Best unexpected villains or heroes

[Sneaky Seal]

We had recently though of a rather particular topic and I wanted to hear your opinion on it.

What cRPG characters had the most unexpected character development?

I'm speaking of an instance when a character turned out to be the opposite of what you have expected: when a trusted and liked character went rogue or a nasty looking dude turned out to be a rather nice guy.

Javik of Mass Effect 3 probably is a good example. Being a prothean he was supposed to be a bearer of their lost knowledge and culture, but in reality he turned out to be quite a racist and xenophobic dick. He badmouths everybody and propagates Nazi-friendly doctrine of superior and inferior species and survival of the fittest.

So are there any other good examples when a character in a cRPG turned out to be not what you had expected?

 

[Mark Richard]

What the hell, Yoshimo?!! Never has a character pulled the wool so completely over my eyes.

 

[Sneaky Seal]

What the hell, Yoshimo?!! Never has a character pulled the wool so completely over my eyes.

So you were betrayed by a thief you've met in a prison? Could have you maybe expected something?

 

[Mark Richard]

What the hell, Yoshimo?!! Never has a character pulled the wool so completely over my eyes.

So you were betrayed by a thief you've met in a prison? Could have you maybe expected something?

It was the lab of a mad wizard, and we were the live specimens. If there was anything that should've tipped me off, its how he got along fabulously with everybody while the rest of the party were at each other's throats.

 

[Gunnar]

Kreia from Kotor 2 maybe. Or Magus from Chrono Trigger.

 

[mondblut]

Dualclassing my ranger #3 to mage on level 16.

#1 and #2 dualclassed on level 15, so that was unexpected.

 

[HansDampf]

Javik of Mass Effect 3 probably is a good example. Being a prothean he was supposed to be a bearer of their lost knowledge and culture, but in reality he turned out to be quite a racist and xenophobic dick. He badmouths everybody and propagates Nazi-friendly doctrine of superior and inferior species and survival of the fittest.

And he cost extra 10$. What a dick.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Xardas was suprisingly pretty chill for a necromancer.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

What the hell, Yoshimo?!! Never has a character pulled the wool so completely over my eyes.

So you were betrayed by a thief you've met in a prison? Could have you maybe expected something?

No, you're thinking of Insal, a thief that you met in prison in Eye of the Beholder 2.

He was also a dick, BTW.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Dualclassing my ranger #3 to mage on level 16.

#1 and #2 dualclassed on level 15, so that was unexpected.

Would all your characters eventually take a level in mage? Or would warlocks, sorcerors etc. suffice?

 

[Rahdulan]

What the hell, Yoshimo?!! Never has a character pulled the wool so completely over my eyes.

Eh, kinda. But Pink from Vampire the Masquerade: Redemption didn't have such a huge role and you can't do much about it.

Spoiler

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Best unexpected villian? From Anachronox:

Spoiler

Spoiler

When Grumpos betrays you. I really expected Stiletto to turn on you somewhere during the fight against the gang, but she sticks on your side. Grumpos was a punch to the gut, especially since he seems guilt-ridden about it himself.

 

[Delterius]

Spoiler

One day I shall kill them all.

 

[Prime Junta]

Hmm... I'll go with Smiling Jack from VtM: Bloodlines.

 

[an Administrator]

What the hell, Yoshimo?!! Never has a character pulled the wool so completely over my eyes.

Eh, kinda. But Pink from Vampire the Masquerade: Redemption didn't have such a huge role and you can't do much about it.

Spoiler

"My taqyya is finished"

 

[an Administrator]

Hmm... I'll go with Smiling Jack from VtM: Bloodlines.

Smiling Jack was a villain?

 

[Prime Junta]

Hmm... I'll go with Smiling Jack from VtM: Bloodlines.

Smiling Jack was a villain?

"What cRPG characters had the most unexpected character development?"

I sure as hell didn't expect his.

 

[Sneaky Seal]

It was the lab of a mad wizard, and we were the live specimens. If there was anything that should've tipped me off, its how he got along fabulously with everybody while the rest of the party were at each other's throats.

Yeah, I might need to replay that TBH.

Smiling Jack was a villain?

Spoiler

If I remember correctly in one of the endings he loads up the coffin with dynamite and blows up the tower with you and everyone else from the current leadership.

I am surprised to say that RPGs' writing in this area seems somewhat underwhelming. Most of the time the bad guys stick to their evil guns and so do the herroes. Some FPS and adventure games had better betrayals or surprising loyalties.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

It was the lab of a mad wizard, and we were the live specimens. If there was anything that should've tipped me off, its how he got along fabulously with everybody while the rest of the party were at each other's throats.

Yeah, I might need to replay that TBH.

Smiling Jack was a villain?

Spoiler

If I remember correctly in one of the endings he loads up the coffin with dynamite and blows up the tower with you and everyone else from the current leadership.

I am surprised to say that RPGs' writing in this area seems somewhat underwhelming. Most of the time the bad guys stick to their evil guns and so do the herroes. Some FPS and adventure games had better betrayals or surprising loyalties.

First, you are only on the receiving side of Smiling Jack's plan if you side against his boys. Second, he is really just taking orders from...

Spoiler

the damn cab driver of all people!

 

[mondblut]

Dualclassing my ranger #3 to mage on level 16.

#1 and #2 dualclassed on level 15, so that was unexpected.

Would all your characters eventually take a level in mage? Or would warlocks, sorcerors etc. suffice?

Goldbox series had no warlocks and sorcerors.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Dualclassing my ranger #3 to mage on level 16.

#1 and #2 dualclassed on level 15, so that was unexpected.

Would all your characters eventually take a level in mage? Or would warlocks, sorcerors etc. suffice?

Goldbox series had no warlocks and sorcerors.

Yeah, but other games and pnp?

 

[Lady_Error]

 

[Delterius]

I saw it coming but 'fell' for it anyway.

That winning smile made me curious.

 

[mondblut]

Dualclassing my ranger #3 to mage on level 16.

#1 and #2 dualclassed on level 15, so that was unexpected.

Would all your characters eventually take a level in mage? Or would warlocks, sorcerors etc. suffice?

Goldbox series had no warlocks and sorcerors.

Yeah, but other games and pnp?

What other games?

OK, in Dark Sun they all also get psionics as third class. Then, as the decline hit, dualclassing got increasingly non-viable. I still run through half of BG2 with 6 fighters, dualing 5 into mages and 1 into cleric in ToB.

 

[Kem0sabe]

Kefka in FFVI, I thought he was just a silly clown... How little did I know.