Pragmatic Villainy; Appealing to a Douchebag’s LongTerm Planning Over Non-Existent Conscience

[CarlManvers2019]

Is it me or having villains or morally ambiguous or very selfish characters who can understand or acknowledge the pragmatism of showing mercy or doing charity or helpful things both to heroes and civilians

A possible sign of the writer knowing more or having somewhat more skill in writing down characterization? I mean sure they could still be huge douchebags for the hell of it or have personality ticks that make them do unnecessary things that backfire, but I feel that villains who can think ahead or contemplate the pragmatism of their actuons as making them sorta interesting

Villains who are evil or huge idiotic douchebags are kinda close to that whole “Moustache Twirling Cartoon Villain” I keep seeing mocked as “unrealistic” on SB

I kinda count the Strawman version of Republicans(both politicians and people with that Political alignment)as well as anyone close to Right alongside EVIL Businessmen as being sorta “Moustache Twirling Cartoon Villains”

Especially the latter for being too onvhiohsly corrupt and douchey and NOT pretending to care by doing charity

 

[Deleted member]

I refer you to "The Dark Queen" from Thomas Harlan's Oath of Empire series. Essentially the Goddess of the Vampires, she still fights with the good guys because, to put it bluntly, she rather likes the pleasantries of civilisation and her people need humans to survive. Monstrous cthulhoid planet-eating threats would make both go away, and so self-interest dictates resistance to the Lord of Ten Serpents to the bitter end alongside Prince Maxian.

 

[CarlManvers2019]

I refer you to "The Dark Queen" from Thomas Harlan's Oath of Empire series. Essentially the Goddess of the Vampires, she still fights with the good guys because, to put it bluntly, she rather likes the pleasantries of civilisation and her people need humans to survive. Monstrous cthulhoid planet-eating threats would make both go away, and so self-interest dictates resistance to the Lord of Ten Serpents to the bitter end alongside Prince Maxian.

Speaking of Vampires, ever read Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files

The White Court under Lara Raith, are “the most human” of all the Vampire Courts and almost every single one of them is an unrepentant serial rapist, child molestor/rapist, serial killer and sadist with great control or influence in both legal and illegal business and politics

Lara is also helping the good guys(morally gray as well ones)because frogpeople(Fomor)are a highly threatening competition and they don’t want Lovecraftian Horrors(Outsiders/Old Ones)taking over when it both disrupts their business and they want to be the ones in charge

Really shows the slight consequence of how those being Pragmatic Villains are also still assholes who do unpragmatic stuff for shits and giggles(though they DO need to feed on people)

 

[Deleted member]

Well, the Dark Queen was actually considerably more moral than the White Court, at least as shown.