You didn't skim very well then, 3 can be Bad things for Good reasons no sadism necessary but maybe too willing to be the one to have to get their hands dirty "my burden".
4 can be a near automaton also not having anything to do with sadism.
There's more to both and all the others too.
I don't particularly want Evil minions but I am quite sick of "No, Evil is Bad Obviously because we all know exactly what all Evil is like all the time".
Can there be no spectrum?
There is certainly a spectrum, but at least one of the archetypes mentioned (the Executive) was stated to be considered as LE in name only, as their only "Evil" characteristic is ruthlessness.
For the example of "getting their hands dirty", allow me to quote from the article in question:
"Have him take just a little
too much satisfaction from resorting to dirtier methods, or have him use violence as a
first resort, rather than a last one. That readiness, nay,
desire to get his hands dirty is what pushes a character like this from Neutral into Evil."
I would say that Richard is entirely too willing to get his hands dirty, and has no problems with advocating for the murder of most things we meet. He is also considered LN, because he derives no satisfaction from getting his hands dirty, and only does so because it is his Duty.
4 is also the one who is most likely to switch their alignment out of having done Evil in ignorance, which doesn't seem like the type of evil minion the thread wants. Those advocating for Evil minions seem to want one who is genuinely evil, yet also willing to subordinate ourselves to us, to which I wonder what the purpose of having them be evil is in the first place?
I'm approaching it from the exactly different direction.
If we meet an interesting person who would make a good ally, friend or subordinate I want to keep the option to have him/her as that.
Not remove that chance by pre-emptivly striking against evil, or likely evil, people and creatures we meet.
That's all. I don't plan to specifically write a "Evil Help Wanted" poster.
Take as example Taena (who might have been Evil but wasn't), Bronn (Who is Evil) and earlier Glyra. All people we recruited regardless of alignment, or unknowing of it.
I have no problems recruiting people despite what their "alignment" is, because I usually care more about what the character's motivations are and how likely they are to mesh with our current companions and wants. I'm just wondering why people want to recruit someone
because of their alignment rather than
in spite of it.
