As a wizard, a friend said I should be Lawful instead of chaotic, because it's actually meaning I would be disciplined of mind and not basically scattered brained. I perceive lawful as obeying the law, and many laws can be not good or down right evil, therefore to have no issue in disobeying the law I should be chaotic. Part of my back story is of the Bellflower faction to help escaping hobbits get away from the evil Cheliax slavers. So I thought I'd be CG, but then I want a CE familiar later on "ratling" so I chose CN to cover both the faction and familiar issues.
So, how do I interpret the lawful and chaotic titles with a wizards mind?
Chaotic Good
My soul is good, but free. Laws have no conscience. Blind order promotes disorder. Goodness cannot be learned just from a book of prayer. Compassion does not wear a uniform. The smallest act of kindness is never wasted. Repay kindness with kindness. Be kind to someone in trouble—it may be you who needs kindness the next day.Core Concepts: Benevolence, charity, freedom, joy, kindness, mercy, warmth
A chaotic good character cherishes freedom and the right to make her own way. She might have her own ethics and philosophy, but is not rigidly held by them. She may try to do good each day, perhaps being kind to a stranger or giving money to those less fortunate, but does so purely out of joy. Such a character makes up her own mind up about what is good and right based upon truth and facts, but does not fool herself that evil acts are good. Her goodness is benevolent—perhaps occasionally blind, but always well meant.
A chaotic good character can seem unpredictable, giving alms to an unfortunate outside a church but refusing to make a donation within. She trusts her instincts and could put more stock in the words of a beggar with kind eyes than the teachings of a harsh-looking bishop. She might rob from the rich and give to the poor, or spend lavishly for her own joy and that of her friends. In extreme cases, a chaotic good character may seem reckless in her benevolence.
Nothing in this section precludes a wizard from being chaotic good. In fact my 10th level wizard is chaotic good and he is an eagle knight captain from andoran and often behaves similarly to the character you describe. Alignment has nothing to do with your character's ability to think or mannerisms.
I should be Lawful instead of chaotic, because it's actually meaning I would be disciplined of mind and not basically scattered brained.
Sounds like something a lawful evil character would say to justify their decision making.
Lawful...Traditions, honour, word is bond, community before self etc.
Chaotic...Freedom, possibly untrustworthy, self, individualism etc.
Very over simplified but a few key words that spring to mind.
The only issue I have in my mind is that a CN is too selfish to help out escaping hobbits. I mean what is the motivation? Money? Fame?
Being scatter brained could be perceived as being "chaotic thinking" but has no bearing on alignment. You could easily be scatter-brained but up hold traditions, be very honourable, work hard for the community, be totally unselfish...
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Best alignment advice: Ignore it. Play your character how you want to play him; since your actions determine your alignment (not vice versa), your alignment will determine itself.
Best alignment advice: Ignore it. Play your character how you want to play him; since your actions determine your alignment (not vice versa), your alignment will determine itself.
Home games we ignore it for the first level or two and then decide after playing the PC to get a feel for it. Even Paladins/Monks! *SHOCK*
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Lawful...Traditions, honour, word is bond, community before self etc.
Chaotic...Freedom, possibly untrustworthy, self, individualism etc.
Very over simplified but a few key words that spring to mind.
I'd disagree that Chaotic is more selfish. Lawful characters can be very selfish indeed, as it's the stereotypical alignment of bankers, organized crime, and tyrannical rulers...they just manage to be selfish through societal channels rather than the ones a Chaotic character might use. And a CG character can be profoundly selfless ala Robin Hood.
The difference I think you're trying to get at is more individual rights vs. 'the good of the many outweighs the good of the few'.
The only issue I have in my mind is that a CN is too selfish to help out escaping hobbits. I mean what is the motivation? Money? Fame?
This doesn't necessarily follow. A CN character could be someone with basically the same goals and motivations as a CG character, but who is willing to go a lot further into the realm of Evil acts to achieve them. Both ends and means contribute to Alignment.
V from V for Vendetta is an excellent example.
On a more general note:
Lawful alignments can be either about obeying the law or rigid self discipline. But there's absolutely no need for a Wizard to be self-disciplined.
Think of Wizards like scientists (it's a solid analogy), a Lawful one is likely methodical, disciplined, and precise, while a Chaotic one might be prone to erratic behavior and flashes of brilliance 'mad scientist' style. Both are valid ways to go. And both of those are more examples than 'the way you must behave'.
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Best alignment advice: Ignore it. Play your character how you want to play him; since your actions determine your alignment (not vice versa), your alignment will determine itself.
It's not an alignment thread until Zhayne shows up and tells everyone to throw the alignment system away.
