Who is everyone's favorite villain

[AutomatedTeller]

Favorite villain is/was Thog, since this is a comic strip and he was/is one of the funniest characters in the strip.

I think the best villain is Redcloak, who I think is the closest you can get to a villain who is justified in their actions.

The most evil villain is Xykon, of course.

[Lord Torath]

IE, there is no such thing as a good lich, unless a lich somehow gained a sense of compassion after the whole lichification thing.

2E AD&D had one: The Arch Lich, first seen in the Lost Ships supplement for Spelljammer, but also included in a paragraph in the Lich entry in the Monstrous Manual.

[Jasdoif]

2E AD&D had one: The Arch Lich, first seen in the Lost Ships supplement for Spelljammer, but also included in a paragraph in the Lich entry in the Monstrous Manual.

Ah, so that's where the name of the Good Lich variant in (the 3.5) Libris Mortis came from.

[bc56]

Xykon is my favorite because he's stinking hilarious.
"It's funny because it's true!"
"Flying zombies! It'll revolutionize the industry!"
*Paints mustache and goatee on gravestone*

But Leeky was pretty fun as the ultimate anti-Durkon. (Even more so than vampire durkon)

Redcloak is an evil visionary and a master manipulator.

And I can't wait to see what the ICC is planning. (V still owes them a few hours.)

Plus, if Tarquin makes a surprise comeback, that'd be pretty cool. (I don't think he will)

In conclusion, OOTS has too many great villains.

[Mandor]

In a wierd way, "She Who Must Not Be Named".

Because I have never seen a PALADIN antagonist in any story before, ever, and I doubt I will again, ever. Overproud and self-rightous knight villians, sure, they're dime-a-dozen. But an actual sworn-to-the-service of Good, bonafide Paladin? Never. And she was, right up until the skies rumbled and turned her from Sapphire to Beige.

Now she's certainly not someone I thought you could like on a personal level, like Malack. By contrast, Eric Cartman has a great song that perfectly describes her, if she were to have offspring named Kyle.
And she's certainly not someone who's goals I could sympathize with, in the same way I can literally root for Redcloak.
Nor was she a villian I could feel true pity for, like Tsukiko.

But favorite in the sense of "Damn. That's great storytelling.", illustrating that a nominal alignment does not prevent you from being a villian.

[Fyraltari]

In a wierd way, "She Who Must Not Be Named".

Because I have never seen a PALADIN antagonist in any story before, ever, and I doubt I will again, ever. Overproud and self-rightous knight villians, sure, they're dime-a-dozen. But an actual sworn-to-the-service of Good, bonafide Paladin? Never. And she was, right up until the skies rumbled and turned her from Sapphire to Beige.

Gaethaa from the Kane serie is also a Paladin antagonist but the situation is different:
while Kane actually is a mass-murderering vilain Gaethaa is more extreme in his quest to end him than Miko is (but he isn't as delusional).

[Goblin_Priest]

Aren't O'Chul and Redcloak the two favorite characters? Isn't Redcloak #1?

[Savoc]

my favorite is the monster with the umbrella who is constantly in darkness (kinda not a villain, but still)

[Briton]

Gaethaa from the Kane serie is also a Paladin antagonist but the situation is different:
while Kane actually is a mass-murderering vilain Gaethaa is more extreme in his quest to end him than Miko is (but he isn't as delusional).

I guess technically Kore from Goblins works as a Paladin villain, though recent strips make me question whether or not he is a Paladin.

[Onyavar]

Wait, this whole thread never even mentioned that many posters consider spelling as a major villain?

Just my highlights from this thread:

Through out OOTS a lot of wacky and cool villains have shown up, from Zyken to Thog

Malak and Tarkin

Azura city arc

villian

Readcloak is goddamn amazing.

Remember. Xykon is a litch

Are you lot doing the same as me and try to post in a forum with a smartphone that has autocorrect features enabled?

Anyway. Zyken is a litch, and Readcloak is a villian.
:D

[Fyraltari]

Wait, this whole thread never even mentioned that many posters consider spelling as a major villain?

Just my highlights from this thread:

Malak and Tarkin

Are you lot doing the same as me and try to post in a forum with a smartphone that has autocorrect features enabled?

Anyway. Zyken is a litch, and Readcloak is a villian.
:D

Come now, Malak and Tarkin are definitely villains. Just not OotS villains.

[2D8HP]

Wait, this whole thread never even mentioned that many posters consider spelling as a major villain?

Just my highlights from this thread

villian

Are you lot doing the same as me and try to post in a forum with a smartphone that has autocorrect features enabled?

Anyway. Zyken is a litch, and Readcloak is a villian.
:D

My Rouge snack attacks spell check!

[Lord Torath]

Come now, Malak and Tarkin are definitely villains. Just not OotS villains.

Huh. I always thought Malak was a hot drink commonly imbibed by Damarians.

[Kish]

I'm sure a hot drink can be just as evil as any other character in OotS.

[zimmerwald1915]

I'm sure a hot drink can be just as evil as any other character in OotS.

No more evil than Hilgya, I'd wager.

[Fyraltari]

No more evil than Hilgya, I'd wager.

I'd take you up on that bet:

[Mister Tom]

Has to be Redcloak: he's the most complete of the villanous characters, not to mention one of the sanest. Tarquin for laughs, just because he can get them in so many ways.

[Squidtm]

Within the OotS universe, it has to be Miko Miyazaki. I'm not sure if she really counts as a villain, but I really love her backstory, and the fact that I was still sad when she died despite the fact that she was an *******. Her spiral into madness is striking, and made even more so by the fact that she really cares about Windstriker despite loosing her grip on the rest of the world. Heck, she might even be my all-time favorite character if not for Belkar, Elan, and Durkon, who are close contestants.
My second choice would be Andi, although she's more of an antagonist than an actual villain.

[The Jack]

Miko was the worst. I actually had to think hard about how she died, thinking it was an off screen death, then remembered it was pretty gruesome. And I binged through the comic only this month, so it's not like it was a long time ago that i read this. Her motivations/rational were awful, and the story would've been better without her.


I really like Redcloak. The guy's just a good, well rounded character. Honestly; I'm worried that the lich's playfulness is just an act so that his opponents underestimate him, because I want redcloak to succeed in any possible mutiny, or in general (my love of goblins playing a little into it) but RC's just got great development.

But Tarquin was nothing short of incredible. His arc was intense, and I was in awe when it was over. Defo strongest villain, maybe even strongest character. His absurdity is compelling, and you can't do better than that.

(also I like to play clever warlord types, so he gets props there)

[D.One]

Zyken is a litch, and Readcloak is a villian.
:D

Readcloak is the real hero of the story, as he struggles to eradicate illiteracy.

[KorvinStarmast]

My second choice would be Andi, although she's more of an antagonist than an actual villain.

All Andi suffers from is slight case of myopia: she can't see much further than her immediate concerns and is not suited for command of a pirate ship.
She means well but makes mistakes (because she gets in over her head when trying to be captain).
Nothing, as I see it, villainous nor even bad about her, beyond whatever level of badness attends to being a pirate in the OoTSverse.

[hamishspence]

Holding grudges against an adult based on the adult's actions as a small child is a level of grudge-holding comparable to the Linear Guild.

[zimmerwald1915]

Holding grudges against an adult based on the adult's actions as a small child is a level of grudge-holding comparable to the Linear Guild.

Also to Crystal and Haley, one of whom was a villain while the other is a hero. Grudge-holding, it seems, does not preclude either villainy or heroism.

[hamishspence]

Also to Crystal and Haley, one of whom was a villain while the other is a hero.

Haley & Crystal were both the same age (late teens: 19) when they met and formed a grudge against one another.



http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0608.html

An adult having a grudge against a child - is a bit more overtly villainous.


Andi is "a villain" in this book, in the same way that Miko was a villain in book 2 despite still being LG and not yet having Fallen.

[Kish]

Also, Crystal, the villain, was the one who repeatedly tried to kill Haley. Haley, up until a shower scene after Crystal had just 1) tried to kill her a whole lot despite a declared truce, and 2) demonstrated repeatedly that she was a monstrous murderer, consistently tried to avoid Crystal. When she killed Crystal the second time she was explicit that it was "because you're a sadistic unrepentant murderer who's a danger to, like, everyone." She even tried to talk her out of her plan to murder lots of gnomes first. Haley's teenage grudge didn't even merit mentioning.

[KorvinStarmast]

Holding grudges against an adult based on the adult's actions as a small child is a level of grudge-holding comparable to the Linear Guild.

I appreciate your point there, but I think there's something a little different going on than just her memory of Bandana as an annoying child on board the pirate ship.

The resentment that comes out is that Andi feels that seniority is the basis for promotion, which is a common theme (or was) in labor unions for a long time. (I've seen it in other organizations, but I am drifting off topic). That is the norm or custom that she feels has been violated by Captain Scoundrel in making Bandana the captain (temporarily?) for this mission. Her resentment of being "passed over" originates with Captain Scoundrel's decision, and comes to light in Tinkertown. She has not resolved her frustration with that by the time that she loses it with Bandana; the "you're just a kid/brat" is a symptom of her being kicked to the curb and another being selected as captain. (In my view, her frustration is understandable from sitting in her shoes, but Captain Scoundrel knew what he was doing when he selected Bandana; he made the correct choice for the good of the (his) ship).

No, not evil. Human and imperfect. If that puts her into an antagonistic position with Bandana, that's fine, and it gets resolved. And here she is, still making the Mechane run. Not villain, but certainly antagonistic until that tension/friction got resolved.

Bandana recognizes this. Bandana was within her rights as captain to have Andi "walk the plank" or "thrown overboard" or put in irons and marooned ... but she instead makes a different choice. She punishes her (Andi loses her shares of the pay) but keeps her on her ship as a valued hand/engineer.

Were Andi a villain, I don't think she stays on the Mechane. (Whether or not Andi chooses to stay on this ship, or not, when they next make port may or may not be shown on screen. I think Andi loves the Mechane and considers it her ship. People can get very emotional about boats and ships ... it's a whole Thing. :) )

[hamishspence]

The resentment that comes out is that Andi feels that seniority is the basis for promotion, which is a common theme (or was) in labor unions for a long time.

(I've seen it in other organizations, but I am drifting off topic). That is the norm or custom that she feels has been violated by Captain Scoundrel in making Bandana the captain (temporarily?) for this mission. Her resentment of being "passed over" originates with Captain Scoundrel's decision, and comes to light in Tinkertown.

"Seniority" doesn't really apply. Andi isn't the oldest crewmember, and she may not be the longest serving, either.

Bandanna was second-in-command (as was her father - hence the name Secundus - it's a pun). Being given the position of captain for the duration of the captain's vacation is standard operating procedure (that's what a First Officer is primarily for - acting as the captain's stand-in) - so she can't reasonably claim to have been "slighted" or "passed over" by Julio.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"Seniority" doesn't really apply. Andi isn't the oldest crewmember, and she may not be the longest serving, either.

Bandanna was second-in-command (as was her father - hence the name Secundus - it's a pun). Being given the position of captain for the duration of the captain's vacation is standard operating procedure (that's what a First Officer is primarily for - acting as the captain's stand-in) - so she can't reasonably claim to have been "slighted" or "passed over" by Julio.

It is also putting the cart before the horse. As it should be obvious from when Andi shouts at B (and earlier when the half-elf points out she has seniority over Andi), the "seniority" reasoning is, in fact, just an excuse. Andi feels she is better than B, and thus that she should be the captain. And has come up with whatever justifications to make it sound like it is a rational statement rather than a feeling, no matter how far-fetched, to justify her choices. But they are quite clearly just a mask, one that slips quite badly once things start to go south: the bottom line is that Andi thinks that "all [of B's] opinions are wrong, and the other options are right, by default".

GW

[KorvinStarmast]

"Seniority" doesn't really apply. Andi isn't the oldest crewmember, and she may not be the longest serving, either.

She has seniority over Bandana by a lot ... and that fact bothers her when Bandana expands the mission beyond what Captain Scoundrel had explicitly stated (basically a transport mission, as Andi interpreted the command). That Bandana was able to look at the orders from Captain Scoundrel as mission type orders (which meant she'd need to use judgment in application) and adapt as circumstances changed argues again for Captain Scoundrel's good choice. That doesn't change Andi's opinion that Bandana isn't seasoned enough to be a Captain.

Bandanna was second-in-command (as was her father - hence the name Secundus - it's a pun).

More fuel for resentment from Andi's point of view: family rights to being next in line for command, rather than experience?

Again, I feel that Captain Scoundrel chose well.

(PS: I am very well acquainted with how captain of ship comes to be a captain ... )

I think that back when Andi and Bandana were having their conflict, any number of us discussed how pirates are a bit different from navies, etc, chaotic.

Andi was a leadership challenge for Bandana. I don't see her as a villain. She's a bit like Hudson in Alien 2: not able to see beyond the present challenge. (myopic)

When you compare her to Miko, whose dedication to getting it wrong was impressive, the order of magnitude difference is significant.

[Kish]

Oh, are we doing Misunderstood Andi vs. Bad Bandana again?