The only thing that I have to say about playing villainous characters is that unless their actions are 100% SOOPER SEEKRIT (more seekret than the fact that Bruce Wayne is actually the Batman), you will probably never be able to casually roleplay this character in a common setting again.
Lots of people in many games and many settings make evil characters, and then have them walk into public places in their Flaming Evil Shadow Armor of Supreme Doom and talk about their Evil Doomsday Plan with their Evil Doomsday Buddies in a public location of all places, and then get upset when people realize that yes, they are indeed evil, and even more upset when a tavern's worth of Heroic Crusaders try to arrest them. This sort of scenario tends to go down the tubes pretty quickly, and usually ends with everyone getting upset and multiple parties taking their balls and going home, along with a dash of "stop powergaming!" and a "you're going on the Ignore List!" or two.
So, if you're going to be evil, Be Smart too. Think about how an evil person would act in various situations. Would someone who's conspiring with the evil army trying to invade their world talk about their private evil plans with a conspirator in the middle of a bar? No they would not! They would go somewhere quiet and out of the way where no one would hear them. Would someone openly hunted and wanted by the law strut around in the middle of a public square with not a single thing on them that could make for a decent disguise? Absolutely not! That would be like inviting an army to take you on because you feel like you're on top of the world that day.
That's not to say that nobody should ever make evil characters ever. Evil is good. Without evil there's nothing for good people to punch, and if there's nothing for good people to punch, then all we get to do is sit around in taverns all day drinking ale and talking about the good old days when there were things to punch for miles and miles. So generally, if you're super set on this, I'd break What I'd Suggest You Do into two options:
A.) Keep It Subtle. Shifty and undercover. The entire world does not need to know that you're evil. If you're careful, you can even maintain an honest and innocent civilian life alongside whatever Doom you're brewing on the side. This also allows for other players to try and get on your case, leading to all sorts of intrigue plots and investigative goodness. This option also has the least impact on the social life of your character, assuming that that's something you care about.
B.) Go Public but Don't Be Dumb. Everyone likes a well-known, public villain. They're something to overcome, and they can lead to some great character development and plotlines all around. However, one must remember that there is no Off-Switch for Evil. Don't go off slaying the masses and then expect to be welcomed with open arms next time you're in town. If you are evil and everyone knows that you are evil, realize that there are places that you should not publicly go without keeping your head low (or at all), because they are literal death-traps. Cities full of well-trained guards, or taverns full of heavily-armed heroes, for example.
Additionally, for both cases, if a character happens to catch you off-guard, try and go along with whatever they're trying as long as it doesn't interfere with whatever larger things you have planned. I'm sure almost everybody on the boards here can tell you a story of someone who was being Evil but utterly refused to face the consequences of their actions in any way, shape, or form. If you're caught by players playing guards, go along with them and get arrested; it's a victory for them and a note in their personal storylines, plus you can always have an Exciting Jailbreak Scene later. If someone gets on your case and manages to track down your evil secret activities and threatens to tell the world, try and talk / bribe / kill your way out of it. And if things are really, really not going the way you want them to, just poke the person OOCly and tell them how they're interfering in your plot, and why you'd rather they not spill the beans / throw you in jail just yet. Communication is key! Not to mention that without players to do evil to, you'd might as well through rocks at a potato and pretend you're stoning someone to death. Oh, how evil.
TL;DR: Don't run around shouting about how evil you are, regardless of whether or not you're trying to be subtle or public. If it's public, people will know by your actions. If it's private, then you're doing it wrong. Also try to go with the flow when other people confront you. Part of being the villain is losing to the heroes.
Lots of people in many games and many settings make evil characters, and then have them walk into public places in their Flaming Evil Shadow Armor of Supreme Doom and talk about their Evil Doomsday Plan with their Evil Doomsday Buddies in a public location of all places, and then get upset when people realize that yes, they are indeed evil, and even more upset when a tavern's worth of Heroic Crusaders try to arrest them. This sort of scenario tends to go down the tubes pretty quickly, and usually ends with everyone getting upset and multiple parties taking their balls and going home, along with a dash of "stop powergaming!" and a "you're going on the Ignore List!" or two.
So, if you're going to be evil, Be Smart too. Think about how an evil person would act in various situations. Would someone who's conspiring with the evil army trying to invade their world talk about their private evil plans with a conspirator in the middle of a bar? No they would not! They would go somewhere quiet and out of the way where no one would hear them. Would someone openly hunted and wanted by the law strut around in the middle of a public square with not a single thing on them that could make for a decent disguise? Absolutely not! That would be like inviting an army to take you on because you feel like you're on top of the world that day.
That's not to say that nobody should ever make evil characters ever. Evil is good. Without evil there's nothing for good people to punch, and if there's nothing for good people to punch, then all we get to do is sit around in taverns all day drinking ale and talking about the good old days when there were things to punch for miles and miles. So generally, if you're super set on this, I'd break What I'd Suggest You Do into two options:
A.) Keep It Subtle. Shifty and undercover. The entire world does not need to know that you're evil. If you're careful, you can even maintain an honest and innocent civilian life alongside whatever Doom you're brewing on the side. This also allows for other players to try and get on your case, leading to all sorts of intrigue plots and investigative goodness. This option also has the least impact on the social life of your character, assuming that that's something you care about.
B.) Go Public but Don't Be Dumb. Everyone likes a well-known, public villain. They're something to overcome, and they can lead to some great character development and plotlines all around. However, one must remember that there is no Off-Switch for Evil. Don't go off slaying the masses and then expect to be welcomed with open arms next time you're in town. If you are evil and everyone knows that you are evil, realize that there are places that you should not publicly go without keeping your head low (or at all), because they are literal death-traps. Cities full of well-trained guards, or taverns full of heavily-armed heroes, for example.
Additionally, for both cases, if a character happens to catch you off-guard, try and go along with whatever they're trying as long as it doesn't interfere with whatever larger things you have planned. I'm sure almost everybody on the boards here can tell you a story of someone who was being Evil but utterly refused to face the consequences of their actions in any way, shape, or form. If you're caught by players playing guards, go along with them and get arrested; it's a victory for them and a note in their personal storylines, plus you can always have an Exciting Jailbreak Scene later. If someone gets on your case and manages to track down your evil secret activities and threatens to tell the world, try and talk / bribe / kill your way out of it. And if things are really, really not going the way you want them to, just poke the person OOCly and tell them how they're interfering in your plot, and why you'd rather they not spill the beans / throw you in jail just yet. Communication is key! Not to mention that without players to do evil to, you'd might as well through rocks at a potato and pretend you're stoning someone to death. Oh, how evil.
TL;DR: Don't run around shouting about how evil you are, regardless of whether or not you're trying to be subtle or public. If it's public, people will know by your actions. If it's private, then you're doing it wrong. Also try to go with the flow when other people confront you. Part of being the villain is losing to the heroes.