Alignment Re-write


Alpha Playtest Feedback General Discussion

RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Inspired by the discussion here, I decided to rewire the Alignment section of the SRD to make it more flexible, as well as try to deal with some recurring issues, notably the confusion between Chaotic Neutral and Neutral Evil and the problems with 'Chaotic Stupid'.

At worst, I'll help spark more helpful discussion. At best, some of might text might end up in the RPG.

Here goes (wall of text hidden in spoiler for navigation purposes):

Spoiler:
Alignment

A creature’s general moral and personal attitudes are represented by its alignment on two axes: Good to Evil and Law to Chaos.
Alignment is a tool for developing your character’s identity. It is not a straitjacket for restricting your character. Each alignment represents a broad range of personality types or personal philosophies, so two characters of the same alignment can still be quite different from each other. In addition, few people are completely consistent. Alignment can also change over time.

Good Vs. Evil

"Good" implies altruism, respect for life, and a concern for the dignity of others. Good characters feel that the goal of life is to make the world better. They will sacrifice to make life better for others, even strangers. For example, a village priest might live in poverty so that more of his temple’s money can go to the local orphanage.
"Evil" implies selfishness, a disregard for life, and contempt for others. Evil characters feel that the world is a harsh place, and that each individual is purely responsible for their own wellbeing. They will hurt others to make life better for themselves and their allies. For instance, a highway brigand steals and sometimes kills because it is easier and more profitable than working.
Frequently, Evil characters do not think of themselves as ‘bad’: rationalizing their actions as merely as doing what is necessary to succeed. For example, the taskmaster of a workhouse exploits the orphans under his care, underfeeding and overworking them. He might justify it as being better than the children being out on the street. A good rule of thumb is that if you have to explain why it’s Good, it’s Evil.
Some Evil characters simply enjoy causing pain and suffering to others. While it is worth noting that Sadism is not automatically Evil (for instance, between two consenting adults), inflicting harm on others simply for enjoyment is usually Evil.
Good characters view Evil characters as cruel, heartless, and selfish. Evil characters view Good characters as foolish, weak, and naïve.
Characters who are neutral with respect to Good and Evil fall between these two extremes, either by lack of a clear choice or by a conscious seeking of balance between themselves and others. For instance, a typical peasant is neutral, because while he may avoid harming others, he lacks the commitment to make hard sacrifices in order to help others. A dedicated druid, on the other hand, may deliberately seek the balance between care for others and care for oneself.
Animals and other creatures incapable of moral action are Neutral rather than Good or Evil. Even deadly vipers and tigers that eat people are Neutral because they lack the capacity for morally right or wrong behavior. Some mindless creatures, such as Zombies, are Evil despite a lack of moral capacity, due to the Evil and malice inherent in their creation.

Law Vs. Chaos

“Law” implies order, discipline, and predictability. Lawful characters believe that everything has a proper role within the universe, and should fulfill that role. They tend to be organized and prefer to plan before acting. Lawful characters favor certainty and are unsettled by the arbitrary. For instance, a judge seeks absolute certainty of guilt or innocence before issuing a sentence. If a law is ambiguous, he will seek or set a precedent to make the meaning clear.
It is important not to confuse “Law” the alignment with the law of the local legal system. While Lawful characters are more likely to obey authority than Chaotic characters, they are likely to hold their own personal ethics or duty above the law of the land. For instance, a paladin might not think twice before breaking an unjust law, while a monk might eschew worldly laws in favor of his own quest for enlightenment and perfection.
“Chaos” implies freedom, impulsiveness, and flexibility. Chaotic characters believe in living life to the fullest. They tend to act in the now, doing whatever seems best in the moment. Chaotic characters love a good surprise. For example, a wandering bard considers life to be an unwritten story, and seeks to make his story as exciting as possible. He feels that if he knows what tomorrow holds, then tomorrow is wasted.
A Chaotic character is still capable of planning for the future and predicting the consequences of their actions. For instance, a Chaotic thief may have contempt for authority, but will still refrain from picking a pocket in plain view of a town guard, because he doesn’t want to go to prison. However, a Chaotic character’s plans are usually much more vague than those of a Lawful character.
Lawful characters view Chaotic characters as reckless, short-sighted, undisciplined, and untrustworthy. Chaotic characters view Lawful characters as close-minded, bossy, judgmental, and slaves to routine.
Characters who are neutral with respect to Law and Chaos fall between these two extremes, either by lack of a clear choice or by a conscious seeking of balance between themselves and others. For instance, a typical farmer is neutral, because while he understands the value of routine and the predictable cycle of the seasons, he often wishes his life were more exciting. A philosopher, on the other hand, may deliberately seek the balance between fate and free-will.
Animals and other creatures incapable of moral action are neutral. Dogs may be obedient and cats free-spirited, but they do not have the moral capacity to be truly Lawful or Chaotic.

The Nine Alignments

Nine distinct alignments define all the possible combinations of the lawful-chaotic axis with the Good-Evil axis. Each alignment description below depicts a typical character of that alignment. Remember that individuals vary from this norm, and that a given character may act more or less in accord with his or her alignment from day to day. Use these descriptions as guidelines, not as scripts.
The first six alignments, Lawful Good through Chaotic Neutral, are the standard alignments for player characters. The three Evil alignments are usually reserved for monsters and villains. Of course, exceptions exist.
Regardless of alignment, a character acts rationally, within the limits of his mental ability.

Lawful Good, "Duty"

A Lawful Good character believes that an orderly world is the best way for everyone to live well and happily, vice verse, or both. He feels that everyone has a duty to make the world a better place, and should work together to do so.
For instance, a Lawful Good soldier might feel that it is the duty of the strong to protect the weak, since the weak cannot protect themselves.
A Lawful Good character may feel the conflict between Law and Good when ‘doing the right thing’ means upsetting the social order, or when following their duty leads to innocents being harmed.
Lawful Good characters include Aragorn, Optimus Prime, Captain America, and King Arthur.
Lawful Good is the best alignment because it combines honor and compassion.

Neutral Good, "Hope"

A Neutral Good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others.
For instance, a Neutral Good shopkeeper might offer discounts or even free services to those in need.
Neutral Good characters include Samwise Gangee, Spiderman, and Luke Skywalker.
Neutral Good is the best alignment because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order.

Chaotic Good, "Freedom"

A Chaotic Good character believes that every individual should help others and pursue happiness in his or her own way. He favors doing away laws, taboos, and tradition if they restrict anyone from finding happiness.
For instance, a Chaotic Good ranger might help smuggle individuals across patrolled national borders, viewing the border taxes as unnecessary restrictions with no benefit.
A Chaotic Good character may feel the conflict between Chaos and Good when helping others requires committing to future plans.
Chaotic Good characters include Robin Hood, the Flash, and Han Solo (at the end of the movie).
Chaotic Good is the best alignment because it combines a good heart with a free spirit.

Lawful Neutral, "Order"

A Lawful Neutral character believes that an orderly world is a perfect world. She may act as law, tradition, or a personal code directs her. Order and organization are paramount to her. She may believe in personal order and live by a code or standard, or she may believe in order for all and favor a strong, organized government.
For example, A Lawful Neutral wizard studies magic in order to understand the fundamental laws of the universe.
Lawful Neutral characters include the Punisher, Surak, and Odysseus.
Lawful Neutral is the best alignment because it means seeking order without the conflicts of Good or the corruption of Evil.

True Neutral, "Undecided" or “Balance”

A True Neutral character does what seems to be a good idea. She doesn’t feel strongly one way or the other when it comes to Good vs. Evil or Law vs. Chaos. Most neutral characters exhibit a lack of conviction or bias rather than a commitment to neutrality. Such a character probably still thinks of Good as better than Evil—after all, she would rather have Good neighbors and rulers than Evil ones. Even so, she’s not personally committed to upholding Good in any abstract or universal way.
For example, a horse is ‘undecided’ because it is incapable of favoring Good over Evil, or Law over Chaos.
Some True Neutral characters, on the other hand, commit themselves philosophically to neutrality. They see Good, Evil, Law, and Chaos as prejudices and dangerous extremes. They advocate the middle way of Neutrality as the best, most balanced road in the long run.
For example, a ‘balanced’ druid might seek to keep all things in balance, as the natural world does. He might protect a human town from a band of gnolls, but then protect the gnoll camp from human retaliation.
True Neutral characters include Tom Bombadil, Dr. Strangelove, and Marv from Sin City.
True Neutral is the best alignment because it means you act naturally, without prejudice or compulsion.
Sometimes, ‘undecided’ True Neutral characters might be referred to as ‘Neutral Neutral’ or just ‘Neutral’, reserving ‘True Neutral’ for ‘balanced’ characters.

Chaotic Neutral, "Anarchy"

A Chaotic Neutral character is an individualist. He values his own liberty but doesn’t strive to protect others’ freedom. He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. A chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable to others, but he acts rationally. His behavior is not random, nor so shortsighted as to be blatantly self-destructive.
A Chaotic Neutral character does what he pleases, but stops short of actually hurting others, or stealing from those who cannot afford it. Doing so would mean harming others for personal gain, which is Evil.
For example, a Chaotic Neutral rogue might act as a smuggler, because such a job allows a great deal of freedom, while not being bound by the laws of ordinary society.
Chaotic Neutral characters include the Hulk, Jack Sparrow, and Han Solo (beginning of the movie).
Chaotic Neutral is the best alignment because it represents true freedom, without harming others.

Lawful Evil, "Tyranny"

A Lawful Evil character believes that an orderly world is the best way to secure personal power, vice versa, or both. He feels that each individual should look out for itself, and that a ‘fair’ set of rules will lead to everyone getting what they deserve and taking it from those who do not. He is frequently comfortable in a hierarchy and would like to rule, but is willing to serve.
For instance, a Lawful Evil noble believes that the weak exist to serve the strong. He relies on the law to protect his power, and believes that the failure of others to secure a fair share under the law proves that they do not deserve one. He follows the law himself because otherwise he cannot expect his underlings and other threats to follow it.
A Lawful Evil character may feel the conflict between Evil and Law when his laws prevent him from taking what he wants, or when he is trapped with his own word or contract.
Lawful Evil characters include Magneto, Moriarty, Lex Luthor, and Redcloak.
Lawful Evil is the best alignment because it represents self-interest without being arbitrary.

Neutral Evil, "Despair"

A Neutral Evil character does whatever she can get away with. Unlike a Chaotic Neutral character, however, a Neutral Evil character doesn’t care about personal freedom or care about others’ traditions, and is not opposed to personal routine.
For example, a Neutral Evil necromancer defiles the bodies of the dead in order to expand his own power, trapping their souls to fuel his undead servants.
Neutral Evil characters include Saruman, Antoine Chigurh, and R’as Al-ghul.
Neutral Evil is the best alignment because it represents pure self-interest without building order or sowing chaos.

Chaotic Evil, "Destruction"

A Chaotic Evil character believes that every individual should seek to take what they can and do whatever they want, without regard for who or what is hurt. Generally, he does whatever his greed, hatred, and lust for destruction drive him to do. A Chaotic Evil character is distinguished from a Neutral Evil character either by actively spreading Chaos and terror or by sheer recklessness.
For example, a Chaotic Evil warlord terrorizes the countryside, and only keeps his own forces in line through bullying and personal power.
Chaotic Evil characters include Belkar, the Joker, Black Mage, and Alex from A Clockwork Orange.
Chaotic Evil is the best alignment because it represents unparalleled freedom to do as you please.


Ross Byers wrote:

Inspired by the discussion here, I decided to rewire the Alignment section of the SRD to make it more flexible, as well as try to deal with some recurring issues, notably the confusion between Chaotic Neutral and Neutral Evil and the problems with 'Chaotic Stupid'.

At worst, I'll help spark more helpful discussion. At best, some of might text might end up in the RPG.

Here goes (wall of text hidden in spoiler for navigation purposes):

[spoiler]Alignment

A creature’s general moral and personal attitudes are represented by its alignment on two axes: Good to Evil and Law to Chaos.
Alignment is a tool for developing your character’s identity. It is not a straitjacket for restricting your character. Each alignment represents a broad range of personality types or personal philosophies, so two characters of the same alignment can still be quite different from each other. In addition, few people are completely consistent. Alignment can also change over time.

Good Vs. Evil

"Good" implies altruism, respect for life, and a concern for the dignity of others. Good characters feel that the goal of life is to make the world better. They will sacrifice to make life better for others, even strangers. For example, a village priest might live in poverty so that more of his temple’s money can go to the local orphanage.
"Evil" implies selfishness, a disregard for life, and contempt for others. Evil characters feel that the world is a harsh place, and that each individual is purely responsible for their own wellbeing. They will hurt others to make life better for themselves and their allies. For instance, a highway brigand steals and sometimes kills because it is easier and more profitable than working.
Frequently, Evil characters do not think of themselves as ‘bad’: rationalizing their actions as merely as doing what is necessary to succeed. For example, the taskmaster of a workhouse...

Looks good to me, but then again I had no problem with the alignment definitions in the first place. A little wiggle room for the GM and players is always a good thing.

RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

Wiggle room was the idea. I tried to widen the alignments to their basic concepts, because the descriptions as written were too stereotypical, and assumed things like the written laws being close to fair.

Community / Forums / Archive / Pathfinder / Playtests & Prerelease Discussions / Pathfinder Roleplaying Game / Alpha Playtest Feedback / General Discussion / Alignment Re-write All Messageboards
Recent threads in General Discussion