Discussion Let's talk about the Dark Side

[Darth Wallgof]

I always struggle writing a DS character due to a struggle of finding a hook or relatable angle to keep me invested in exploring that aspect of a character. With Wallgof, the biggest interest is the dual mindset he holds of believing he was chosen by the ghost of a Sith Lord and his desire to control, conquer and corrupt others. There is a mental health complex in this since his beliefs of where his powers come from is delusional but he is using those delusions as a justification for his selfish desires. The dark, cruel beliefs he has always held.

So far this has kept be interested in the character and having fun fighting LS characters.

In terms of lore on the Force and how it works, I see the DS as natural as the LS since in the Clone Wars, we have the whole Mortis arc. There was pure Light, pure Dark and Balance. All three aspects of the Force existing and able depicted in the three characters, a character neutral in the Force, a character dedicated to the Light and one dedicated to the DS.

 

[Kai Bamarri]

Generally, I see it as a corruptive scale, often a cycle. The more you rely on the darkside, the more the traits the character relies on to be used are enhanced or relied on. Repeated in a cycle. If you write them long enough and they survive, even these traits can eventually wear out, and it eats them into nothing over a long period. They wear out because I can get bored of writing them, or moreover justifying them in the character's mind, until there is nothing but the action itself left.

I generally prefer to make it a gradual descent for any darksider I write. I break this convention sometimes and just start with a 'thing', or aspects that are entirely broken in the individual, especially if a faction folds up and I need to remake a character. In this case the darkside perfects that character into a more useful one to whatever character/faction they serve, but they don't often get beyond being objectified in that case. Weapon - Seer - Monster - Assassin etc.

It takes a lot of work to build a nuanced character out of a mindless brute starting point as an example, but ending them at that can be the result of a tragic character arc where they can recall or remember what they once were.

I like all of what you said. I too enjoy gradual descents into evil for characters, although I have yet to go all the way with any of my characters making that transition yet. A gradual descent sounds like a lot of fun - although as you mentioned, once they hit the bottom, there's nowhere else to really take them. The journey was the best part. Do you feel compelled to finish their story or kill them off once they've completed the descent?

While I myself have never written a strictly darkside character - most either toe the line or have 'struggles' with it... I have always viewed the darkside in the same vein as a highly addictive drug.

Seemingly harmless at first, but leaves you craving more after each time until it's corroded you into someone you weren't and completely destroys your life, forcing you to continue on the same trajectory because you've burned all of your bridges and have nowhere else to turn.

This sort of sounds like Option #2 in my OP, although I mentioned demonic possession there as an example. The Dark Side as an addictive drug is another common interpretation which functions in a similar way by removing responsibility from the individual and making them a victim of their addiction. I'm reminded of the Symbiote from Spider-Man.

I always struggle writing a DS character due to a struggle of finding a hook or relatable angle to keep me invested in exploring that aspect of a character. With Wallgof, the biggest interest is the dual mindset he holds of believing he was chosen by the ghost of a Sith Lord and his desire to control, conquer and corrupt others. There is a mental health complex in this since his beliefs of where his powers come from is delusional but he is using those delusions as a justification for his selfish desires. The dark, cruel beliefs he has always held.

So far this has kept be interested in the character and having fun fighting LS characters.

In terms of lore on the Force and how it works, I see the DS as natural as the LS since in the Clone Wars, we have the whole Mortis arc. There was pure Light, pure Dark and Balance. All three aspects of the Force existing and able depicted in the three characters, a character neutral in the Force, a character dedicated to the Light and one dedicated to the DS.

I also struggle to maintain interest in DS characters. Sometimes I find myself in the mood to play a hardcore Sith, but usually only as opposition for a Jedi character to fight. More moderate ("neutral evil" you might call them?) characters are more interesting and fun to play with, because they still have a few lines they won't cross. I think this is because if your character has nothing left to prevent them from doing something, the only drama you can really draw from them is if they have an outside obstacle or opposition, usually in the form of another character trying to stop them. Which means that the only RP you can truly enjoy writing them in is PvP.

 

[Briana Sal-Soren]

It's sort of similar, except with drug addiction the person going back to it is still making that choice - they made the first choice and continue on, which is why I view it as more of an addiction rather than possession. There's a way out of it, but it takes a lot of willpower and self determination to get there. Then if said person manages to get free of it, there's a long road ahead of said person, often a lot of work that still needs to be done post-recovery, including making amends if those can be made. With the possession view, the character is relying on others to rescue them and like you said, isn't really accountable for their actions.

 

[R6D3]

Miss post

 

[Kei Amadis]

Kai Bamarri

If I build them around the character's journey and when that concludes, there could be a redemption arc to write, even just to get to a sunset ending. Instead, if they have a specific purpose, when that purpose is gone can they continue to exist elsewhere or be interesting to write elsewhere?

If its a journey: Some are redeemed, usually unplanned. Some continue to slide further and further into the pit. Some get a family, kids, a wife and only get lighter with time. A few suffer really tragic things in their life and break apart bit by bit.

If its a purpose: Was that character written just for the faction? Does it make sense when the factions gone for them to die in the final battle? Or would they switch over to the next one? That sort of thing.