Forcing Alignment Change.


Advice


Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on events or actions a character to take in order to possibly force an alignment change. For instance, something that could shift a character (A rogue/magus/assassin) from Lawful Evil to Neutral Evil?


A lawful evil assassin is given an order to slay a powerful diplomat. She works for months to get close enough to the diplomat, but rather than complete her mission, she defects, joining him in exchange for a large amount of wealth. Since she's an opportunist who has broken her word, the assassin's alignment shifts to neutral evil. After this, she becomes the diplomat's personal bodyguard (he figures that the best protection against an assassin is another assassin; she knows how they think, when/where they will likely strike, etc.).


Alignment changes are long-term and gradual. No one action, no matter how heinous, forces an alignment change. You have to demonstrate that your actions are going to consistently fit that behavioral model.


Zhayne wrote:
Alignment changes are long-term and gradual. No one action, no matter how heinous, forces an alignment change. You have to demonstrate that your actions are going to consistently fit that behavioral model.

Good point. I suppose it will depend on how I RP my assassin. As it stands, he mostly just sneaks around when he can (which is often) and either steals from people or shadows them for information. At least once every 7-10 days he HAS to kill someone (because of the god he worships). But mostly he stays out of most decision making in the group, and avoids getting caught in whatever he does. I'm really not sure of what alignment that RPing would suggest, and thus let's just say what I'm RPing just happens to be Lawful Evil, how could I change my behavior to reflect the change I wish to make?


Not everyone would agree with you, Zhayne.

Heinous acts can definitely shift alignment. If someone goes on a rampage killing dozens of innocents, I'd think that his or her alignment probably shifts to chaotic evil, even if that character was previously a law-abiding, compassionate individual. Such a blatant disregard for life, which completely disrupts the order of peoples' lives, is both supremely chaotic* and evil.

* Especially considering how sudden and unpredictable it would be, and how out of character; i.e. this person is probably a psychopath who has experienced some sort of break with reality (or perhaps they've been dominated/compelled/possessed).


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Detect Magic wrote:

Not everyone would agree with you, Zhayne.

Heinous acts can definitely shift alignment. If someone goes on a rampage killing dozens of innocents, I'd think that his or her alignment probably shifts to chaotic evil, even if that character was previously a law-abiding, compassionate individual. Such a blatant disregard for life, which completely disrupts the order of peoples' lives, is both supremely chaotic* and evil.

* Especially considering how sudden and unpredictable it would be, and how out of character; i.e. this person is probably a psychopath who has experienced some sort of break with reality.

He did say no one action not a whole bunch of actions.


Eisur Cordastra wrote:
...how could I change my behavior to reflect the change I wish to make?

You want to change your character's alignment from lawful evil to neutral evil? Well, it could be as easy as speaking with your GM. A lot of people begin a game with an idea of what sort of character they'd like to play, but end up playing something else. Other times they're just not that familiar with the alignment system and so end up writing the wrong alignment on their character sheet. If this is the case, a reasonable GM will likely allow you to simply change it then and there. If this isn't the case, however, I suggest you start roleplaying your character differently. Start breaking your word, usurping authority, or otherwise acting in a non-lawful fashion. If you play a more opportunistic character, you'll certainly shift your ethical alignment over time.


Dread Knight wrote:
He did say no one action not a whole bunch of actions.

I'd count a massacre as one "action", resulting in many deaths.


Detect Magic wrote:
Dread Knight wrote:
He did say no one action not a whole bunch of actions.
I'd count a massacre as one "action", resulting in many deaths.

I'd count a massacre as an event and each kill, burning, etc. an action.


Programmed Amnesia should do the trick.


High level Alchemists can actually instantly and permanently force people to change to a good alignment with Greater Change Alignment. You could probably find a shady back alley street doc to brew you up an alternative version that shifted you to another alignment for an exorbitant price.


Detect Magic wrote:
Eisur Cordastra wrote:
...how could I change my behavior to reflect the change I wish to make?

You want to change your character's alignment from lawful evil to neutral evil? Well, ...

... Start breaking your word, usurping authority, or otherwise acting in a non-lawful fashion. If you play a more opportunistic character, you'll certainly shift your ethical alignment over time.

My alignment was intentional, as it's a modified rebuild of a character from another campaign. Thought I recently discovered the Arcane Trickster PrC and wanted to become that instead of what I was originally intending, (which was a Rogue/Magus/Assassin/Shadowdancer combo). The Magus was only originally part of my design so I could do such things as cast True Strike on myself whilst hidden, and other things involved in being sneaky and slippery in combat. But then... Arcane Trickster.


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Tell your GM up front you want to change alignment. They may have a way to alter it. Maybe you come across a helm of alignment change. Your character puts it on, you auto-fail the check, and the GM simply picks the alignment you want.

Or, just want roleplay differently, gradually shifting your character's behavior.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Zhayne wrote:
Alignment changes are long-term and gradual. No one action, no matter how heinous, forces an alignment change. You have to demonstrate that your actions are going to consistently fit that behavioral model.

I would say that such a rule is not absolute. I would leave open the possibility that a severe act CAN indeed force such an alignment change, but I'd have to ask WHY the act is happening. Is something driving the character, or is the player being a dick?

It takes extreme circumstances to turn a character severely in alignment, so I'd have to say that instead of a general answer, it would have to be a case by case question.


What I'm wondering is, say a true neutral character just had an extremely traumatic in-game experience, like a witch just killed and boiled some very, very close friends. He even promised those friends he'd protect them the best he could. He finds them dead and burnt in a cauldron. Would an alignment shift happen if he were to drag the witch into the forest and torture her?

I'm thinking yes, simply because of torture, but I'm not sure due to the massive emotional state that character would be in.

As for the lawful evil assassin going neutral evil? Lawful evil strikes me as the kind that would keep their word to the letter, but would easily use loopholes to get around that. Where neutral evil sort of just does what works for them whenever it suits them, including going against contract blatantly. So perhaps something like offering safe passage while in his custody, then immediately stabbing the person in the back when her turns around.

Not set in stone of course. If I were to DM (and I only do so every now and then and am new to it) I'd go more off of feeling for the situation than a clear cut "do this specific thing, shift alignment."


Sounds like Atonement?

Atonement wrote:

... Atonement may be cast for one of several purposes, depending on the version selected.

...
Redemption or Temptation: You may cast this spell upon a creature of an opposing alignment in order to offer it a chance to change its alignment to match yours. The prospective subject must be present for the entire casting process. Upon completion of the spell, the subject freely chooses whether it retains its original alignment or acquiesces to your offer and changes to your alignment. No duress, compulsion, or magical influence can force the subject to take advantage of the opportunity offered if it is unwilling to abandon its old alignment. This use of the spell does not work on outsiders or any creature incapable of changing its alignment naturally.

Though the spell description refers to evil acts, atonement can be used on any creature that has performed acts against its alignment, regardless of the actual alignment in question.

Note: Normally, changing alignment is up to the player. This use of atonement offers a method for a character to change his or her alignment drastically, suddenly, and definitively.


Is posting in an alignment thread a Lawful act, a Neutral act, or a Chaotic act? And absolutely NO ONE is allowed to give an answer along the OTHER alignment axis!
If it is Neutral or Chaotic, you can switch from LE to NE simply by creating a thread asking how to switch from LE to NE!


a player of mine dove head first into a molten slag pit dedicated to the dark god Droskar in order to kill a creature by dragging it in with him. I had the dark god resurrect him with the mission to bring the religion back to life, gave him 1 year, a mythic tier, and an alignment shift from NN to NE to match the dark god.


Sindenky wrote:
a player of mine dove head first into a molten slag pit dedicated to the dark god Droskar in order to kill a creature by dragging it in with him. I had the dark god resurrect him with the mission to bring the religion back to life, gave him 1 year, a mythic tier, and an alignment shift from NN to NE to match the dark god.

What will/would happen if he doesn't complete it in one year?


I'd talk to the GM, not just just straight-shift your alignment like others suggest, but to discuss a plotline to shift your character's morals away from Law.


I'm going to echo all the "talk to your GM" comments. If you let the GM know "I want this to be my character's arc" they will most likely be extremely helpful in offering you opportunities to face dilemmas that force you to consider your values. It's really honestly pretty difficult to do something like this if the GM has no idea what you're doing, but with the GM assist I've taken characters from Chaotic Neutral to Lawful Good over the course of a campaign.


137ben wrote:
Sindenky wrote:
a player of mine dove head first into a molten slag pit dedicated to the dark god Droskar in order to kill a creature by dragging it in with him. I had the dark god resurrect him with the mission to bring the religion back to life, gave him 1 year, a mythic tier, and an alignment shift from NN to NE to match the dark god.
What will/would happen if he doesn't complete it in one year?

Well this character has no regard for his own safety and well being, and his soul basically belong to the god already. However after examining him the god found his weakness, his younger brother. So the deal basically goes "Fail, and i take your brothers soul to toil in my mines for all eternity." This will entice the player to go out of his way to service a god he will come to hate to protect his brother.

Heres the trick.
The god has zero hold on the brothers soul, absolutely no claim. But the kid will recognize his older bros suffering and strike a deal with the god. Both of these are PC's and im not giving them OOC knowledge of my plan, i will craft it all organically.


Sindenky wrote:
137ben wrote:
Sindenky wrote:
a player of mine dove head first into a molten slag pit dedicated to the dark god Droskar in order to kill a creature by dragging it in with him. I had the dark god resurrect him with the mission to bring the religion back to life, gave him 1 year, a mythic tier, and an alignment shift from NN to NE to match the dark god.
What will/would happen if he doesn't complete it in one year?

Well this character has no regard for his own safety and well being, and his soul basically belong to the god already. However after examining him the god found his weakness, his younger brother. So the deal basically goes "Fail, and i take your brothers soul to toil in my mines for all eternity." This will entice the player to go out of his way to service a god he will come to hate to protect his brother.

Heres the trick.
The god has zero hold on the brothers soul, absolutely no claim. But the kid will recognize his older bros suffering and strike a deal with the god. Both of these are PC's and im not giving them OOC knowledge of my plan, i will craft it all organically.

You craft anything with too much carbon, you don't have an excuse when it goes up in flames.


I'd have to agree. The best way to move an alignment is with the GM knowing what you want. Remember, he/she is also going to be judging whether you're really on the right path too. 'OK, see, you wrote "CN" on your alignment but you're so far such a knight in shining armour our paladin's asking you for guidance. Normally I wouldn't mind but you've got this barbarian/druid multiclass build going ... '


The Sideromancer wrote:


You craft anything with too much carbon, you don't have an excuse when it goes up in flames.

I don't understand the comment.


Sindenky wrote:
The Sideromancer wrote:


You craft anything with too much carbon, you don't have an excuse when it goes up in flames.
I don't understand the comment.

You said that you would craft the situation organically, which in chemistry terms means "with carbon." Carbon is known for being flammable, and plans that rely on your players doing what you expect don't have high success rates.


The Sideromancer wrote:
Sindenky wrote:
The Sideromancer wrote:


You craft anything with too much carbon, you don't have an excuse when it goes up in flames.
I don't understand the comment.
You said that you would craft the situation organically, which in chemistry terms means "with carbon." Carbon is known for being flammable, and plans that rely on your players doing what you expect don't have high success rates.

Damn that was a really smart comment, and i had to ruin it by being a dummy lol.

I'm pretty adept at social manipulation so am confident in my ability to generate results, though no matter what happens its going to make for a great story.


In my case, I manage a cleric of Iomedae. In the campaign she is the only lawful good, the rest of the group are of chaotic netural alignment and one chaotic good. My question is, is it more likely that she can influence the change of alignment of one or more members of the group? o Did she change her alignment to Neutral Good?

Shadow Lodge

Drowscorrow wrote:
In my case, I manage a cleric of Iomedae. In the campaign she is the only lawful good, the rest of the group are of chaotic netural alignment and one chaotic good. My question is, is it more likely that she can influence the change of alignment of one or more members of the group? o Did she change her alignment to Neutral Good?

Neither is particularly likely in my view: Adventuring groups can contain a variety of personal views on morality as long as they don't clash too much.

Also, nice 7 year necro...

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