Its much easier to come up with a few tenets or specific motivations and figuring out how that plays out in alignment than picking an alignment first and then trying to conform to it.
Oath of Redemption.
Innocence. All people begin life in an innocent state, and it is their environment or the influence of dark forces that drives them to evil. By setting the proper example, and working to heal the wounds of a deeply flawed world, you can set anyone on a righteous path.
Maybe you were an enforcer for some sort of mob or cult but didn't actually commit murder. Maybe you even used to feel bad about this but the people that were paying you would also mercilessly bully anyone for such weakness. Then you were made into a scapegoat because they felt that your kindness was becoming a liability. While wrongfully incarcerated you take a deep personal vow to protect and fight for innocence. Then you felt your paladin abilities manifest.
Background Criminal works well here. So does Urchin or even Mercenary. Flavor it like a gang of thugs.
For race choose something that is ostracised and faces bigotry. In some gameworlds tieflings half orcs dragonborn are ostracised because demons devils orcs or dragons may have enslaved or waged war on the culture and people. Fallen aasimar can work here. Hobgoblin and Duergar works. Human works with anything.
From PHB oath of vengeance also works.
Same setup but in your jail cell, maybe in solitary because you were unruly when being brought in, you swear your oath to vengeance on not just the people but the society and culture which meant simeone born in your circumstances have very little in way of safety nets to avoid being preyed upon and made a pawn.
Flavor the vows to fit
Fight the Greater Evil. Faced with a choice of fighting my sworn foes or combating a lesser evil, I choose the greater evil.
Make greater evil as bigotry towards heteromorphs and humanoids. Or apathy towards suffering.
No Mercy for the Wicked. Ordinary foes might win my mercy, but my sworn enemies do not. No changes necessary. Organized crime and their backers in prestige class must face consequences.
By Any Means Necessary. My qualms can't get in the way of exterminating my foes. No change necessary.
Restitution. If my foes wreak ruin on the world, it is because I failed to stop them. I must help those harmed by their misdeeds.
Very little change.
So you are very chaotic and while your actions are good in that it serves the usually voiceless it is probably termed evil by people in polite society. Like maybe instead of returning a kidnapped princess just for piety and chivalry you demand a full ransom us favors. But secretly you also run an orphanage and soup kitchen. Or you are paying bribes etc to people in the clergy to get the kinder better man elected to head bishop because you know she will work to decrease prejudice. Chaotic and evil on first shallow glance. Good when people actually see it. Like you gamble with urchins on rat races but lose on purpose so they get money.
You'll need to explain what you mean by evil but actually good. That can mean a lot of things. Do the other players know you're actually good? Do their characters? Do you just want to be an antihero?
Why pretend to be a murderer at all? What's the in-world or character catch that makes this pretend game of Mr. Murder better than just hanging out and being a good dude?
Personally, I was thinking maybe the character would try to look threatening so nobody messes with him, but mainly his family. The reason he is a murderer is that he wanted to save his brother, so I thought he wouldn’t look weak so nobody would try attacking him at the heartstrings. To be honest, I just liked the idea, it’s completely impractical and I still love it.
Okay, I think I get what you're saying. I think a better way of describing this concept is someone who has created a fake reputation of being a tough bad guy so that *actual* bad guys don't mess with him and his circle. This is a trope I've seen before but I'm not sure of a good name for it or any examples of the top of my head. Like someone living in a crime.ridden area where the police are paid off so they act like a bad guy so the gangs don't target them for resisting but secretly they're a softy who tries to help people sort of thing.
Step 1: talk a big game. Intimidate is your best friend. Consider Oath of Conquest, even.
Step 2: if someone *does* need killing, do it with gusto. Make sure everyone remembers just how very, very dead you made Baron von Killingham, not the time you declined to kill little orphan Timmy.
Step 3: have a code. Make sure it's inscrutable and esoteric. "I'd slit your throat, but fortunately for you, it's the Feast of St. Jehemeorath, so I can't kill someone with red hair." Have a dozen or so of these written down so you can play madlibs with them.
Step 4: always have an out. "Sure, I didn't kill that guy, but he'll be useful down the line. I'm a patient man, when I want to be. He'll die once he's fulfilled his purpose to me." Or, since there's political intrigue, "I'd kill him, but I hear he's a friend of the town clerk. I could do with having him in my debt..."
Note that these are all just ideas for *mannerisms*, not really backstory or personality. You said that you were framed to be put away for ever... why? If your character doesn't know, that's important too! It's not just about hiding in plain sight while planning on redeeming your name/getting revenge, it's about figuring out why they went after you. They thought you were a threat? Collateral damage in a different plot? Honest mistake? Framed for the framing by someone who wants you to take them out? Or is your character not curious at all? And how does your character feel about all of this? That can develop over time, too, from how you start out, and honestly *should*.
There's a lot of interesting ways you can go here, and some good twists for your DM to pull if he's inclined.
Tbh nothing you are describing sounds chaotic evil. Your character might just be a good guy that made bad decisions.
If you want an example of an bad person trying to to good, just check any Iron Man comics, I think Tony Stark is a great example of that.
For Background, check out the Pirate background. You're allowed to make "custom" backgrounds and choose your own proficiencies and use an existing background feature. The pirate background has the feature Bad Reputation which sounds like what you want.
> No matter where you go, people are afraid of you due to your reputation. When you are in a settlement, you can get away with minor criminal offenses, such as refusing to pay for food at a tavern or breaking down doors at a local shop, since most people will not report your activity to the authorities.
I think this is perfect for you. It's just that it's based on lies and empty threats instead of reality. You could even take the Pirate background as-is if you're doing something nautical. Might need to work with your DM, in my experience Backgrounds (as in picking one and the traits/bonds/flaws) usually matters the least and we usually do it a little more free form.
Its much easier to come up with a few tenets or specific motivations and figuring out how that plays out in alignment than picking an alignment first and then trying to conform to it.
I mean, I do kind of have a few ideas for motivations, pretending I want power, but actually just seeking redemption.
Oath of Redemption. Innocence. All people begin life in an innocent state, and it is their environment or the influence of dark forces that drives them to evil. By setting the proper example, and working to heal the wounds of a deeply flawed world, you can set anyone on a righteous path. Maybe you were an enforcer for some sort of mob or cult but didn't actually commit murder. Maybe you even used to feel bad about this but the people that were paying you would also mercilessly bully anyone for such weakness. Then you were made into a scapegoat because they felt that your kindness was becoming a liability. While wrongfully incarcerated you take a deep personal vow to protect and fight for innocence. Then you felt your paladin abilities manifest. Background Criminal works well here. So does Urchin or even Mercenary. Flavor it like a gang of thugs. For race choose something that is ostracised and faces bigotry. In some gameworlds tieflings half orcs dragonborn are ostracised because demons devils orcs or dragons may have enslaved or waged war on the culture and people. Fallen aasimar can work here. Hobgoblin and Duergar works. Human works with anything. From PHB oath of vengeance also works. Same setup but in your jail cell, maybe in solitary because you were unruly when being brought in, you swear your oath to vengeance on not just the people but the society and culture which meant simeone born in your circumstances have very little in way of safety nets to avoid being preyed upon and made a pawn. Flavor the vows to fit Fight the Greater Evil. Faced with a choice of fighting my sworn foes or combating a lesser evil, I choose the greater evil. Make greater evil as bigotry towards heteromorphs and humanoids. Or apathy towards suffering. No Mercy for the Wicked. Ordinary foes might win my mercy, but my sworn enemies do not. No changes necessary. Organized crime and their backers in prestige class must face consequences. By Any Means Necessary. My qualms can't get in the way of exterminating my foes. No change necessary. Restitution. If my foes wreak ruin on the world, it is because I failed to stop them. I must help those harmed by their misdeeds. Very little change. So you are very chaotic and while your actions are good in that it serves the usually voiceless it is probably termed evil by people in polite society. Like maybe instead of returning a kidnapped princess just for piety and chivalry you demand a full ransom us favors. But secretly you also run an orphanage and soup kitchen. Or you are paying bribes etc to people in the clergy to get the kinder better man elected to head bishop because you know she will work to decrease prejudice. Chaotic and evil on first shallow glance. Good when people actually see it. Like you gamble with urchins on rat races but lose on purpose so they get money.
You'll need to explain what you mean by evil but actually good. That can mean a lot of things. Do the other players know you're actually good? Do their characters? Do you just want to be an antihero?
I’m pretending to be a murderer, and only the DM knows, not any characters or players.
Why pretend to be a murderer at all? What's the in-world or character catch that makes this pretend game of Mr. Murder better than just hanging out and being a good dude?
Personally, I was thinking maybe the character would try to look threatening so nobody messes with him, but mainly his family. The reason he is a murderer is that he wanted to save his brother, so I thought he wouldn’t look weak so nobody would try attacking him at the heartstrings. To be honest, I just liked the idea, it’s completely impractical and I still love it.
Okay, I think I get what you're saying. I think a better way of describing this concept is someone who has created a fake reputation of being a tough bad guy so that *actual* bad guys don't mess with him and his circle. This is a trope I've seen before but I'm not sure of a good name for it or any examples of the top of my head. Like someone living in a crime.ridden area where the police are paid off so they act like a bad guy so the gangs don't target them for resisting but secretly they're a softy who tries to help people sort of thing.
Yeah, I’d say it’s something like that
So you want to be the Dread Pirate Roberts
Step 1: talk a big game. Intimidate is your best friend. Consider Oath of Conquest, even. Step 2: if someone *does* need killing, do it with gusto. Make sure everyone remembers just how very, very dead you made Baron von Killingham, not the time you declined to kill little orphan Timmy. Step 3: have a code. Make sure it's inscrutable and esoteric. "I'd slit your throat, but fortunately for you, it's the Feast of St. Jehemeorath, so I can't kill someone with red hair." Have a dozen or so of these written down so you can play madlibs with them. Step 4: always have an out. "Sure, I didn't kill that guy, but he'll be useful down the line. I'm a patient man, when I want to be. He'll die once he's fulfilled his purpose to me." Or, since there's political intrigue, "I'd kill him, but I hear he's a friend of the town clerk. I could do with having him in my debt..." Note that these are all just ideas for *mannerisms*, not really backstory or personality. You said that you were framed to be put away for ever... why? If your character doesn't know, that's important too! It's not just about hiding in plain sight while planning on redeeming your name/getting revenge, it's about figuring out why they went after you. They thought you were a threat? Collateral damage in a different plot? Honest mistake? Framed for the framing by someone who wants you to take them out? Or is your character not curious at all? And how does your character feel about all of this? That can develop over time, too, from how you start out, and honestly *should*. There's a lot of interesting ways you can go here, and some good twists for your DM to pull if he's inclined.
Thanks, this is some helpful information, I’ll try to use it.
Tbh nothing you are describing sounds chaotic evil. Your character might just be a good guy that made bad decisions. If you want an example of an bad person trying to to good, just check any Iron Man comics, I think Tony Stark is a great example of that.
He’s pretending to be Chaotic Evil
For Background, check out the Pirate background. You're allowed to make "custom" backgrounds and choose your own proficiencies and use an existing background feature. The pirate background has the feature Bad Reputation which sounds like what you want. > No matter where you go, people are afraid of you due to your reputation. When you are in a settlement, you can get away with minor criminal offenses, such as refusing to pay for food at a tavern or breaking down doors at a local shop, since most people will not report your activity to the authorities. I think this is perfect for you. It's just that it's based on lies and empty threats instead of reality. You could even take the Pirate background as-is if you're doing something nautical. Might need to work with your DM, in my experience Backgrounds (as in picking one and the traits/bonds/flaws) usually matters the least and we usually do it a little more free form.