Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
Interesting dilema with alignment.
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Gargoyle" data-source="post: 41798" data-attributes="member: 529"><p>"Good an evil are not philosophical concepts in the D&D game. They are the forces that define the cosmos" - Player's Handbook, page 87, right after an example of a holy book in the temple of Pelor that has the power to tell the alignment of those who kiss it.</p><p></p><p>But then it goes on to say on the same page:</p><p></p><p>"Alignment is a tool for developing your character's identity. It is not a straitjacket for restricting your character." and goes on to describe how good characters can lose their temper or have a greedy streak and how neutral characters can be inspired to perform noble acts.</p><p></p><p>On page 88 "If your character acts in a way more appropriate to another alignment, the DM may decide that your character's alignment has changed to match her actions"</p><p></p><p>So alignment has tangible consequences, is supposed to be an aid to roleplaying, and changes are determined by the DM based on the character's actions, not the player.</p><p></p><p>If I were the DM, I'd rule that holding a knife against someone's throat in a tavern setting is chaotic, not necessarily evil. Stabbing an innocent in the hand is somewhat evil though, and very Chaotic, as its very likely that there are laws against that kind of behavior in a town setting. There's a certain "dishonorable" feel about it as well that makes it very Chaotic in my mind, regardless of written laws. After a couple of such instances, I'd change the alignment of the character, which may have repercussions if they are paladins or monks.</p><p></p><p>Could a Lawful Good person commit a chaotic or evil act? Sure. </p><p></p><p>Other DMs might rule differently, and it's clear from the PHB that it's ok for them to do so. One evil act, and they can change your alignment to evil, or maybe they would wait for several serious evil acts. It's a very subjective system. My advice to anyone playing a class with alignment restrictions is to try to get your DM's opinion on how to play that alignment, and a feel for their tolerance, and maybe to get a phylactery of faith, if a paladin.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Gargoyle, post: 41798, member: 529"] "Good an evil are not philosophical concepts in the D&D game. They are the forces that define the cosmos" - Player's Handbook, page 87, right after an example of a holy book in the temple of Pelor that has the power to tell the alignment of those who kiss it. But then it goes on to say on the same page: "Alignment is a tool for developing your character's identity. It is not a straitjacket for restricting your character." and goes on to describe how good characters can lose their temper or have a greedy streak and how neutral characters can be inspired to perform noble acts. On page 88 "If your character acts in a way more appropriate to another alignment, the DM may decide that your character's alignment has changed to match her actions" So alignment has tangible consequences, is supposed to be an aid to roleplaying, and changes are determined by the DM based on the character's actions, not the player. If I were the DM, I'd rule that holding a knife against someone's throat in a tavern setting is chaotic, not necessarily evil. Stabbing an innocent in the hand is somewhat evil though, and very Chaotic, as its very likely that there are laws against that kind of behavior in a town setting. There's a certain "dishonorable" feel about it as well that makes it very Chaotic in my mind, regardless of written laws. After a couple of such instances, I'd change the alignment of the character, which may have repercussions if they are paladins or monks. Could a Lawful Good person commit a chaotic or evil act? Sure. Other DMs might rule differently, and it's clear from the PHB that it's ok for them to do so. One evil act, and they can change your alignment to evil, or maybe they would wait for several serious evil acts. It's a very subjective system. My advice to anyone playing a class with alignment restrictions is to try to get your DM's opinion on how to play that alignment, and a feel for their tolerance, and maybe to get a phylactery of faith, if a paladin. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
Interesting dilema with alignment.
Top