D&D 5E Do you find alignment useful in any way?

[Malmuria]

Yes, specifically when dealing with characters who receive their powers from Divine/Infernal/Nature (Good/Evil/Neutral) sources. You go against the teachings and beliefs of your deity and ignore the warnings? Then goodbye powers until you atone in some way. For Law and Chaos, I am much more fluid because I do not want those Absolutes in my games, and rather treat them as tendencies.

Oh I hate this so much actually. This is what leads to hours-long debates over alignment, when the DM decides you are not playing your character in the correct way and threatens to take away your abilities. Or, conversely, when a player uses alignment for the sake of being anti-social (lawful-stupid, chaotic-stupid, etc). Alignment becomes such a huge drag on game play, and makes both characters and the world one-dimensional.

 

[Maxperson]

Yeah yeah, I get that, for sure. What I'm talking about is different parts of one character's life exhibiting different alignments at the same time and on a continual basis.

Most complex personalities will fall into 2, 3 or even more alignments in major parts. I mean, even a serial killer often has portions of his life where he is much more normal or even good. Alignment is very poor at representing a true personality, since people tend to self-box themselves into that one alignment, which makes for a very one dimensional PC. That's why it's good for new players who need it, and not all new players do, and me as DM for my NPCs which aren't important enough to create a deep personality for.

 

[ECMO3]

As a plyaer no, but as a DM In find it useful in two ways - first giving monster or NPCs a moral basis to act from if I have not put the effort in to develop that specific character. Second I have a problem player in one of my campaigns who always wants to play a murder hobo evil character. That is just not fun for anyone though, so it is an easy way to say no to that without making some complex homebrew about what is allowed - Neutral and good alignments only in my games!

 

[Fenris-77]

I find specific motivations far more helpful in sketching NPCs than alignment.

 

[Maxperson]

I find specific motivations far more helpful in sketching NPCs than alignment.

Sure, but I'm not going to bother to sketch out the motivations for the baker, the blacksmith, the general store dude, generic orcs that the PCs may decide to interrogate, etc.

I leave basic motivations for NPCs that mean something, and detailed personalities for big bads, important patrons and nobles, etc.

 

[Fenris-77]

I find specific motivations far more helpful in sketching NPCs than alignment.

So, for example, in the case of a merchant don't really care if he's good or not, I care how he does business. A 'good' merchant could still be fleecing the pants of people, it's called being a good merchant. Anyway, I'm not really trying to start a debate, just describe what works for me.

 

[Fenris-77]

Sure, but I'm not going to bother to sketch out the motivations for the baker, the blacksmith, the general store dude, generic orcs that the PCs may decide to interrogate, etc.

I leave basic motivations for NPCs that mean something, and detailed personalities for big bads, important patrons and nobles, etc.

Why not? I do, at least in any case where the NPC would be important enough for me to think about what alignment they are.

 

[Maxperson]

Why not? I do, at least in any case where the NPC would be important enough for me to think about what alignment they are.

Because usually it's just an NPC in a place where they are passing through and unlikely to ever encounter again. Basic alignment is plenty for me to play off of. I don't need to do more for someone they aren't really going to be interacting with much.

 

[Fenris-77]

Because usually it's just an NPC in a place where they are passing through and unlikely to ever encounter again. Basic alignment is plenty for me to play off of. I don't need to do more for someone they aren't really going to be interacting with much.

OK, cool. I don't find alignment useful like that, but we aren't talking better or worse here, just different.

 

[MarkB]

Not even remotely useful. I won't stop a player from writing one down on their character sheet if they want to, but I'm not interested in them telling me what it is. And if a DM wants me to write it down when making a character I'll stick something in there, but I won't refer to it when deciding how my character will act.