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Good vs Evil: a matter of aims or a matter of means?
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<blockquote data-quote="Darkness" data-source="post: 1919345" data-attributes="member: 13"><p>If you're routinely killing rabbits for sport alone (as opposed to needing them for food) you're neutral, or evil if you're into slow torture.</p><p> </p><p>Anyway. Yep, case by case. What's right depends entirely on the circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Generally speaking, though, if you're good you should try to avoid violence and try other options first. Negotiate if possible, try to avoid the creatures if not.</p><p> </p><p>Of course, if something's trespassing in your territory, you'll probably want to confront it to make sure it isn't out for trouble. If you think it is, insist it leaves. If it attacks, fight.</p><p>If it's slaughtered the locals, try to bring it to justice (or get it to leave if it's too powerful) and respond with force if it isn't agreeable.</p><p> </p><p>If you are reasonably certain something will become violent when you try to talk to it and you need it to leave or out to stop it (or it will find you if don't take it out) and it's a dangerous opponent, attack.</p><p>Still... If you're 20th level and come upon a lone troll, confront it and demand that it leaves or surrenders (as appropriate) or faces the consequences. 'course, a troll will almost always attack you anyway - but then, there <em>are</em> neutral trolls for whom casual violence isn't the defining characteristic (they're still brutes, though) and since it doesn't put you at great risk, trying to achieve a peaceful resolution is preferable.</p><p>(Note: Obviously, if the lone troll has horns, hooves and wings, carries a magic axe with an overpowering evil aura and adorns its belt with multiple solar heads, approaching it is only advisable if you have stellar social skills or a lot of backup. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />)</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In short - strive to avoid violence but also try no to throw your life away for it unless you have a reason.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> Depends, IMO. Greed can be neutral or evil. Even if it's a monster, try to avoid killing it for greed, though. Stealing and intimidation are less evil than murder in any case. So is subduing them without killing them.</p><p> </p><p>'course, if you're on a quest for some holy sword or other and the biggest owlbear ever, with the sharpest senses ever, blocks your path and there's no other way, slaying it is probably your best option. But if it's sentient and not overpowering (nor in the position to raise an alarm), try to talk first.</p><p> </p><p>BTW, look at my sig for an evil example of how to approach a dragon for its hoard. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darkness, post: 1919345, member: 13"] If you're routinely killing rabbits for sport alone (as opposed to needing them for food) you're neutral, or evil if you're into slow torture. Anyway. Yep, case by case. What's right depends entirely on the circumstances. Generally speaking, though, if you're good you should try to avoid violence and try other options first. Negotiate if possible, try to avoid the creatures if not. Of course, if something's trespassing in your territory, you'll probably want to confront it to make sure it isn't out for trouble. If you think it is, insist it leaves. If it attacks, fight. If it's slaughtered the locals, try to bring it to justice (or get it to leave if it's too powerful) and respond with force if it isn't agreeable. If you are reasonably certain something will become violent when you try to talk to it and you need it to leave or out to stop it (or it will find you if don't take it out) and it's a dangerous opponent, attack. Still... If you're 20th level and come upon a lone troll, confront it and demand that it leaves or surrenders (as appropriate) or faces the consequences. 'course, a troll will almost always attack you anyway - but then, there [i]are[/i] neutral trolls for whom casual violence isn't the defining characteristic (they're still brutes, though) and since it doesn't put you at great risk, trying to achieve a peaceful resolution is preferable. (Note: Obviously, if the lone troll has horns, hooves and wings, carries a magic axe with an overpowering evil aura and adorns its belt with multiple solar heads, approaching it is only advisable if you have stellar social skills or a lot of backup. ;)) In short - strive to avoid violence but also try no to throw your life away for it unless you have a reason. Depends, IMO. Greed can be neutral or evil. Even if it's a monster, try to avoid killing it for greed, though. Stealing and intimidation are less evil than murder in any case. So is subduing them without killing them. 'course, if you're on a quest for some holy sword or other and the biggest owlbear ever, with the sharpest senses ever, blocks your path and there's no other way, slaying it is probably your best option. But if it's sentient and not overpowering (nor in the position to raise an alarm), try to talk first. BTW, look at my sig for an evil example of how to approach a dragon for its hoard. ;) [/QUOTE]
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