Alignment drift for evil characters

[Driftborne of Almas]

I DM a game for my nephews and the youngest is playing a chaotic evil half-orc barbarian. I allowed an evil character at first because I assumed that his playing style would be pretty much "Hulk Smash!" in answer to every situation, combat or not. I envisioned dead NPC's strung across Kaer Maga.

In actuality, he's letting his older cousin and brother help lead him in the non-combat situations and has been really a much more considered player than I'd anticipated. It's a pleasure to game with them and I have no OOC problems with how they're playing.

My issue as a DM is that this character is moving quickly towards Chaotic Neutral. Most of the instructions about alignment drift seem to assume a good character drifting into evil or neutrality. I don't think warning the youngest player at my table to play more evilly so that he matches the alignment written on his character sheet is a fair or wise thing to do.

I'm very tempted to just let it ride and not mention it. Any other advice or suggestions?

[GRuzom]

I think you should let it ride. It sounds like everybody's having fun and that this is a very positive experience.

Forcing anyone, and especially a young person/child to play evil and having their character commit evil acts against the players instinct, is probably a bad idea! I think that you're handling this in a smart and responsible way:-)

Good Gaming to you and your nephews!

[Dasrak]

One thing you need to ask yourself: is this character acting good because his ethical outlook is changing, or is it because he just hasn't had any reason to commit evil acts? Not everyone is a cartoon caricature evil, and aren't going to go out of their way to commit evil acts for the lulz. Especially with the rather generous ethical leeway allowed to typical murder-hobo PC's, it's quite easily for an evil character to go completely unnoticed in their midst while acting perfectly in-character.

[Driftborne of Almas]

They're kids and while they understand the difference between in-character and OOC they really don't play characters, as such. Another reason I should let him "break" alignment I guess. I doubt the gain in trying to teach the difference between IC and OOC will be worth the loss in fun. No need to be a hard-ass about rules in a home game, after all.

[blahpers]

Is there any particular penalty if the character's alignment changes?

[Driftborne of Almas]

As a barbarian, I can't think of any.

[MageHunter]

I'd just let him keep CE on the sheet for fun, and just do what comes naturally.

[deuxhero]

As long as you're not making him lawful and following the dumb rule that cultures with very strong emphasis on tradition community (which must make one lawful because Dwarfs are for that exact reason) must not be lawful, I don't really see why it's a problem.

Try playing a character with no need for his alignment (Most Non-cleric, non-druid, non-monk, non-barbarian, non-paladin, non-warpriest, non-inquisitor characters), writing N on the sheet and letting the GM decide. You'll quickly find out how little anyone actually cares about alignment till you're hit with an Unholy weapon.