What makes a good Villian?
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Ambition, charisma, and a smooth, sinister voice. Look at Malcolm McDowell or Tim Curry as a frame of reference for that last bit.
a good bad guy is one you can root for if
one who's goals you can understand and sympathize with
like L from Death note
or the bad guy from The Noble Dead series
all of the villains in Tales of Vesperia
the Ice Truck Killer from Dexter
Laertes from Hamlet
Saren from Mass Effect
Loghain from Dragon Age
an acceptable bad guy is one who has to be taken down
such as the Reapers from Mass Effect
the Flood from Halo
the Vizier from Prince of Persia
Kor from Jak 2
Roman from the Kitty Norville series
those jerks on 4chan who spam the Loli threads with pictures of trains
a bad bad guy is one who's motivations don't seem to have a clear reason behind them
ones who are being bad for the sake of being bad
the bad guys form Captain Planet
Bowzer from Mario
Stephenie Meyer
the Republican Party
pretty much anyone who made you go "Why the fuck are they doing that?"
one who's goals you can understand and sympathize with
like L from Death note
or the bad guy from The Noble Dead series
all of the villains in Tales of Vesperia
the Ice Truck Killer from Dexter
Laertes from Hamlet
Saren from Mass Effect
Loghain from Dragon Age
an acceptable bad guy is one who has to be taken down
such as the Reapers from Mass Effect
the Flood from Halo
the Vizier from Prince of Persia
Kor from Jak 2
Roman from the Kitty Norville series
those jerks on 4chan who spam the Loli threads with pictures of trains
a bad bad guy is one who's motivations don't seem to have a clear reason behind them
ones who are being bad for the sake of being bad
the bad guys form Captain Planet
Bowzer from Mario
Stephenie Meyer
the Republican Party
pretty much anyone who made you go "Why the fuck are they doing that?"
Like some of those who replied before me (I actually read this time).
The villain need to be smart and have a bigger then average ego. That's about all it really need, other then being against the protagonist. If an antagonist isn't smart at all, or have normal person level of smartness, that character wouldn't make that much of a good villain. If they are just ruthless, it might make it feel like a simple grunt, regular level of smartness, he might feel more like a rival. A real villain need to plan ahead, conceive traps, multiple pointless steps for their plans, therefore always giving the protagonist an advantage, like speeches in the fight before they would otherwise win, and it need to be somewhat personal eventually. I like the smart rich, with white hairs on the side, small mustache and big whine glass in a mansion type of villain myself, or just type of character.
The villain need to be smart and have a bigger then average ego. That's about all it really need, other then being against the protagonist. If an antagonist isn't smart at all, or have normal person level of smartness, that character wouldn't make that much of a good villain. If they are just ruthless, it might make it feel like a simple grunt, regular level of smartness, he might feel more like a rival. A real villain need to plan ahead, conceive traps, multiple pointless steps for their plans, therefore always giving the protagonist an advantage, like speeches in the fight before they would otherwise win, and it need to be somewhat personal eventually. I like the smart rich, with white hairs on the side, small mustache and big whine glass in a mansion type of villain myself, or just type of character.
It all depends. First off, they need a motive, even if that motive is just "for teh lulz". Make their actions reflect their personality. If they are the calm manipulator, don't have them rush out into the front lines. If they are the insane psychopath, don't let them have a big philosophical moment. If they are doing it for what they deem "humanity's own good", make their actions have some shred of rationality, no matter how twisted.
If there is a chance of redemption, let it be know, don't make it a last second plot twist. Build it up. Just a moment of hesitation can be all the hint one needs.
There is a very thin line between Joker and Dick Dastardly. You can be evil for the sake of being a villian, and evil for the sake of being evil.
Finally, if they are competent in the begining but make complete idiot mistakes in the middle or the other way around, this greatly affects the veiwers response. It's "when the hell did they get so smart/stupid?"
Anything can make a good villian, these things just tend to make villians a little less good.
If there is a chance of redemption, let it be know, don't make it a last second plot twist. Build it up. Just a moment of hesitation can be all the hint one needs.
There is a very thin line between Joker and Dick Dastardly. You can be evil for the sake of being a villian, and evil for the sake of being evil.
Finally, if they are competent in the begining but make complete idiot mistakes in the middle or the other way around, this greatly affects the veiwers response. It's "when the hell did they get so smart/stupid?"
Anything can make a good villian, these things just tend to make villians a little less good.
Someone that churn the hearts of men to lure them into their self destructive and morally wrong choices. And make them think they are doing good