TTRPGs are like Lego. You buy the system and out of the box it shows you how to build something with it. A reoccurring problem I see is that DMs will take the Lego booklet, build what’s shown or maybe one of the three variations of it and that’s it. It’s done. Not a problem, if that’s the extent of your creativity or maybe you feel attached to a structure written by someone else, fine. Just like with Lego, some people get their box, build the manual and are content. Me? I build the thing that’s depicted on the box, then I smash it up and see what else I can make.

It is becoming a problem when people demand others adhere to the pre-build and can’t see beyond it and that’s something I see a little too often.

Let’s talk about deviations and the worst ones I see is the ‘lore’. There are people who look at the Forgotten Realms or pick a world, and they take the lore as gospel, that’s fine, just don’t expect others to take it as gospel as well, because it’s still Lego.

New DMs ask things like “What race and creatures would make good champions of Eilistraee?” and answers often range from well… drow, spiders, driders. But the right answer is “Anything you want.” Or, “That depends on who your Eilistraee is.”

Eilistraee is defined in the Forgotten Realms as the drow goddess of beauty, song, dance, freedom that is worshipped by drow exiles.

In my game, Eilistraee is a goddess of the hunt, life, celebration and inclusivity. She is worshipped by all who have a respect for the circle of life and are more hedonistic in nature. Some of her priests are drow, because that is where her roots lie in my game, but they come from all walks of life.

Neither Eilistraee is ‘wrong’ they are just different arrangements of the same Lego blocks. You can retool, reflavour, remake anything in a TTRPG – especially 5e, and there is no wrong way to do it. Just different interpretations! If anyone tells you the way dragons or gods behave in your world is wrong, they have lost the plot. The worst reasonable thing they could say is that it does not make sense to them.

In another example. Mimics, meet Harold.

Harold was born in the usual manner and left the nest early and expediently lest their parent killed them. Just like many beholders they were plagued by paranoia, greed and violence. Harold was much the same until they came across a book on meditation and breathing exercises for monks. It sparked an obsession and over time Harold chilled the fuck out.

Instead of spending time feeding their paranoia they became a maker. Using all that emotional angst and drive to scheme to fuel a wood and stone carving hobby and later, blacksmithing. These days, Harold lives outside one of the major settlements in a small unassuming workshop. They have found a few humanoid friends that help them in selling their wares and buying them new books. On rare occasions, Harold’s patrons come out to meet them and though Harold’s fear and xenophobia prevents them from settling in the city proper, they have accumulated a small and loyal fan club of art lovers and aristocrats.

There are DMs that see a concept of Harold and consider it either wrong or silly. It’s not wrong, a little silly perhaps but in my world, all creatures regardless of what their alignment should be, live somewhere on the spectrum of the whole gamut. Most beholders are ‘status-quo’, xenophobic, aggressive, violent schemers that are absolutely alien in their malevolence. But Harold exists as well.

People are individuals and refuse to be painted wholly in broad strokes, this extends to animals as well in our real world, and the same applies to mine. On the whole, it makes any world feel more vibrant and interesting. It adds a small layer of uncertainty and a much deeper range of morality.

A (chromatic) dragon is still born with an innate fire and brimstone that pushes their moral compass to skew when compared to our human sensibilities, but good chromatic dragons exist as well, albeit it exceedingly rare. And all dragons live somewhere in the space between.

It completely breaks my verisimilitude and immersion when creatures, humanoids and what have you are painted off exceedingly one dimensional. The idea of a dragon, or any other intelligent creature, that is pure wickedness and constantly brooding and angry just makes me tired in my bones. It makes me feel second-hand exhaustion because imagine how much mental stamina it takes to be angry that much.

But if that’s the game you want to run, out of the box, according to the manual, adhere to the gospel. That’s is your game and your right to do so. If you ever come to a point while world building or story building and you think “Oh but that would be so out of character for an <insert creature/humanoid/etc>” just ignore that voice and go through with it anyway. Make the deviation a part of the character.

And if you’re looking to diversify your intelligent ‘evil’ creatures and paint in some nuances and highlights, here’s a tip.

Hobbies.

A Lich is basically a humanoid mage/wizard that’s ascended, most people have a hobby. Maybe they really enjoy stuffed animals, because they are cute, fluffy and technically not alive. Going to be fun watching the party loot their hoard!

A Black Dragon could collect and greatly enjoy tea or poems. The orc warlord might have a soft spot for painting wooden soldiers.

If you struggle to find hobbies for your evil tyrant to humanise them a little, take a note from history. We all know a certain German Dictator who enjoyed painting, was a vegan and loved dogs. Stalin enjoyed pranks, off colour jokes, playing pool and had a vegetable garden.

If you step on this train of painting the world in shades of grey, do take care not to go too far. While it is incredibly interesting to watch the party’s reaction when they find a letter on the bandit’s corpse from his daughter on how much she enjoyed the poem he wrote for her. Sometimes it’s just nice to kick evil butt and not think of the families. But to your BBEGs, I can only recommend it.

And if someone tells you that your imagining of a deity, creature or character is wrong. Ignore them. If there’s one thing our hobby (whether it’s D&D, roleplaying in general or other TTRPGs) doesn’t need, it’s gatekeeping.