D&D 5E RIP alignment

[overgeeked]

I've played with multiple black gamers who have had and still have no issue with orcs. The orc issue is a personal one, and one which really has nothing specifically to do with alignment. The lore has more to do with that than alignment does. You can get rid of the issue with orcs entirely while retaining alignment.

And I’ve played with multiple who do have a problem with them. So who’s anecdotal evidence wins? Neither. I’ll go with what non-white gamers say when they write about racism in gaming and fantasy.

 

[Charlaquin]

When I say "as common as", I mean the assumption will be that all three races now upon entering podunk will be given the same welcome. There won't be any reason to assume a goliath, an orc, or an elf are anything but normal adventurers and treating them with difference is frowned upon. The orc will have no stygma of violence to contend with, the goliath no aura of exoticism, the elf no common familiarity. All will be treated the same.

See, I think people who want the game to be like this are already running it this way, and removing alignment won’t stop people who want those stigmas to exist from running the game that way.

 

[darjr]

@Blue

I went and took a look, nitropay is part of the advertising block of javascript. Thanks for pointing it out though.

 

[loverdrive]

First, I'm not sure what that has to do with the current discussion one way or another.

Oh, this one is simple. I'm an attention whore.

Last, and not least, what you describe is a very narrow goal and approach to achieving that goal.

In the same way, I'm not forcing my attitudes on alignment on anyone else nor would I want to. Don't find alignment useful? Ignore it and nothing about the game will change other than that you will throw away something that can be a useful tool. Just because an impact driver works better than my electric drill for screwing together boards it doesn't mean that I have to have an impact driver.

The thing is, well designed system is focused. Even better, lazer-focused. Every rule, every word, every setting detail revolves around one, well-defined goal. Everything that doesn't work for that goal should be thrown out, swiftly and ruthlessly.

Say, Blades in the Dark revolves around criminals and their struggles. Monsterhearts revolves around coming to terms with one's nature.

Imaginary version of D&D that revolves around the great battle between the Good and the Evil should have alignments.
Real version of D&D that revolves around adventures in diverse regions with diverse NPCs.... Not so much.

 

[Scribe]

Cannot have Planescape, without Alignment.

Bad call.

 

[Scribe]

Oh we are already on Orcs and real people again?

Sigh...

 

[Oofta]

Oh, this one is simple. I'm an attention whore.



The thing is, well designed system is focused. Even better, lazer-focused. Every rule, every word, every setting detail revolves around one, well-defined goal. Everything that doesn't work for that goal should be thrown out, swiftly and ruthlessly.

Say, Blades in the Dark revolves around criminals and their struggles. Monsterhearts revolves around coming to terms with one's nature.

Imaginary version of D&D that revolves around the great battle between the Good and the Evil should have alignments.
Real version of D&D that revolves around adventures in diverse regions with diverse NPCs.... Not so much.

D&D is not designed to be laser focused. I think that's a strength because I don't wan the game telling me what my campaign is. D&D can revolve around alignments or not. It can be a struggle of good vs evil or a moral quandary can lurk around every corner.

It's a ruleset, not a campaign. It gives you multiple tools, it's up to each and every group to decide what tools they use or discard.

 

[cmad1977]

Oh, this one is simple. I'm an attention whore.



The thing is, well designed system is focused. Even better, lazer-focused. Every rule, every word, every setting detail revolves around one, well-defined goal. Everything that doesn't work for that goal should be thrown out, swiftly and ruthlessly.

Say, Blades in the Dark revolves around criminals and their struggles. Monsterhearts revolves around coming to terms with one's nature.

Imaginary version of D&D that revolves around the great battle between the Good and the Evil should have alignments.
Real version of D&D that revolves around adventures in diverse regions with diverse NPCs.... Not so much.

And... shockingly... you CAN in fact have massive battles between good and evil WITHOUT alignment.

 

[MGibster]

The thing is, well designed system is focused. Even better, lazer-focused. Every rule, every word, every setting detail revolves around one, well-defined goal. Everything that doesn't work for that goal should be thrown out, swiftly and ruthlessly.

Wow. It's nice to hear from someone else who shares my own desires when it comes to designing games. I generally have a lot of respect for games that have a good solid focus even if it's focused on something I don't care for. If alignment isn't going to be a meaningful part of the game then just cut it out entirely. Or, at best, include it as an option in the DMG like they did for lingering injuries or weapon speed.

 

[Maxperson]

And I’ve played with multiple who do have a problem with them. So who’s anecdotal evidence wins? Neither.

Correct. My point is that it's a personal issue, not an objective one.

I’ll go with what non-white gamers say when they write about racism in gaming and fantasy.

No. You'll go with what your anecdotal evidence tells you, which comes only from what SOME non-white gamers have said to you. You have no right to lump all non-white gamers into the category you want them to be in. They get to choose for themselves.