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Is character alignment essential to the D&D experience?
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<blockquote data-quote="jdfrenzel" data-source="post: 128452" data-attributes="member: 810"><p>I see alignment as an important RP aid, so in that light it is essential to the D&D experience, in my view.</p><p></p><p>I disagree with the notion that alignment is a guide to how a character will act. Crothian hints this, but alignment is the sum of a character's <em>previous</em> deeds, and may or may not match their next action. This viewpoint allows alignment to remain meaningful and relavent in the system, which relies on alignment for several mecahnics, while removing the "straight jacket" feel. </p><p></p><p>As for grey area in alignment, I see it contained within each of the 9 alignments, not between them. Consider this analogy: If 10 people each have a 10 STR, and they arm wrestle, would anyone win? I say yes, that although the game generalizes averages strength by calling it 10, there will be subtle and minor differences. OK, same idea with alignments.</p><p></p><p>There will always be cultural differences about the nature of good and evil. Slavery, cannibalism and human sacrifice all seem evil to modern sensibilities, but it is perfectly fine in some cultures. Does that make them evil?</p><p></p><p>Yes! In game terms, that is. Alignment in D&D is omniscient and perfectly, modernly sighted. It is a web of moral boundaries that overlays the game world, and doesn't take other world views into account, not even that of the individual professing the alignment! I'm not commenting on whether that system is right or wrong, only that it is this way.</p><p></p><p>So evil (or good) according to the D&D system should be looked at in context. In our modern view, Aztecs seem evil because they tore human hearts out. That doesn't mean they would worship demons, torture for pleasure, or do any other thing that we see as evil. Alignment doesn't need to be played to its extreme to be viable.</p><p></p><p>--- John</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jdfrenzel, post: 128452, member: 810"] I see alignment as an important RP aid, so in that light it is essential to the D&D experience, in my view. I disagree with the notion that alignment is a guide to how a character will act. Crothian hints this, but alignment is the sum of a character's [I]previous[/I] deeds, and may or may not match their next action. This viewpoint allows alignment to remain meaningful and relavent in the system, which relies on alignment for several mecahnics, while removing the "straight jacket" feel. As for grey area in alignment, I see it contained within each of the 9 alignments, not between them. Consider this analogy: If 10 people each have a 10 STR, and they arm wrestle, would anyone win? I say yes, that although the game generalizes averages strength by calling it 10, there will be subtle and minor differences. OK, same idea with alignments. There will always be cultural differences about the nature of good and evil. Slavery, cannibalism and human sacrifice all seem evil to modern sensibilities, but it is perfectly fine in some cultures. Does that make them evil? Yes! In game terms, that is. Alignment in D&D is omniscient and perfectly, modernly sighted. It is a web of moral boundaries that overlays the game world, and doesn't take other world views into account, not even that of the individual professing the alignment! I'm not commenting on whether that system is right or wrong, only that it is this way. So evil (or good) according to the D&D system should be looked at in context. In our modern view, Aztecs seem evil because they tore human hearts out. That doesn't mean they would worship demons, torture for pleasure, or do any other thing that we see as evil. Alignment doesn't need to be played to its extreme to be viable. --- John [/QUOTE]
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