D&D General For those that find Alignment useful, what does "Lawful" mean to you

Flamestrike · Mar 8, 2022

Voadam said:
You can be rash and impulsive and not violate a code

But you must agree, that this can only occur via sheer co-incidence. As in, you would need to 'rashly and impulsively act' without considering your actions through the lens of your code, while simultaneously (somehow) also considering your actions through the lens of your code of conduct (and without breaking that code of conduct).

Purporting to be 'following a strict code of conduct', yet breaking that code all the time due to rash and impulsive actions, means you dont really follow a code.

Ergo, you are not lawful.

It's like if you claim to be a moral person (Good aligned), and then murder or rape the odd person.

You're not Good. You're Evil, regardless of what you think you are.

Yaarel · Mar 8, 2022

Flamestrike said:
Actually that likely makes him Good, not Lawful.

Arguably, Tor is Good. But he is Lawful for various reasons, including law-and-order, defend-the-group, as well as punishing oath-breakers.

Also, he has done some not-nice things.

Flamestrike · Mar 8, 2022

Yaarel said:
Arguably, Tor is Good. But he is clearly a law-and-order, defend-the-group, figure, as well as punishing oath-breakers.

Also, he has done some not-nice things tho.

Tyr has that gig in FR.

smetzger · Mar 8, 2022

Just to throw some fuel on the fire...

Is Worf from Star Trek NG Lawful or Chaotic and why?
He has a code of honor yet his rage takes control of him at times...

Flamestrike · Mar 8, 2022

smetzger said:
Just to throw some fuel on the fire...

Is Worf from Star Trek NG Lawful or Chaotic and why?
He has a code of honor yet his rage takes control of him at times...

Lawful Good. He always considers his actions through the lens of honor, tradition, family and responsibility (and he is morally Good, avoiding murder and torture and harming others, and with genuine empathy for people around him, and a willingness to sacrifice himself for others).

Klingons are Star Treks Orcs. You could do worse than base a LG Half Orc Paladin off Worf.

Flamestrike · Mar 8, 2022

For a Chaotic Good Star Trek Character:

smetzger · Mar 8, 2022

Flamestrike said:
Lawful Good. He always considers his actions through the lens of honor, tradition, family and responsibility (and he is morally Good, avoiding murder and torture and harming others, and with genuine empathy for people around him, and a willingness to sacrifice himself for others).

Klingons are Star Treks Orcs. You could do worse than base a LG Half Orc Paladin off Worf.

I agree LG
But... I picture him more of a the noble barbarian. In more than one episode he has a combat rage ability.
Does 5e still restrict Barbarian's to chaotic alignment?

Flamestrike · Mar 8, 2022

smetzger said:
Does 5e still restrict Barbarian's to chaotic alignment?

Nope. And they were restricted to 'non Lawful' in 3E pretty sure (so NG would have been fine for example).

Yaarel · Mar 8, 2022

Flamestrike said:
Tyr has that gig in FR.

Heh, the FR Tyr seems the opposite of the reallife Norse Týr.

The Norse Týr is war, courage and victory, and is explicitly unjust. He kills the opponent, and is incapable of settling a conflict legally and peacefully.

In a somewhat humorous comment, he is unable to arbitrate a dispute because he is unable to say, On the one hand this but on the other hand that.

Týr doesnt hesitate to do trickery.

He is tactically "sharp" and wins.

Maxperson · Mar 8, 2022

smetzger said:
Just to throw some fuel on the fire...

Is Worf from Star Trek NG Lawful or Chaotic and why?

Yes. Because honor and duty are his life.

smetzger said:
He has a code of honor yet his rage takes control of him at times...

Irrelevant. Alignment isn't a straightjacket. You don't have to live 100% of your actions inside of it. In fact, you can have a significant portion outside of it.

D&D General For those that find Alignment useful, what does "Lawful" mean to you

If you find alignment useful, which definition of "Lawful" do you use?

I usually think of "Lawful" as adhering to a code (or similar concept) more than a C or N NPC would

I usually think of "Lawful" as following the laws of the land more strictly than a C or N NPC would

I use both definitions about equally

I don't find alignment useful but I still want to vote in this poll

Flamestrike

Legend

Yaarel

🇮🇱He-Mage

Flamestrike

Legend

smetzger

Explorer

Flamestrike

Legend

Flamestrike

Legend

smetzger

Explorer

Flamestrike

Legend

Yaarel

🇮🇱He-Mage

Maxperson

Morkus from Orkus

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