Protection from Chaos

[Firehand]

Ran into a few neutral type encounters during Ironfang.
Does protection from chaos protect from Chaotic good?
Usually it's good or evil and that's cut and dry, but where does protection from chaos fit in? Just neutral alignments? That's what I'm guessing.

[Mysterious Stranger]

Yes. Does protection from evil protect you from chaotic evil? Chaotic Good is still chaotic.

[Firehand]

So protection from good and protection from evil is just a blanket for good and evil, protection from chaos protects everything chaotic good, neutral and evil. What protects from True Neutral ?

[Pizza Lord]

Firehand wrote:

What protects from True Neutral ?

There are probably spells that work better on neutral creatures, like dispel balance or counterbalancing aura, but I think the normal mindset is that neutral creatures are also affected (if only partially) by spells that would ignore creatures of a certain alignment. So while they may take a lesser effect from a spell that does something to a good, evil, lawful, chaotic creature, they'll always take some effect (in most cases, there could be a save or something as well).

[zza ni]

Firehand wrote:

So protection from good and protection from evil is just a blanket for good and evil, protection from chaos protects everything chaotic good, neutral and evil. What protects from True Neutral ?

if it's from a neutral outsider then one can use protection from outsiders.

for ALL true neutral (also other neutral alignments) there is the 8th level spell of Counterbalancing Aura.

you might also be interested in the 5t level spell of dispel balance.

[Mysterious Stranger]

No protection from chaos protects against chaos. Alignments have two aspects. One aspect is the law vs. chaos aspect; the second is the good vs. evil aspect. So, chaotic good is both chaotic and good. Neutral is more of a balance between the two opposing points.

[Azothath]

Advice -
there are two alignment axis; Good-Neutral-Evil(moral), and Law-Neutral(ity)-Chaos(ethical). Each is independent of the other. Alignment is mainly used for spell targeting and a general outlook of the creature.

From your average PC's view Protection from Evil is the practical choice (as they are split into 4 spells). Usually you can negotiate(Diplomacy) with good to neutral 'challenges'. Protection from Chaos would be the second practical choice.

Neutral/Neutrality creatures tend to be a bag of claws & HPs or something similar. Your protection is a good AC and big damage output, otherwise a softer/tasty target is a good alternative to your group getting attacked. With sentient creatures it can turn martial or diplomatic. I'm not sure that a spellcaster would want to run up and touch a big construct so dispel balance:A5 is of limited practicality in the martial arena. counterbalancing aura:A8 is a nice protection spell but 8th level and up against maze, wall of lava, polar ray, and orb of the void. Due to HD or CstrLvl at this CR, SR is easily overcome.