Running a "Chaotic Evil" PC in a morally ambivalent group?

Question

So I've been running in a Shadowrun group for a while now and my character served as the group's only moral compass. He got killed in a rather dissatisfying string of events, but now it's time to whip up a new runner.

What I'm picturing is a Chaotic Evil counterpart to my former character's (mostly-)Lawful Good sort of character. I recognize that Shadowrun doesn't use the alignment system, but there's really no other way to describe the character otherwise, since I'll intentionally be playing him as edgy and amoral (and more than a little bit nihilistic), where the rest of the runners don't really care so long as they get their paycheck.

Is there any way for me to work in the over-the-top violence and wanton destruction of a Chaotic Evil character with a group that more veers for a pragmatic approach? Basically, I don't want the rest of the group turning the guy in to Knights Errant for the bounty, because he's useful, but I want him to be the sort of guy who everyone's trying to keep from kicking the puppy off a rooftop to calculate its falling speed (and humorous value).

Note that this isn't a system-specific question, alignments listed are used for reference and not because of any mechanical constraints.

EDIT: Do note that this is not a Stupid Evil character, merely a Chaotic Evil one. He's manipulative and greedy, and he will intentionally harm others just because he can get away with it, but he won't risk himself to do so, nor does he feel the need to intentionally violate moral codes just because they're there if doing so presents a risk to him, though if nobody's watching or if he can "get away with it" he will.

Answer 1

Check out Belkar, from the Order of the Stick. A chaotic evil character in a mostly-good-aligned party. See this quote:

Despite his kill-first who-cares-about-asking-questions attitude and lack of party loyalty causing the occasional problem, Belkar has proven to be generally effective as a party member [...] but, with carefully applied threats, the rest of the group have generally been able to keep the halfling under control and they consider him to be one of their own.

Note, though, that the OOTS keeping Belkar around has always been a bit of a stretch for willing suspension of disbelief, allowed mostly for narrative purposes, and often lampshaded by the characters themselves, so it might be a bit of a problem getting the rest of your party behind the idea of sheltering a psycho killer, but if you're fun and over-the-top enough, they might appreciate your dramatic value.

Another option that some might not like is getting explicit buy-in from the players, or at least some you think will be into it. Some might see it as a form of meta-gaming that takes away from the real roleplaying, but others might see it as a social contract that allows the party to play the roles they like and build the narratives they like.

Answer 2

If you're following the Tao of Bitterleaf route, there are two obvious options:

1. As a player, assume your inevitable demise when you go too far, and don't get annoyed when it happens. As a character, do what you like, but don't actively sabotage your own group for no good reason (only when it benefits you).
2. As a player, limit yourself in order to play a maintainable character. As a character, at least at surface level, conform merely for the sake of keeping with a group as long as it's in your own best interests aka Tao of Hallucinatory Shojo.

Critically, in terms of party acceptance, it comes down to "is your behaviour enhancing or detracting from the enjoyment of the game". If your character's behaviour continually breaks their plans and messes with them as players, that's an issue, and you'll probably need OOC agreement. If he's just annoying their characters, that should normally be fine.

At the end of the day, start playing him, but be prepared to hand him over to the DM if it turns out he's not a good fit. If he's a thorn in your group's side, have them kick him out, and then deal with him as a spurned, bitter psychopath with a grudge against them.

Answer 3

Sounds like it’s less what you do, and more how you do it

When given the chance to kill or hurt someone, go over the top. Describe the character as making his opponents hurt as much as possible within the constraints of practicality, and have him exult in the pain and destruction he does succeed in causing. In fact, I’d probably have the guy take on the “challenge” of working these kinds of activities into his pragmatic schedule: he doesn’t risk the mission for these things, because part of the point is being clever/skilled enough to work them into his mission so that it benefits everyone. And make sure his allies know it.

Also make sure your fellow players are on board with that

This could easily head into uncomfortable territory for other players. Most players probably won’t mind the character in concept, but you need to figure out exactly what sorts of descriptions add to the terrifying feel of the character and improve the game, and which descriptions only creep people out and should be described in less detail, “off-screen” so to speak. Done well, you can even use that to your advantage: a properly-timed fade to black can leave people imagining things more vividly than a description would have.

Answer 4

Your character's alignment (or virtual alignment, in this case) represents how he feels. What he wants to do. Doesn't mean he can't compromise in order to get by.

Specifically, you (the shadowrunner) are chaotic evil. Fair enough ... you disdain regulations and laws, they restrict you. You don't like them. And you are selfish or lack compassion to the extent that hurting others feelings or just plain hurting them doesn't really bother you.

That doesn't mean you have no self-discipline. It doesn't mean you're a compulsive sadist.

You are smart enough to know that you have to follow certain rules, to avoid jail-time and/or tedious moral lectures. This opens up a lot of role-playing opportunities. When the opfor tries to suborn someone in the party, you might be the one who wavers hardest. When the other players agonize over what to do with the knocked-out guards, you might be the guy who "accidentally" double-taps them. Heck, even the occasional sneer about "law abiding herd mentality" can be enough for flavor.

Hmm ... you might even be able to "train" your party. If you step up and "do what needs to be done" often enough, they may start relying on you in this role. It might start sinking in that your philosophy is the right one, because it works. You get results.

Or ... they might be training you. Every time that dratty elf stops you from executing someone inconvenient with an annoyed snort of "why even bother?" Every time the self-righteous sniper makes you take a job "because it's right". Every time you sigh and refrain from doing something selfish to avoid the scorn of your peers ... they're subtly nudging you toward their point of view.