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Strawberries
2010-05-21, 02:39 PM
I’m pretty new to roleplay, and, so far, I considered myself unable to play an evil character (I have a firm belief that roleplaying evil characters require a lot more skills than good ones).

However, I have been toying with an idea I had for a character whose main drive would be the seeking of knowledge, in any shape or form. This may mean arcane knowledge, but also lore. While not blatantly bent on causing death and destruction, I’d still classify the character as chaotic evil since he has no respect for life and freedom if it stands between him and his goal. He can function as a normal, even nice person under normal circumstances, but would have no qualms in burning down an entire city if it was standing between him and an obscure book. I still haven’t figured out the motivations for this behavior: it may be because he thinks knowledge will help him in some sort of goal he considers heroic, but it may also be a plain psychosis of his. If I ever get around to actually playing him, it will be something I’d decide based on the setting.

Now, I have decided he has to be a elf (longer lifespan seemed to fit him), but I’m a bit at an impasse about what class I should make him. Wizard seemed the logical choice, but I can’t visualize him as a wizard, no matter how hard I try.

So I’m asking for suggestions from you people in the playground. How would you build such a character in D&D 3.5? Since the character isn’t meant for any campaign at the moment, let’s assume a 32 point buy.
I’m not asking for optimization (I don’t care about heavily optimized characters, and I’ll probably just end messing up playing them anyway), just something that fits the concept.

Be warned that I’m very new to D&D, and still not familiar with all the sourcebooks: I have a passable knowledge of the SRD, but anything other than that, I’d have to look up on a friend’s books, so if you mention something outside core, please give me a reference, so I’ll know where to look.

Thanks in advance!

Greenish
2010-05-21, 02:41 PM
Archivist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3) is all about seeking knowledge. Grey elf gets you int bonus.

[Edit]: Grey elf is in monster manual.

Strawberries
2010-05-21, 02:49 PM
Archivist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3) is all about seeking knowledge. Grey elf gets you int bonus.

[Edit]: Grey elf is in monster manual.

Oh, wow, that was fast. And with a web reference, as well! Thanks a ton, I'm going to check it out. :smallsmile:

dextercorvia
2010-05-21, 02:54 PM
For your character class, may I recommend the Cloistered Cleric (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#clericVariantCloistere dCleric)? It's in the SRD under the variant rules. It is hardier than a Wizard (more hp, can wear light armor), but it gets the knowledge domain for free (as an extra, you still get to pick two more), and a bunch of divination spells from the Wizard list. For your other two domains, I recommend Trickery (some extra useful skills if you don't mind stealing) and Travel (a freedom of movement ability, and a bunch of great wizard spells.) In fact, you have so many good Domain spells, you might want to consider Domain Spontaneity (http://realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Domain_Spontaneity) from complete divine.

I wouldn't PrC out much, since all of your domain abilities are keyed to your cleric level.

As far as being evil is concerned, just remember to think of the character as a real person. Yes, Joe is driven to seek knowledge at any cost, but he also has a kid brother/wife/uncle/childhood friend that he actually cares about. He has complex thoughts and motivations. Perhaps he dehuman(oid)izes those who stand his way, so that he sees them as the monsters. Maybe he worships at a temple of a Good god, or just thinks of himself as a pragmatist. Evil doesn't have to be played with a capital E.

hamishspence
2010-05-21, 03:01 PM
Yup- even BoVD is very clear on how Evil characters may not perceive themselves as evil- and in the back of the book, it mentions that evil characters can be antiheroes.

Champions of Ruin lists the commoner types of evil character, some of which may be former good guys "driven to evil" by drastic circumstances.

There is a great deal of variety. They don't have to follow the PHB description of "evil alignment" to the letter- really, all that's needed for a character to be evil- is for them to have repeatedly committed evil acts.

Savage Species mentions how Evil characters tend to compartmentalize, being loving to those close to them, but ruthless toward those outside their "in group".

Night Monkey
2010-05-21, 03:26 PM
I once created a knowledge-seeking evil character with a very different focus. A Vampire Monk (to heck with optimisation) who worked for a secret cabal of Vampire Monks (heck yeah) led by an epic Vampire Mystic Theurge of Vecna. Their mission was to find as many secrets as possible for him to use in his eventual take over of the world. Fun times.

Your character I would see much more as a sort of sociopath. People, laws, all irrelevant in the face of knowledge and objective facts. I somehow see this character having very low charisma. Archivist would work nicely if you aren't going for Wizard. However, Wizard would let you be an Arcane Trickster (from the Dungeon Master's Guide) if you mix it with rogue, letting you be a sneaky/magicky information gatherer, combining spellcasting with stealth. Alternatively, you could use it to become an Alienist (Complete Arcane, if you can access it) which is a class which deals with monstrosities at the edge of reality (think Cthulu).

Strawberries
2010-05-21, 03:30 PM
Both Archivist and Cloistered Cleric seem very good choices. Only (negligible) issue I have is that they both are classes that bring the divine into the equation, something I had not considered when I started thinking of the character. But I’m not complaining since it may be something that brings even more depth to the concept – it’s just one more layer to consider.

dextercorvia and hamishspence . That’s something I actually really enjoy doing, giving the character ties - be it family, friends, or associates. So yes, he would no doubt have someone he cares about. How much, and if he would choose them over his goal would depend on the circumstances, as well as from his motivations (which I haven’t well-defined yet), so at the moment all I can say is “maybe”.



There is a great deal of variety. They don't have to follow the PHB description of "evil alignment" to the letter- really, all that's needed for a character to be evil- is for them to have repeatedly committed evil acts.

While I acknowledge that, I don’t think that would fit with the character as I was imagining it. His evil derives, more than from the fact he has committed evil acts in the past, from his willingness to commit them in the future. Note that he (and those around him) may not even be conscious of this fact yet – it may be something that happens the first time he is confronted with a choice between a “good” option, and one that allows him to pursue his goal.

hamishspence
2010-05-21, 03:34 PM
yes- alignment tends to take two forms, acts, and personality.

"Evil personality" can take a lot of forms- but a propensity to extreme ruthlessness in pursuit of a goal, can be one.

FC2 suggests that to get to Baator, you actually have to have committed evil acts- "thinking bad thoughts" is not enough. However, this may be more to do with afterlife destination, than alignment.

Some creatures are evil without ever having done anything- a new-hatched chromatic dragon, or a Good person who just had a Helm of Opposite alignment on them, are examples.

So acts aren't the only factor- they're just very important.

dextercorvia
2010-05-21, 03:35 PM
A wizard would work fine for this concept, but I find the cleric to be more forgiving of a new player. You can prepare any spell from the list, and not worry about choosing the right spells for your spellbook, (or even worse spells known as a sorcerer). These aren't usually problems for experienced players, but I know that I made a lot of mistakes when I was starting out with wizards (specialist evoker wondering why nothing fell over when he cast fireball).

gbprime
2010-05-21, 03:36 PM
I don't see an evil cleric as being all that forgiving of anyone. :smallamused: But I digress.

Greenish
2010-05-21, 03:39 PM
Both Archivist and Cloistered Cleric seem very good choices. Only (negligible) issue I have is that they both are classes that bring the divine into the equation, something I had not considered when I started thinking of the character. But I’m not complaining since it may be something that brings even more depth to the concept – it’s just one more layer to consider.Fluff-wise, archivist cares more about knowledge than gods, but a cleric could well be devoted to the ideal of knowledge.

Crunch-wise, both are very solid options with capability for great power, with the option to do so without outshining the rest of the party (ie. buffing). Archivist has the "seek knowledge" in the mechanics too, learning new spells mainly from scrolls.

The Cat Goddess
2010-05-21, 03:47 PM
What's being described here is closer to Neutral (Evil)... I.E. Neutral with Evil tendencies.

When it comes right down to it, here are some scenarios to think about for your character. We'll assume Wizard/Archivist:

A Book of Knowledge/Spells/Secrets and an Adventuring companion are both on the edge of a cliff, about to fall into the lava below. Do you help the person, or grab the book?

You learn that a small city with a great library is about to be attacked by a horde of monsters. Do you help defend the Orphanage or the Library? Or do you sneak into the Library, shove all the books into your Portable Hole and then leave the city to it's fate?

dextercorvia
2010-05-21, 03:53 PM
You learn that a small city with a great library is about to be attacked by a horde of monsters. Do you help defend the Orphanage or the Library? Or do you sneak into the Library, shove all the books into your Portable Hole and then leave the city to it's fate?

Or do you shove the orphans into your Portable Hole and then go grab a bite to eat? (Sometimes it's okay to capitalize.)

gbprime
2010-05-21, 03:57 PM
You learn that a small city with a great library is about to be attacked by a horde of monsters. Do you help defend the Orphanage or the Library? Or do you sneak into the Library, shove all the books into your Portable Hole and then leave the city to it's fate?

You move all the orphans into the library and fortify it. Then you put illusions of helpless children in the orphanage and cover the place in explosive runes.

That way you're considered a hero and you still get to blow up an orphanage, which has always been a dream of yours. :smallamused:

And if a few books should go missing... blame an orphan.

Strawberries
2010-05-21, 04:04 PM
Archivist would work nicely if you aren't going for Wizard. However, Wizard would let you be an Arcane Trickster (from the Dungeon Master's Guide) if you mix it with rogue, letting you be a sneaky/magicky information gatherer, combining spellcasting with stealth.
I can't see him as a wizard - don't ask me why, because really I don't know. It's a gut feeling, I guess.

Alternatively, you could use it to become an Alienist (Complete Arcane, if you can access it) which is a class which deals with monstrosities at the edge of reality (think Cthulu).
I think I can access it, but not now (I'd have to borrow it). I'll check it out, though. Thanks!

Fluff-wise, archivist cares more about knowledge than gods, but a cleric could well be devoted to the ideal of knowledge.

I'm inclined to lean towards archivist, for the simple fact that the spell selection isn't tied to alignment (correct me if I'm wrong, I still haven't read the class description very in-depth). But, once again, I'd decide based on the setting.

What's being described here is closer to Neutral (Evil)... I.E. Neutral with Evil tendencies.
Oh, no, trust me on that. He is evil.


A Book of Knowledge/Spells/Secrets and an Adventuring companion are both on the edge of a cliff, about to fall into the lava below. Do you help the person, or grab the book?
Depends. How well do I know him/her? Do I like him? How important is that book in the greater picture?

You learn that a small city with a great library is about to be attacked by a horde of monsters. Do you help defend the Orphanage or the Library? Or do you sneak into the Library, shove all the books into your Portable Hole and then leave the city to it's fate?
If I had a Portable Hole and enough time, no doubt the third option (unless I wasn't somehow friends with the librarian). If not, the second one. What are those orphans to me?

Akal Saris
2010-05-21, 04:16 PM
I agree that archivist and cloistered cleric both fit the model well and are excellent classes for a new player. Cloistered Cleric (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantcharacterclasses.htm), with devotion to knowledge as an ideal rather than a specific deity, would probably be my recommendation.

Another couple of lore-focused classes to consider are bard or factotum (from Dungeonscape). Both are primarily skills-focused characters who generally act as a jack of all trades role in the party. I've played an evil bard who was obsessed with collecting and protecting his own unique stories, killing other bards to maintain his "copyright" if necessary.

Lord Vampyre
2010-05-21, 04:32 PM
The last evil knowledge seeker I played was a necromancer looking for immortality. He didn't like the aspects or thought of actually being undead. He would slice his enemies open after having them paralyzed in some fashion. This way he could study their inner workings while they were still alive. This was back in 2nd edition.

Now, if I were going to remake the character in 3.5, I would probably make him a Wiz 3 / Archivist 3 / Mystic Theurge. If your going to play an elf, I would consider taking the Racial Paragon class out of the Unearthed Arcana. This will give you an additional +2 Int. Using the 32 point buy, the most important thing is the 18 Int. Then spread the rest of the points out. Now, if your DM's kind he'll let you swap the Wiz scribe scroll for a fighter feat as outlined in the Unearthed Arcana. This prevents you from losing a feat by having it be redundant. Remember the initial class would need to be Archivist. They receive more starting skill points and hit points than the wizard. Your final build would look something like this:

Race: Grey Elf
Class: Archivist 3 / Wiz 1 / Elf Paragon 3 / Mystic Theurge ??

@ 16th Level your Int would be 26, not counting boosts from magic items.
This would make your base spell DC 18 for cantrips.

Remember this dilutes your actual strength in a particular class, but it gives you the driving goal of knowledge. Archivist and Wizard are the only base classes that have all knowledges as in class skills. Loremaster, is another prestige class you may want to consider. At higher levels, it gives you abilities similar to the Bardic knowledge ability. This always good for knowledge seekers.

Another class you may want to consider is the True Namer from the Tome of Magic.

hamishspence
2010-05-21, 04:33 PM
Another class you may want to consider is the True Namer from the Tome of Magic.

it would probably need one of the various fixes suggested, though.

Greenish
2010-05-21, 04:38 PM
Race: Grey Elf
Class: Archivist 3 / Wiz 1 / Elf Paragon 3 / Mystic Theurge ??Elf paragon loses a caster level for really negligible benefits. Mystic Theurge (or rather, entering it the normal way) costs too many caster levels to be worth it.

Another class you may want to consider is the True Namer from the Tome of Magic.They are generally agreed to be unplayable without very highly optimized truenaming skill at later levels. They actually get weaker as they gain levels, and weren't very good to begin with.

demidracolich
2010-05-21, 04:41 PM
Yes, because without the fixes truenamer is a tier truenamer class. It gets its own tier because it just doesn't work.

Strawberries
2010-05-21, 04:46 PM
Race: Grey Elf
Class: Archivist 3 / Wiz 1 / Elf Paragon 3 / Mystic Theurge ??


You kinda lost me after Wiz 1 :smalltongue:. I'll check it out, though.

Greenish
2010-05-21, 04:53 PM
You kinda lost me after Wiz 1 :smalltongue:. I'll check it out, though.Elf paragon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/racialParagonClasses.htm#elfParagon) is a racial paragon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/racialParagonClasses.htm#) class for elves, from the alternative rules of Unearthed Arcane.

Mystic Theurge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/mysticTheurge.htm) is a prestige class that advances both arcane and divine casting. It is generally considered to be much weaker than either of the classes alone, due to losing caster levels from both classes to get in. (You can use tricks to get in without losing too many levels, but it's still far from stellar.)

Hand_of_Vecna
2010-05-21, 04:57 PM
Archivist is a great class for an amoral seeker of knowledge. I would suggest Archivist 7/Nar Demon Binder 1/Mystic Theurge 5/ Archivist 7 if it's not too cheesy for you.

Nar Demon Binder is in Unaproachable East (and here http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20030502a&page=2)it requires the ability to cast 4rd evel spells and grants 4-8th level spontaneous arcane spells from a respectable spell list. You'll need both Int and Cha for this build but I'd go mostly Int with just enough Cha to use your spell slots then use Nar Demon Binder's slots for summons and holy word/blasphemy/Dictum/word of chaos (NDB allows you to cast all regardless of alignment) then save your Archivist spells for utility and save-or-dies.

dextercorvia
2010-05-21, 05:18 PM
Your excerpt seems to have been excerpted.

Greenish
2010-05-21, 05:33 PM
Your excerpt seems to have been excerpted.Remove the extra bit from the end, it should be http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20030502a&page=2

Divide by Zero
2010-05-21, 05:35 PM
If you're not dead set on Elf, Illumian (Races of Destiny) fits the knowledge-hungry concept perfectly - their race is basically built around magical writing. The Improved Krau feat (same book) can get you into Mystic Theurge early, so go either Archivist 2/Wizard 1 or Archivist 1/Wizard 2, depending on which you favor (but take Archivist first either way for the extra HP and skill points), and then into Mystic Theurge, finishing off your stronger class afterward. I built an epic character around this concept once, throwing in Psion and Cerebremancer/Psychic Theurge, but you probably shouldn't worry about that since it gets a lot more complicated and doesn't pay off for a long time.

Curmudgeon
2010-05-21, 05:53 PM
You really do get more spell availability with the right Cloistered Cleric build. In addition to Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spellLists/clericDomains.htm#knowledgeDomain), CC also gives you 2 other domains. Magic (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spellLists/clericDomains.htm#magicDomain) will let you use arcane scrolls, wands, and staves. Spell (Spell Compendium, page 280) has Anyspell and Greater Anyspell, which will let you prepare any arcane spell up to 5th level. And of course Miracle (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/miracle.htm) can duplicate any other spell of 7th level or lower, without any XP cost. So a Miracle can duplicate Limited Wish (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/limitedwish.htm), for free (none of that pesky 300 XP minimum).

You might also consider the Initiate of Mystra feat (Player's Guide to Faerûn, page 81). This will give you Anyspell and Greater Anyspell (as regular Cleric spells) without requiring the Spell domain, freeing up that choice for something else -- like maybe Oracle (Spell Compendium, page 277): +2 CL for divination spells, or Inquisition (Spell Compendium, pages 275-276): +4 to dispel checks (after the CL limit part). Mystra (AKA the Lady of Mysteries) is one of the most magic- and knowledge-focused deities in the game. You'll have to rethink your alignment, though, as you'll need to be within one step of either NG or LN (Mystra's got dual alignments; see Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, page 247). Initiate of Mystra also gives you some custom Mystra-specific spells.

Greenish
2010-05-21, 05:58 PM
You really do get more spell availability with the right Cloistered Cleric build.I don't think a cleric can have better spell availability than an archivist, who can (in theory) use any spell the cleric has on the virtue that the cleric has it (as a divine spell).

Curmudgeon
2010-05-21, 06:07 PM
I don't think a cleric can have better spell availability than an archivist, who can (in theory) use any spell the cleric has on the virtue that the cleric has it (as a divine spell).
Theoretical availability is worth nothing, because the Archivist has to find a divine scroll of nearly every spell they learn. (The only exceptions are the 2 spells/level from the main Cleric spell list.) So, while Time Stop appears on 4 Clerical domains, the chances of finding a divine scroll of this spell are virtually nil.

Greenish
2010-05-21, 06:11 PM
Theoretical availability is worth nothing, because the Archivist has to find a divine scroll of nearly every spell they learn. (The only exceptions are the 2 spells/level from the main Cleric spell list.) So, while Time Stop appears on 4 Clerical domains, the chances of finding a divine scroll of this spell are virtually nil.Well, you can always ask your DM nicely. :smallcool:

Lord Vampyre
2010-05-21, 06:28 PM
Elf paragon loses a caster level for really negligible benefits. Mystic Theurge (or rather, entering it the normal way) costs too many caster levels to be worth it.

It really is more for concept, than it is for optimization. I just feel that a true seeker of knowledge wouldn't limit themselves to just arcane or divine magic. Otherwise, your right. You won't get 9th level spells until epic levels this way, but hey knowledge is worth waiting for. :smallsmile:

Greenish
2010-05-21, 06:37 PM
It really is more for concept, than it is for optimization. I just feel that a true seeker of knowledge wouldn't limit themselves to just arcane or divine magic. Otherwise, your right. You won't get 9th level spells until epic levels this way, but hey knowledge is worth waiting for. :smallsmile:Depends. A true knowledge seeker might want to achieve a mastery on a single field (all divine spells is a very wide field to begin with) before starting to dapple with other things.

How the elf paragon fits in I don't see. Low skillpoints per level is a bit meh, even for int based characters.

Lord Vampyre
2010-05-21, 07:33 PM
Depends. A true knowledge seeker might want to achieve a mastery on a single field (all divine spells is a very wide field to begin with) before starting to dapple with other things.

How the elf paragon fits in I don't see. Low skillpoints per level is a bit meh, even for int based characters.

The Elf Paragon is for the Int boost at 3rd level paragon. Since both wizard and archivist are both int based it increases their respective spell DCs. It also, affects Skill Points per level, and since all knowledge skills are knowledge Int based it helps there as well. No matter what Intelligence happens to be the primary stat dump.

Anyway, if I wanted to maximize arcane spells first I would probably go with Wiz 5 / Elf Paragon 3 / Loremaster 10 / Archmage 2. At least then you would get 9th level spells at 18th level.

Greenish
2010-05-21, 07:37 PM
The Elf Paragon is for the Int boost at 3rd level paragon. Since both wizard and archivist are both int based it increases their respective spell DCs. It also, affects Skill Points per level, and since all knowledge skills are knowledge Int based it helps there as well. No matter what Intelligence happens to be the primary stat dump.+2 Int is not worth losing a caster level.

Divide by Zero
2010-05-21, 07:38 PM
The Elf Paragon is for the Int boost at 3rd level paragon. Since both wizard and archivist are both int based it increases their respective spell DCs. It also, affects Skill Points per level, and since all knowledge skills are knowledge Int based it helps there as well. No matter what Intelligence happens to be the primary stat dump.

None of which are worth both losing a caster level and delaying MT even further.

Your Nemesis
2010-05-22, 11:34 AM
@OP:

You could also take the angle that knowledge is a living, vibrant thing, one to be gathered from people and observation rather than through study of a book.

balistafreak
2010-05-22, 12:29 PM
Have him get the Necropolitan template (or whatever it is), from Libris Mortis (otherwise known as the book of Bad Latin). Basically, you get turned into an intelligent Undead. You keep all the benefits of your previous race, your class levels are all intact because you don't have any racial hitdice or level adjustment (unlike the stupidly horrible vampire, for example), except those that are overwritten by being, well, undead.

That way he can live forever, all the better for the pursuit of infinite knowledge!

To confirm that the character is evil, have the process of becoming a Necropolitan require some sort of obviously evil deed, like killing a bunch of orphans. Kind of like the process of becoming a lich, in that it requires "an unspeakably evil act".

Strawberries
2010-05-22, 02:36 PM
Thanks for all the help. I'll read about the suggestions I'm not familiar with. However, at this stage, I don't feel confortable enough with my knowledge of the game to try the more complicated builds...I figure, more classes, more chances I get to mess things up.


@OP:
You could also take the angle that knowledge is a living, vibrant thing, one to be gathered from people and observation rather than through study of a book.

That's one of the things I was considering, as a matter of fact.:smallsmile: However, before going more in-depth with the concept, I would wait to know the setting for the campaing, since I like tying characters to the settings. At the moment it's all just theoretical (I don't even know if I'll ever get to play this guy!:smalltongue:).

Lycanthromancer
2010-05-22, 03:16 PM
Check out Dungeonscape and Races of Destiny, and go factotum 11/chameleon 9 (only really doable via changeling [from the Eberron Campaign Setting - they're human/doppelganger crossbreeds that can change their appearance at will] or human, though).

Factotum gives you ALL skills as class skills (as in, if it's a skill, you've got it), they gain 6+Int skill points per level (and are completely Int-based, so they'll get more skill points than any other class in the game, typically), and gain Int to Dex and Str checks and Dex and Str-based skill checks, Int to initiative, Int to AC and saves, Int to attack rolls, Int to damage, your class level as a bonus to any and all skills 1/day, they can pull out some minor spellcasting (as Int-based spell-like abilities, without the need of a spellbook), they can get additional standard actions each round (for some strategic maneuvering), they can ignore SR and DR, and they get trapfinding, minor healing, turning undead, and other goodies, too. They're the ultimate generalist, twiddling their fingers in everything they can get their hands on. They can function in virtually any party role (though only for a short time, as they have limited, per-encounter abilities), and the fluff is that they live and die for knowledge, both common and obscure.

Chameleon is a prestige class from Races of Destiny that gives you the ability to change your focus every day (as in, you can be a rogue one day, a wizard the following day, or a cleric the day after that). It gives you a floating feat that you can use for whatever you qualify for, and can be changed out daily. Later it gives you the ability to have two class-focuses at the same time (so, a cleric/rogue or a druid/wizard). It fits in really well with factotum, and both fit your fluff quite nicely.

I'd suggest taking illumian as your race, since they fit with your concept too, and count as human for qualifications.

If you do go factotum, check out font of inspiration (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070606), as you'll want to take it 3-5 times to fuel your inspiration abilities.

Greenish
2010-05-22, 04:45 PM
Chameleon (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20041210b) is available from WotC's pages.

readsaboutd&d
2010-05-23, 05:00 AM
Fluffwise a utilitarian vilain could work. Find yourself an excuse for prioritising knowledge over human life (subsituting science for magic in your explanation can work well or you can use both). Once you've got some excuse, make the character absolutely believe it and you can easily get an anti-vilain who is still undoubtedly evil.

Haarkla
2010-05-23, 06:31 AM
While not blatantly bent on causing death and destruction, I’d still classify the character as chaotic evil since he has no respect for life and freedom if it stands between him and his goal. He can function as a normal, even nice person under normal circumstances, but would have no qualms in burning down an entire city if it was standing between him and an obscure book.
Your character is Lawful Evil in my opinion.