Glyfair
Explorer
Needless to say, some of the most contentious discussions tend to center around alignments. In fact, I think that many that want to get rid of alignments all together just want to avoid the arguments.What I'd like to discuss is what you feel are the biggest and most common alignment myths.
My vote is the myth that your actions cannot stray far from your alignment. I see this a lot in discussions about fictional character's alignment.
For example, there might be a discussion about the BBEG on a TV show. Maybe the discussion is focusing on whether he is CE, NE or LE. Someone will point out that in an episode he burst into a burning building and rescued a baby.
"He can't be evil, he tried to rescue that baby for no good reason. Then he waited until the fire was out to kill all the firemen and put them nailed to the burnt walls. He must be Chaotic Neutral!"
Just because a character is chaotic evil, for example, doesn't mean he can't act in an altruistic way. At the same time, a lawful good character can perform an action that is chaotic in nature. It's a character's overall actions and philosophy that determines their alignment, not each individual action.
It comes up more often in paladin discussions, but there are so many side issues that it"s far from the best example.
What do you feel are the biggest alignment myths?
My vote is the myth that your actions cannot stray far from your alignment. I see this a lot in discussions about fictional character's alignment.
For example, there might be a discussion about the BBEG on a TV show. Maybe the discussion is focusing on whether he is CE, NE or LE. Someone will point out that in an episode he burst into a burning building and rescued a baby.
"He can't be evil, he tried to rescue that baby for no good reason. Then he waited until the fire was out to kill all the firemen and put them nailed to the burnt walls. He must be Chaotic Neutral!"
Just because a character is chaotic evil, for example, doesn't mean he can't act in an altruistic way. At the same time, a lawful good character can perform an action that is chaotic in nature. It's a character's overall actions and philosophy that determines their alignment, not each individual action.
It comes up more often in paladin discussions, but there are so many side issues that it"s far from the best example.
What do you feel are the biggest alignment myths?
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