Renegade is accepting the loses of the innocents to save more lives in the future by not letting the leader live, which is well within your rights as a spectre.