When I was younger, I always hated when the antagonists of the various tales I consumed would stand back and let their underlings do all the fighting for them. When it came to evil overlords, I preferred Megatron’s hands-on approach to nastiness and perfidy, finding Cobra Commander’s tendency to send in waves of cannon fodder somehow cowardly. Now, in my dotage, I have had a change of heart, finding the chess-master archetype to be compelling, as when the nefarious Basco Ta Jalokia used his Ranger simulacra to kick the stuffing out of his foes. Maybe it’s my age showing, maybe it’s a question of conservation of energy, but it does raise an interesting query…
The MS-QOTD (pronounced, as always, “misquoted”) can see the advantages in not getting involved until necessary, asking: If you were a villain, would you want to do the fighting yourself, or have minions do your heavy lifting for you?
8 Comments
I say bring on the minions, the more, the merrier! I am definitely not the sort to be a completely hands-on villain. When I supervise, I’m also not a micromanager. So as a villain, I shouldn’t have to do all the work myself. I plot; the minions do the heavy lifting. And the fighting.
I’d use Bane’s method in Knightfall, use others to weaken my foe then go in for the kill (or back break) myself.
I would do a mix, much like the masked villains in the gundam franchise do. Have minions that do the heavy lifting, but not afraid to come in myself and be a kick ass fighter.
Minions to dig out my lair in an active volcano and build things like a “laser.” When the “hero” shows up…I’ts me vs. him, & my minions vs. his minions.
Minions are the Villians version of the classic fighting technique, the Rope-a-dope. The Hero fights your subjects, waisting his energy and weakening himself, making himself tired, slow and more likely to make silly mistakes. You, however, are still strong and fresh, manning your Distructo-ray and completing your plan for world domination.
What usually tires you out is giving your animated and detailed discription of your plan, while he has a chance to recover, thereby defeating you soundly.
sniper from 2 miles away
the “hero” is not even gonna get close to a minion MUCH LESS ME!!!!
My Minions have health care and a dental plan to think of
I’d probably take a route similar to Agent Abrella. Stay behind the scenes, profiting and subtly manipulating unsuspecting “minions” into doing my dirty work while I sit back conserving my strength, study my enemy and preparing, only going in for the kill once I’ve studied the best way to neutralize them.
Personally? I’d do a fair number of things myself. I mean sure I’d send the minions to do the monotonous things, but I’m not going to let them have all the fun.
What’s the point in being evil if your just going to sit around and work all day? That’s pretty much what we’re all doing already after all. So I say learn some new spells, pick up that fancy laser cannon, and hit the town! …possibly literally.