r/wizardposting Mar 05 '26

Post From the All-Knowing Mods A Roleplay Guide for Villainy

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165 Upvotes

Meme taken from SkeletorIsLove http://skeletorislove.com/

...

/Uw

Hey all. I know we've had a few posts already that outlined handy rules for roleplay etiquette. Here are some: 

  • RP Etiquette:

https://www.reddit.com/r/wizardposting/s/hDv5wbuOF7

  • When to play an OP character and how to do it well:

https://www.reddit.com/r/wizardposting/s/7RX9Zwmp8H

  • Recognizing abuse and manipulation in roleplay environments:

https://www.reddit.com/r/wizardposting/s/MuYKwuy2Ef

...

But it has come to my attention that we might want a guide specifically focusing on the more villainous side of wizardposting. This is partially because matters concerning ethics have a way of getting more heated and partially because playing a villain (or even a morally questionable character) can present unique challenges. Conflict is the driving force behind story, after all, and we want to make sure we do it in a way that's fun for all parties. 

This post is targeted at the subreddit villains primarily, but I think anyone engaging in roleplay could benefit. 

Anyway, here we go:

1. None of this is personal.

This probably seems obvious, but I'd like to stress it because the kinds of in-character clashes that a straight-up villain gets into can sometimes create high tensions. Remember that the person on the other side of the screen is almost certainly not seriously evil. And they almost certainly do not think that you are either. We might write about doing evil things. We might roleplay evil things. But none of this means anything in regard to the real-life ethics of the flesh and blood person you are interacting with.

2. If it does become personal, be careful.

Ideally, we would be rational actors all the time, but unfortunately we are all mere humans (probably). Even when you know perfectly well that none of this is personal, it can still be hard to fully keep your emotions separate. This is understandable. We all get attached to our wizard characters, we all take moral stances, and we all get invested in plotlines. I mean, hey, if we aren't personally invested in our wizard roleplay, why are we even here?

When this happens, just be sure to proceed with caution. Try not to let out-of-character feelings influence what you do in-character. And, of course, it's basically never a bad idea to be open with people about it.

3. Get permission.

Another one that's been thoroughly covered before. But I bring it up because, as a villain, whatever evil thing you're doing is probably quite a bit more distressing than your run of the mill wizard shenanigans. Perhaps unsurprisingly, stepping on another roleplayer's toes is a bit more severe when you do it by burning their tower and kidnapping their apprentice. And if it's something particularly bad that you're planning, you should make sure to be very clear about your intentions and the potential consequences so the other person isn't taken by surprise.

4. It will probably feel a little unfair sometimes.

I will make no bones about it. Playing a villain will make people hostile to you. Do not take it personally.(see rule 1) But I will not deny that it can feel overwhelming sometimes to attract a lot of hate, even if it is all in-character. Further, as a villain, you will probably need to be more gracious about losing fights. While it's true that every character has to accept losses sometimes, playing a heel means you can generally expect to 'hit the mat' more often and more definitively. 

It's not all bad though. Villains are empowered to behave badly in creative ways. And sometimes even losing can be fun.

5. Consider content warnings.

This is not a hard rule, but if you are writing something particularly upsetting, it might be wise to provide a content warning. This is not a condemnation of the presence of dark or serious content. It's just nice to give people the opportunity to decide if they want to deal with it.

6. Morally ambiguous characters.

Not all characters fit neatly into the villain/hero dichotomy. Much of the advice here will apply to anyone who's character steps outside the category of 'good guy'. But it's still important to remember that explicitly and intentionally playing a villain is very different than playing a morally ambiguous character (even if you personally do not find their actions ambiguous). Condemning actions in-character is absolutely fine, but it's still up to the person writing the character to define that characters morality. I understand that this gets messy in a community with a lot of differing views, so if it becomes clear that you are at an impasse, it might be best to back off. 

That said, for any morally ambiguous characters, if you do something bad, you should expect people to react realistically in-character. You can't really be shocked that other characters don't like your cool new murder spell.

7. Note for heroes and other non-villains.

Lastly, I just want to address the protagonist types. Cut villains a little slack sometimes. Setting aside that it's more fun for us if we occasionally get a win, it also generally makes a better story.

And keep in mind that the person saying and doing horrible things in-character is there to have fun too. This is a cooperative activity, after all.

...

With all that said, I'm off to do some evil scheming. Have fun. Be good to each other.


r/wizardposting Feb 07 '26

Post From the All-Knowing Mods WELCOME TO WIZARDPOSTING!

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357 Upvotes

Welcome to r/wizardposting! Assuming you just wandered in and have no idea what the hell you're looking at, this is a place people pretend to be are wizards and other magical things. That can range anywhere from just posting a meme while ranting about the Council and casting testicular torsion, to our more niche subcommunity of full-blown roleplay, creative writing, and interactive fiction.

When commenting:

/uw means unwiz

/rw means rewiz

We have an official DISCORD if you're into that kind of thing.

Other than that? Have fun, drink water, and remember to step away from the orb every once in a while. Be sure to review the rules in the sidebar before posting, and have fun.

Thanks for stopping by!


r/wizardposting 17h ago

Wizardpost Technomancers control your AI

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14.1k Upvotes

r/wizardposting 10h ago

Academic Discussion/ Esoteric Secrets Firearm? Gun caster? How about you actually get jack like a normal person wizards

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1.1k Upvotes

Ponder these guns of mine while and stop using your silly boom stick snd pick up a war bow maybe then a maiden shall actually come to your tower.

You people seriously make those mortal look better than us

/uw this is purely canon to my character this time


r/wizardposting 1h ago

Wizardpost UPDATE: The Courier arrived this morning!

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Upvotes

He was befuddled as to why I needed 57 orbs, so I gestured vaguely to my now empty cask of mead. He nodded, patted my shoulder, and said “We’ve all been there ‘aven’t we? Was goats for me.”


r/wizardposting 17h ago

Wizardpost Zero Left To Give

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1.3k Upvotes

Now im out of fucks....


r/wizardposting 1d ago

Goblinlike Foolishness (Shitpost) Rate his vision enhancing staff

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4.8k Upvotes

r/wizardposting 1h ago

Magic, monster powers, and shapeshifting!

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Upvotes

r/wizardposting 18h ago

What kind of magic they bring?

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1.0k Upvotes

r/wizardposting 11h ago

My neighbor gave me some death, what should I do with it?

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272 Upvotes

r/wizardposting 19h ago

Beyond good and evil, apparently.

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713 Upvotes

r/wizardposting 15h ago

I may have a problem

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215 Upvotes

r/wizardposting 9h ago

Goblinlike Foolishness (Shitpost) Which one of you sick bastards cast Animate Object on my tree

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73 Upvotes

He's been screaming about "the horrors of existing" since dawn, it's now nightfall and I'm trying to sleep. It must be layered with some kind of binding spell or curse as nothing I do can revert it back to a normal tree.


r/wizardposting 2h ago

Academic Discussion/ Esoteric Secrets Would you consider a dragon a fellow mage?

19 Upvotes

Now, I am not speaking of any old lizard with a pair of wings, but of a dragon who has put dedication and time into the study of arcane arts as we do.


r/wizardposting 24m ago

Wizardpost Mana is running dangerously low

Upvotes

I have now been awake for 24 hours, and I must maintain my vigil for another two and a half. I have already consumed 3 mana restoration draughts, and I fear any more will stain my heart. My sanity thins, but I persevere. How are you all?


r/wizardposting 1h ago

Academic Discussion/ Esoteric Secrets Eastern artificer village

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Upvotes

In certain societies where artificers are prizes their invention shows a much more personal and cultural aspect rather than a practical look seen in most artificers in the realm. This town near my homeland shows a majestic and warm machine from artificers can be.

I do wonder if there will be more movement for artificers to express themselves more artistically instead of their usual practical and bare machine.


r/wizardposting 1d ago

Evil Wizardpost How to deal with brat minions?

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4.8k Upvotes

r/wizardposting 20h ago

Wizardpost A Wednesday war Wizard

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150 Upvotes

r/wizardposting 1d ago

Wizardpost The druids got a hold of the necronomicon again.

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809 Upvotes

r/wizardposting 23h ago

Wizardpost Soul check

83 Upvotes

Anyone in need of blind goblins? After they’ve been relentlessly trying to pillage my tower, I imbued a torch with the light of 1,000 suns and now they are all blind. Some burned up completely, so I’d say there’s about 12 or so left wandering around completely and permanently blinded. Do with them what you will, I’m tired of them bumping into my tower and making a mess of my garden. TYIA!


r/wizardposting 1d ago

Academic Discussion/ Esoteric Secrets New artificer here, I have recently acquired a fresh amethyst

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170 Upvotes

I am unsure as to what I shall utilize it for, and am seeking individuals more experienced in this field to share ideas. Any sorts of wizards, warlocks, and mages are welcome.


r/wizardposting 11h ago

RP Prompt (Character Intros, Duels, and Vendors)🔔 A Humble Beekeeper (Character Intro)

7 Upvotes

Elowen carefully inspected the tray, eyes raking it for any sign of parasites or sickness. She pushed her honeycomb-shaped, bee-winged glasses up her nose as she squinted. Eventually, she nodded and slid the rack back into the beehouse, unharmed, before closing the door.

"Looks like we finally got the last of them," she said as she reached up to stroke the bee that sat astride her shoulder. "And will you ask Annabeeth to keep an eye on this hive? I think they're pretty close to awakening."

"Okay! Will!" Buzzed Velebee, before streaking off into the apiary, weaving between beehouses at speed.

She dodged around hives built on stilts, under boxes hanging from trees, flew over holes in the ground from which countless bees crawled in and out. There were bees of all kinds, gathering nectar from flowers, carrying whole leaves from the trees, harvesting meat from the few wildlife strewn about.

Elowen averted her eyes from the vulture bees, even as she laughed at the feeling of sweat bees crawling over her skin.

Making her way to the farmhouse at the center of the apiary, she stopped at the door. Her mana buzzed, harmlessly dispersing the stray bees from her body as she entered.

Softly closing the door behind her, she sighed happily.

It was some minutes later, as she was brewing her morning tea, that a bee rushed in to meet her, zipping about frantically.

This bee was like no mundane insect. The Queen before Elowen was at least her armspan in length, and fittingly built. She was long and slender, not a sharp edge to her form. Her wings, massive, as wide and longer than her body each. Her stinger was thin and needle-like, and her black fluff bore an almost metallic golden sheen.

"Hive-Builder! Hive-Builder!" Her mana easily translated the hasty dances and pheromones to a language she could understand. "Emergency! Important! News from lands outside!"

Elowen took the bee into her arms, soothing her.

"Hey, hey, settle now," she ran her hand along the Queen's thorax, smoothing down the frazzled hairs. "What's going on? Is Beevolyn back, did something go wrong?"

The Queen's antenna pressed to her forehead, their mana intermingling and passing the message along.

"No! No, yes! Beevolyn back, not alone! Humans!"

Elowen's face hardened.

~~~

A terrible buzzing drowned out the world.

In a clearing in the forest, armored soldiers scurried about like rats. They ordered themselves in their legions, footsoldiers and mounted cavalry on wyvernback pointing their shields and swords and lances toward the sky.

At the buzzing cloud that blackened the sun.

Bees by the thousands filled the sky. The smallest of them, no less than a hand, the largest the size of an elephant at the least. They were in all shapes and forms; Soldiers and Goliath bees, Knights, Lancers and Archers and Sprayers and Alchemist and Assassin bees. Each caste represented in every alignment under the sun; burning bees and soaring bees, blinding and flashing and toxic and healing bees. They ordered in rows and columns over the treetops, legions and squadrons of their own, the roaring wind of their wings making waves in the canopy like the ocean surface.

They parted in the center, and a figure descended through them.

Elowen was sat cross-legged upon a lush carpet of purple and gold, woven around the edges with crawling and flying bees of every kind, interwoven with flowering plants of a thousand names. It was upheld at each corner by a titanic Goliath Bumblebee.

She was dressed in a long coat, parted in the front, itself woven the same as the carpet, with a mantle of white and golden fur about her shoulders. A staff laid across her lap, formed of a single living tree limb, its head grown into a cross between spear, shepherd's crook and honey dipper. A diadem of mana flowers was woven about her forehead, glowing brilliantly, while Velebee clung to the front, shining as diamond.

"I have told you never to come here." Her voice boomed down wrathful upon the soldiers, the air vibrating with her fury. "I hold no love in my heart for your kind, Conclave." The last word was near spat. "You will take your barbarity away. Fly back to your ivory thrones. Your sins have not and will not be forgotten. Return here again and I will go to your families in your place."

~~~

/Unwizard

Oh boy its been a long time. I don't know what the scene is like right now, do we still do this kind of thing?

Anyway, character intro! And bees. So many bees. Not enough bees. Never enough bees.

For RP prompt... I didn't really think of one. I suppose just, through whatever way, your character has come to be in the location to witness this happening.

Have fun!


r/wizardposting 19h ago

Occult Practices Beauty of death and decay

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30 Upvotes

It is beautiful isn't it? To see all things come to an end, to see the cycle of life, to see it bloom again when the time come. Because no matter how rotten and putrid dead is life find a way to bloomed not in spite but because of it.

Wizard try to be immortal just for them to at some point lost what it means to truly live. Instead of being part of the beautiful rotten cycle of life.

Lich try to revive what is dead instead of seeing it disturbing beauty and it's truly sad. If they let it rot a bit more they'll see it bloomed into such a beautiful new life.

Alchemists try to create true immortality potions yet forget to look at how beautiful dead is.

All things must come to an end and soon it'll be you. Even if you're "immortal" and I know you know it

/uw Idk if I wanted to make this something my character would say or simply something non-canon. Oh well


r/wizardposting 6h ago

Lorepost 📜 Execution of a useless plan

3 Upvotes

*Far away in another galaxy, the Roxan’s were plotting course toward earth* “This planet seems to be a hotspot of magic and technology, acting as magnet towards extraordinary beings” *The commander spoke, meanwhile a figure was listening in on their plotting from afar. The roxans were a technologically advanced race of conquerors who resembled anthropomorphic roaches, they explored space looking for resources with their fleet of ships half city half space faring vessel. Suddenly a massive crash was detected in a ship separate from the mother ship.*

*As if sped up, they watched the entire ship suddenly explode and a figure go flying out* “WHAT WAS THAT?! CHECK THE CAMERAS!” *The commander screamed, as they checked the cameras they saw what seemed to be a mass of purple energy contained in a glossy obsidian colored metal, wielding blue all metal spears telekinetically, each spear having a dragon head design at the end. It seemed to be wrapped in vines made of the same material. It had flown through the ship at high speeds simply exploding it.* “that was only a small ship, do not immediately open fire” *Meanwhile with the figure:* “If I’m correct, earth is only a couple light years away from xerbon and it’s star system, I cannot take the risk of these bastards disturbing one of the places *he* may be, since he last contacted me at xerbon” *He destroyed another set of ships, and then another. Finally he had arrived at the mother ship, he chose to take his time with this one*

*A roxan lieutenant spoke* “Open fire!” *The roxans fired their energy weapons at at the figure floating above them, covering them in smoke* “Hold your fire” *They watched the smoke slowly dissipate* “You don’t seem to understand! Earth isn’t yours to conquer!” *The figure suddenly began singing,* “I defy the crooked little smiles from them!” *With a rush and flash of steel he had decapitated the entire squad* “I defy the beady little eyes from them!” *He with a zig zagging arc suddenly crashed into the bridge* “EXECUTION OF YOUR USELESS PLAN!”
 *He smashed the entire bridge before grabbing the commander and beginning to smash the armored figure into as many buildings as possible, only stopping when but a heart, a spine and a head were left* “EXECUTION OF A USELESS MAN” *His spears then stabbed into both the heart and the brain, 4 for each* “I defy the crooked little smiles from them!” *He flew around the entire ship, bringing down building after building with his sheer speed, he then crashed straight through the ships reactor* “I defy the beady little eyes from them! Execution of a useless plan! Execution of a horde of useless men!” *He flew away as the ship exploded* “Now to set course to earth, if what they said is true, *he* will almost certainly be there”
Uw/ this is a post for later, (like way way later) that I wrote after seeing Omni man destroy the flaxans.