D&D General For those that find Alignment useful, what does "Lawful" mean to you

[le Redoutable]

Law seeks structure.
Chaos seeks liberty.
Good seeks peace.
Evil seeks power.

eh! I like it ( like that ) thanks !

 

[Shiroiken]

Lawful is partially "Order," meaning that they're internally consistent. Lawful also tends to think of society/group before the individual, but that doesn't mean they forgo their own needs or desires.

 

[Lanefan]

Lawful to me means someone who prefers to follow externally-generated rules and directions rather than self-generated ones or none at all.

A less-charitable interpretation is that Lawful prefers to follow externally-generated rules and directions rather than think for itself.

 

[le Redoutable]

Lawful to me means someone who prefers to follow externally-generated rules and directions rather than self-generated ones or none at all.

A less-charitable interpretation is that Lawful prefers to follow externally-generated rules and directions rather than think for itself.

... like in Mind Control ?

 

[John Quixote]

While I (mostly) don't find alignment useful and therefore didn't vote in the poll, I wouldn't use either of the OP's definitions. They rely too much on character behavior or beliefs. Alignment is cosmic—it's either allegiance to a big, universal "side", or some inherent quality in a being's spiritual nature.

Lawful is either personal allegiance (whether consciously given or not) to the cosmic concept of Order (Moorcockian Lawfulness); or it's an inherent tie to the mundane world of human beings (and their societies and religions), as opposed to the Chaotic world of eldritch, fae, or monstrous things and Powers (Andersonian Lawfulness).

 

[Minigiant]

Lawful to me means someone who prefers to follow externally-generated rules and directions rather than self-generated ones or none at all.

A less-charitable interpretation is that Lawful prefers to follow externally-generated rules and directions rather than think for itself.

Less "prefers" and more "accepts" and I agree.

If the code,law, or religion says "No Cheese" the Lawful person will simply accept whatever excuse given as long as it isn't a major burden.

The Chaotic person if they like cheese is singing the last half minute of Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name"

 

[le Redoutable]

yes, the Monk being Lawful and living in a monastery must abide by the doctrine present there ...

 

[Minigiant]

yes, the Monk being Lawful and living in a monastery must abide by the doctrine present there ...

There's also another level to it.

The strict mental and spiritual focus to be a Monk requires the person to adhere to a lot of restrictive concepts and rules. A Chaotic or Neutral person is more likely to break or change the codes and rules needed to reach spiritual enlightenment.

 

[le Redoutable]

so is essential the role of the teachers ( look at my face )
while the english version of Kung Fu relates the adventures of a Shaolin Priest
in France it was translated to a Shaolin Monk
( lol )

 

[Yaarel]

Lawful is group identity.

Chaos is individual identity.

Both are important.