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Can you be a "good" NB? (as in, not evil assassin)

Athan1
Athan1
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If you steal people's life force, manipulate their blood, strike them from the shadows... Can you play as a "good" and moral Nightblade? How?

Tbh I just wish I could dye my Templar's holy light red...
Athan Atticus Imperial Templar of Shezarr
  • the1andonlyskwex
    the1andonlyskwex
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    I only kill bad people.
  • katanagirl1
    katanagirl1
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    Sure, I did only quests, only killed the “red” enemies and never any yellow or white ones, and didn’t do any stealing for a long time.

    Then I found out that you could only get some motif pages from thieving activities, and then Murkmire had so few unowned containers, that I finally did level up Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood so I could more easily obtain these items.

    My character’s story became that she kinda went crazy when she was unable to properly furnish her home and went over to the dark side, lol!
    Khajiit Stamblade main
    Dark Elf Magsorc
    Redguard Stamina Dragonknight
    Orc Stamplar PVP
    Breton Magsorc PVP
    Dark Elf Magden
    Khajiit Stamblade
    Khajiit Stamina Arcanist

    PS5 NA
  • MercilessnVexed
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    Athan1 wrote: »
    If you steal people's life force, manipulate their blood, strike them from the shadows... Can you play as a "good" and moral Nightblade? How?

    Tbh I just wish I could dye my Templar's holy light red...

    Definitely the complaining of a Templar. LOL!
  • Kadraeus
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    Depends what you consider "moral" in each situation. You could just use shadow cloak and sneak past 90% of enemies so you don't have to kill them.

    Now, is my nightblade a good person? Nah. She may be the hero of the story (multiple stories) but she's done some pretty awful things.

    She'd be charged with:
    • Breaking the Green Pact to become a werewolf
    • Eating people she killed as a werewolf
    • Attacking some civilians in the middle of town as a werewolf
    • Ripping the energy from several soulshriven and destroying them in the process
    • Stealing from people in the same cities whose rulers consider her a friend
    • Killing Dominion soldiers outside of Dominion territory (they started it)
    • Killing Dominion soldiers inside Dominion territory as a werewolf (they started it too)
    • Killing defenseless animals to stay a werewolf longer
    • Sabotaging a duel
    • Killing an assassin after they surrendered
  • Ryath_Waylander
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    This was what I enjoyed about the NWN series, you had 6 types of toon. Lawful, neutral and chaotic in good and evil variants. It gave you many moral choices.

    Although most roles would be a variant of evil, I could make a nightblade in a chaotic good role i.e. killing a murderer or corrupt official. Killing them to prevent an evil, so to speak.

    Moral is tricky though. It can be quite subjective and not necessarily "good". The lawful evil action of cutting a child thief's hand off, for example. The moral is, don't steal other people's property but is it good?
    Edited by Ryath_Waylander on February 25, 2021 7:10AM
  • Banana
    Banana
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    No
  • RaddlemanNumber7
    RaddlemanNumber7
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    My NB's all serve a greater good, Sithis. They can do no wrong. They give people what they deserve need - their material entanglements are severed so that they may return to the Void.
    PC EU
  • wheresbes
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    Athan1 wrote: »
    If you steal people's life force, manipulate their blood, strike them from the shadows... Can you play as a "good" and moral Nightblade? How?

    Tbh I just wish I could dye my Templar's holy light red...

    As someone said, only kill bad people, how you do so it doesn't really matter IMO.

    Besides, my character would be a scoundrel even if she was a Templar, so it's not a class issue :D
  • SshadowSscale
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    One way might be too look at it as your character was born with these powers and although he does not want to be good he has to choose to do a lesser evil to prevent a greater evil.... or something like that
  • colossalvoids
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    Depends what morals do you chose. Also situation in which you appear. Better to see classes like an education of sorts, nightblade can be an agent for example and use his force to lesser extent, just play with the concepts and see what flows your boat.
  • Michae
    Michae
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    Depends on where you draw the line between good and evil and you'd have to compartmentalize a lot. I mean can any character in this game be considered good? If you follow any alliance storyline you basically have to participate in a war. Between the three alliances there's no real good guys, each is portrayed as rather good by it's own storyline, while being despicable in other stories. In each story there are some quests where you have to steal, spy, kill, and I'm not talking only about obvious ones like Thieves Guild or Dark Brotherhood. So your nightblade can be as good as any other character in this game, same as that your templar can be as evil as the rest. There's really no place for Gandhi-like characters, unless you don't do almost any quests and stay out of the wilderness.
    "I bear the cruel weight of certainty. Total, absolute, relentless certainty. People rarely comprehend the luxury of doubt... the freedom that comes with indecision. I envy you."
    Sotha Sil

    @Michae PC/EU
  • Zatox
    Zatox
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    Yes, you can. Just kill everyone you want and claim that you do this for the democracy
  • RPGplayer13579
    RPGplayer13579
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    You can act as a scout in Cyrodiil.
    My Characters.

    Mike Snow - Imperial - Templar - One-Handed and Shield - Tank - Daggerfall Covenant - Commander.
    Catelyn Rivers - Breton - Sorcerer - Destruction Staff - Daggerfall Covenant - Telvanni Magister.
    Ashara Sand - Redguard - Warden - Two-Handed/One-Handed and Shield - Daggerfall Covenant - Heroic.
    Tormund gro-Largash - Orsimer - Dragonknight - Two-Handed - Daggerfall Covenant - Furious.
    Lysa Rivers - Breton - Nightblade - Bow/One-Handed and Shield - Vampire - Daggerfall Covenant - Brassy Assassin.

    Jon Karstark - Nord - Dragonknight - Two-Handed - Ebonheart Pact - Drunk.
    Arya Sand - Dunmer - Dragonknight - Dual Wield - Ebonheart Pact - Assassin.
    Sansa Snow - Impeial - Warden - Destruction Staff/One-Handed and Shield - Ebonheart Pect - Swashbuckler.
    Jojen Reed-Walker - Argonian - Templar - Restoration Staff - Healer - Ebonheart Pact - Melancholy.
    Alys Karstark - Nord - Nightblade - Bow/Dual Wield - Ebonheart Pact - Minstrel.

    Nymeria Woods - Bosmer - Nightblade - Bow - Aldmeri Dominion - Thief.
    Brandon Wings - Altmer - Templar - Restoration Staff - Healer - Aldmeri Dominion - Scholar.
    Lyanna Flowers - Altmer - Sorcerer - Sword/Destruction Staff - Aldmeri Dominion - Duchess.
    Marvolo-jo Riddle - Khajiit - Necromancer - Destruction Staff - Aldmeri Dominion - Deadlands Firewalker.
    Obara Woods - Bosmer - Templar - Bow - Werewolf - Aldmeri Dominion - Cheerful.

  • Zabagad
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    Athan1 wrote: »
    Can you play as a "good" and moral Nightblade? How?
    ofc you can - even if that is not the main focus for that class.
    - For normal quests there is no difference to kill or not kill compared to other classes.
    - For a lot of other quests you can sneak easier then other classes and prevent any kill at all by that.
    - For group play I know some NB-healer too.

    As a non-pet sorc since 2016 the U46 Patch Notes sound like: "Those who do not wish to interact with the pet gameplay can now replace this skill line eso as a whole."
  • amm7sb14_ESO
    amm7sb14_ESO
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    That's up to you and your roleplay.
  • NotaDaedraWorshipper
    NotaDaedraWorshipper
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    Of course they can. Just like templars can be good or evil, or sorcerers, or necromancers, or dragon knights, or wardens.

    The individual is what matter, not the tools they use.
    Edited by NotaDaedraWorshipper on February 26, 2021 12:47AM
    [Lie] Of course! I don't even worship Daedra!
  • amm7sb14_ESO
    amm7sb14_ESO
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    Of course they can. Just like templars can be good or evil, or sorcerers, or necromancers, or dragon knights, or wardens.

    The individual is what matter, now the tools they use.

    Yup! Throughout all the TES games, including ESO, I roleplay necromancers who use their powers for good, necromancers who have become corrupted by their powers for evil, thieves / assassins with hearts of gold, daedra worshippers who learn to use the power of the daedra to help others, a Wood Elf raised in "civilized" High Rock, but still in touch with the connections to nature of his roots and uses his connection to life and nature to heal.

    Roleplay is not limited to class. It is limited to imagination.
  • Tommy_The_Gun
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    I think that certainly - yes, you can.

    Shadowscales for example, are Argonians that although were train to be assassins, in Argonian culture they act as a judges & sheriffs, ending disputes amongst tribes. They are treated with respect and often other Argonians seek their guides and advice.

    Other thing that comes to mind is a Thief. Thiefs are not "evil" by nature or anything like that. Especially if they rob from the rich & give to the poor. They can be good.

    Same with assassins. You can be a "good" assassin by killing "evil" people (slavers for example).
  • linuxlady
    linuxlady
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    NB healers are the best in my opinion
  • kargen27
    kargen27
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    My character that most leans more towards good than towards evil never lied to an NPC while doing a quest so long as telling the truth was an option. She also never made a decision while doing a quest based on what was best or easiest for her.

    She will kill you though if you are standing by a chest that might have something in it she wants and you are in the way.
    and then the parrot said, "must be the water mines green too."
  • Nestor
    Nestor
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    My NB reformed later on in the game. After the Dark Brotherhood dropped, and he completed that quest line, he was overcome with remorse. He has since made amends.

    Who is this Night Blade?

    <<<<<<<<<<

    Edited by Nestor on February 26, 2021 1:30AM
    Enjoy the game, life is what you really want to be worried about.

    PakKat "Everything was going well, until I died"
    Gary Gravestink "I am glad you died, I needed the help"

  • Sylvermynx
    Sylvermynx
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    Eh, my NBs are not "evil assassins". I don't play that particular game: no TG, no DB. I don't pvp, so no ganking. I play them as normal characters. When I need sneak they mostly can oblige. But they're not my main sneakers unless I have them in Darloc (which isn't many of them, as they're all but one below CP 160).

    My NBs are just another class to play, with varying races.
  • StormWylf
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    IMHO the answer is Yes for the Thieves Guild but a hard NO for the Dark Brotherhood.
  • emilyhyoyeon
    emilyhyoyeon
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    Nightblade skills are typical restoration (swallow soul, path, dark cloak), illusion (invis cloak, mass hysteria), alteration (mirage), destruction (merciless resolve, execute), etc spells, some can even be considered conjuration depending on the interpretation. They aren't necessarily evil weird villain skills, like stealth isn't inherently evil.

    I'll talk about drain health since that seems to be the focus in the op. Drain health is just a type of restoration spell that hurts the target (and heals the caster). The same pejorative-ness can be put on the sorcerer lightning magic skills. Mages fury violently kills people with a powerful lightning strike--why is the drain health more evil tbh? Because it sounds spookier conceptually since I didn't think of a more grotesque way of describing it I guess?

    As others have said, it comes down to how the skills are used.

    I can sort of see a case for inherent evilness necromancer skills, but definitely not nightblade.
    Edited by emilyhyoyeon on February 26, 2021 2:40AM
    IGN @ emilypumpkin, imperial pumpkin seller
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  • Ratzkifal
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    Yes, it's very much possible. Being sneaky does not necessarily make you a thief or an assassin. You can also always be a spy or secret agent, which is a lot less evil if your employer is morally good and you avoid situations where you have to commit evil for the greater good.
    If you are concerned about the nature of your spells, probably stay away from Siphoning if that's where you are drawing the line.
    This Bosmer was tortured to death. There is nothing left to be done.
  • Athan1
    Athan1
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    Thanks for your input! There's something appealing to NB skills, but also off-putting because of how explicit violence is. But like others said, every class kills stuff so the means don't really matter, since lethal damage is inflicted in any case...
    Athan Atticus Imperial Templar of Shezarr
  • katanagirl1
    katanagirl1
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    Athan1 wrote: »
    Thanks for your input! There's something appealing to NB skills, but also off-putting because of how explicit violence is. But like others said, every class kills stuff so the means don't really matter, since lethal damage is inflicted in any case...

    Hmm, no one else commented on the particular target you at fighting, like I did with “red”, “yellow”, and “white”. Maybe you don’t have this turned on in Options or don’t pay any attention.

    Red targets are aggressive and will attack you on sight. So I consider attacking those targets to be okay, it’s self defense.

    Yellow targets will not attack you until you attack them. I avoid these as well, I just don’t like provoking them. They are harmless otherwise.

    White targets are “innocents”. Attacking them will give you a bounty, they are unarmed. Definitely a no-no for morality’s sake.
    Khajiit Stamblade main
    Dark Elf Magsorc
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    Orc Stamplar PVP
    Breton Magsorc PVP
    Dark Elf Magden
    Khajiit Stamblade
    Khajiit Stamina Arcanist

    PS5 NA
  • KovalskyNestor
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    It's all up to you. While I agree that classes like templar and warden are considered to be "good" and necro and nb "evil", you can roleplay and make up a story behind your character. I recommend making a custom outfit and theme for your nb, and that way you can potray your character like a good person.
  • Bucky_13
    Bucky_13
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    Athan1 wrote: »
    If you steal people's life force, manipulate their blood, strike them from the shadows... Can you play as a "good" and moral Nightblade? How?

    Tbh I just wish I could dye my Templar's holy light red...

    I'd say my pacifist NB who haven't killed a single thing in the game is pretty good from a moral perspective, despite some stealing when I leveled her. She mostly does crafting & wall repairs in Cyro.

    And murder is murder, I don't see that much of a difference between murdering someone from the shadows and with bright lights. The end result is the same, death and destruction.
  • Athan1
    Athan1
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    Athan1 wrote: »
    Thanks for your input! There's something appealing to NB skills, but also off-putting because of how explicit violence is. But like others said, every class kills stuff so the means don't really matter, since lethal damage is inflicted in any case...

    Hmm, no one else commented on the particular target you at fighting, like I did with “red”, “yellow”, and “white”. Maybe you don’t have this turned on in Options or don’t pay any attention.

    Red targets are aggressive and will attack you on sight. So I consider attacking those targets to be okay, it’s self defense.

    Yellow targets will not attack you until you attack them. I avoid these as well, I just don’t like provoking them. They are harmless otherwise.

    White targets are “innocents”. Attacking them will give you a bounty, they are unarmed. Definitely a no-no for morality’s sake.
    Yep, that makes a difference too.
    Athan Atticus Imperial Templar of Shezarr
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