D&D General Why do people like Alignment?

[Umbran]

in the older greek myths and in the norse myths they don't change them for gods either. In fact in both the older versions Zues and Odin were scared of them.

In the Homeric poems, Zeus also guides fate, weighing Hector vs Achilles, and so on.

It isn't like any of the old mythological systems are of clean canon or even self- consistent. They are stories people told across centuries, and change with the goals of the people telling them.

 

[Micah Sweet]

In the Homeric poems, Zeus also guides fate, weighing Hector vs Achilles, and so on.

It isn't like any of the old mythological systems are of clean canon or even self- consistent. They are stories people told across centuries, and change with the goals of the people telling them.

Which goes to say that there is ample room for multiple interpretations, making any particular one a matter of preference.

 

[Umbran]

Which goes to say that there is ample room for multiple interpretations, making any particular one a matter of preference.

Sure.

But it then follows that simply stating your preference will not really inform others of your thinking.

 

[nevin]

In the Homeric poems, Zeus also guides fate, weighing Hector vs Achilles, and so on.

It isn't like any of the old mythological systems are of clean canon or even self- consistent. They are stories people told across centuries, and change with the goals of the people telling them.

Which is why I specified older stories. The Greek gods or Norse Gods were very different in the various phases of their mythology.

 

[James Gasik]

Ok, so, in conclusion, Gods are either:

*All powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing.

*All powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing, but don't like their priests casting the spells they grant in ways that bother them.

*Only all-powerful, all-seeing, and all-knowing with regards to their specific portfolio.

*Powerless in the face of a non-artifact magic item.

DM's get to pick one, because they are above the Gods. Can we go back to explaining what's so good (chaotic/evil/lawful) about alignment anyways?