often think about what makes a good villain, especially in TTRPGs.

Some of the BEST villains I know of come from the Final Fantasy series of games: Kefka, Sephiroth, Seymour.

I find a lot of the ‘official’ D&D settings lack villains like this. In #dnd5e published material, a villain like Strahd or Jarlaxle almost get there. Xanathar can be run this way, but their ambitions are not grand enough.

Are there any good examples of these villains in Forgotten Realms @TheEdVerse?

— Steve Fidler of Vorpal Dice Press (@vorpaldicepress) June 16, 2021

I populated the Realms with a plethora of varied villains, from “destroy the worldhahaha” crazies to ruthlessly efficient “I’m doing this for the best, eliminate all in my way” calm strategists. Most published lore concentrated on liches like Larloch and Szass Tam. The Xanathar, properly run, is a long-haul strategist who believes itself the true ruler of Waterdeep, a breeding-heap of dupes and minions, who tries to manipulate global Torilian politics; much, much more than a maniacal crime lord.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 16, 2021

Hey ed who the leader of the deep imaskari right now? Oh, dear. Bad things happen to non-Deep Imaskari who know that, or even ask about it…
Let me get back to you somewhere safer, okay?

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 16, 2021