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

[Flamestrike]

Thing is, like most attempts to say "It's really this simple.", it doesn't come down to that. Good need not be nice, evil can be friendly and chummy.

Jerks can be perfectly friendly and amicable also.

Right up until they stab you in the back and take your naughty word.

And of course Good guys can be sullen, withdrawn and broody. See also: Batman and Jon Snow. At the end of the day though, they're still good guys.

 

[Sithlord]

In my view, "Lawful" doesnt mean "legalistic".

For example, a mafia is extremely "Lawful" − but they break laws routinely.

What is happening is, the members of the mafia are self-identifying with "the group", namely their family. And they prioritize the expectations of this group over anything else.

Order the appropriate word. But lawful evil and lawful good roll off the tongue better than order evil and order good.

another way to look at it is lawful people have principles. Chaotic people look more at consequences and outcome. The problem with being chaotic is unless you are real intelligent or wise u won’t know the consequences or outcome in advance. The problem with a man with principle is they will follow those principles to death or ruin if they aren’t good for the situation. A chaotic person will change depending on the situation.

 

[S'mon]

It can be some use for definining NPC motivations and behaviour. The old L-N-C system was good for defining allegiances in a metaphysical cosmic war.

It's not good for a lot of fantasy genres though, especially low fantasy settings.

 

[Thunder Brother]

I don't find alignment to be either useful or narratively compelling. Having read through other systems, I prefer the BRP-derived systems presented in Pendragon and Runequest Glorantha, with specific Traits/Passions/Runes/etc. More evocative (at least to me) and better integrated into the mechanics of the game.

I would love if DnD moved in that direction, with Traits/Bonds/Flaws getting more codified mechanics. I won't get my hopes up though.

 

[Bacon Bits]

Alignment is fine as a two-word description of what role the stat block's author intended the creature to have. It's useful for understanding disposition, and knowing if you should roll initiative immediately or when the PCs do something stupid. It's particularly useful for creatures that subvert tropes, like baelnorn, blues, specific named NPCs, etc.

Alignment is useful for fiends, celestials, deities and other outsiders to know what their origin is without digging in to the description. This only holds up if you're using the Great Wheel or the Blood War.

For PCs it's kinda useless. PCs and most NPCs should be aligned with a nation, religion, or culture, not an arbitrarily disconnected morality or ethics.

 

[TheSword]

Very pleasantly surprised about this poll. Twice as many people find Alignment useful as don’t find it useful.

... and yet we’re led to believe that Alignment is an obsolete relic that has no use in the game.

A clear example of why not to be disheartened by the vocal minority.

Vive le Planescape!!!

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Very pleasantly surprised about this poll. Twice as many people find Alignment useful as don’t find it useful.

... and yet we’re led to believe that Alignment is an obsolete relic that has no use in the game.

A clear example of why not to be disheartened by the vocal minority.

Vive le Planescape!!!

This poll of course is incredibly biased. A person may easily find some use for alignment whilst feeling that it is an unneeded awkward relic or even an detriment.

Now, it is perfectly possible, even likely, that majority of people want the alignment to be in the game, but this poll doesn't answer that.

 

[TheSword]

This poll of course is incredibly biased. A person may easily find some use for alignment whilst feeling that it is an unneeded awkward relic or even an detriment.

Now, it is perfectly possible, even likely, that majority of people want the alignment to be in the game, but this poll doesn't answer that.

...Case in point.

...It wasn’t an invitation for loud and vociferous denunciation of alignment. Though of course that was the end result yet again. Claiming that people don’t know what they’re voting for is a classic.

Not going to get in the same debate we’ve had in repeated threads. Just glad to see that the vast majority of people do find some use in alignment. Despite the claims of yourself and others that it is useless.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

...Case in point.

...It wasn’t an invitation for loud and vociferous denunciation of alignment. Though of course that was the end result yet again. Claiming that people don’t know what they’re voting for is a classic.

Not going to get in the same debate we’ve had in repeated threads. Just glad to see that the vast majority of people do find some use in alignment. Despite the claims of yourself and others that it is useless.

I just assume that people are answering what the poll is actually asking, not something else.

 

[Oofta]

I just assume that people are answering what the poll is actually asking, not something else.

You mean, like, finding alignment useful even though you do not?