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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Edena_of_Neith" data-source="post: 2798764" data-attributes="member: 2020">Let me clarify myself, Saeviomagy.  There is some confusion here.  When I was 10, 11, and 12 years old, everyone I knew who played D&D, liked playing evil characters.  At that time, I didn't play the game.  I was aware of the game, but did not play it.  When I was 16, 17, and 18, I played actively.  At that time, those around me did not play evil characters as a rule.  They played good and neutral characters as a rule.  It was then that I started playing Edena the Cleric as a kind of Exalted character.  It was then that I ran into the hostility I spoke of.  The mistake I made, and that many other players around that time made, was that we did not get together before the game, and say:  we wish to play this kind of game, or:  we wish to play that kind of game.  Instead, everyone just sorta showed up and played ... and hoped for some fun.  And usually, had some fun (including me.)  When I saw that playing Edena as an exalted character was useless, I abandoned playing him that way.  With a few rare exceptions, I have never since run into a group or DM who would have been comfortable with the Book of Exalted Deeds.  Does that clarify things?  No, I was not the Odd-Man-Out.  -  To el-remmen  The Book of Exalted Deeds does something I've never seen any D&D book do before:  It answers the question of what Good is.  It answers this question in crystal clear terms, blunt and forcible terms, in absolute terms.  For example, torture is absolutely evil.  Lying is absolutely evil.  Hatred and suffering are absolutely evil.   There is no such thing as a Mitigating Circumstance.  There is no such thing as a justified evil act, committed for the greater good, that is ultimately a good act.  An evil act is an evil act, PERIOD, regardless of whether it saves your life or the lives of everyone on the planet.  If you voluntarily commit an evil act, for any reason whatsoever, you lose Exalted Status, until you sincerely attempt to make restitution for that act.  The powers of Good are willing to forgive and forget, but you must convince them you are sincerely repentant.   If you fire a fireball into a group of orcs, and this group included orc children, you committed an evil act.  If your neutral associate fires a fireball into a group of orcs, and into orc children, you are guilty by association.  You must do something about the behavior of your friend ... or leave your friend's company.  If you do not, you have committed an evil act.  If the orc surrenders, you must accept that.  After that, you must treat the orc with the highest of decency and kindness.  If you intend to turn the orc over to the authorities, you MUST confirm that THEY will treat said orc with decency and kindness, and attempt to convert him to good alignment.  And it's not just orcs.  It's drow, mind flayers, mass murderers, vampires, and even death knights.  If they surrender, you MUST treat them as decently as you would treat a friend.  It is unfortunate that they must be held captive, but that is necessary for their own good, until you convert them to good alignment.  And you CAN convert them to good alignment, without spells or torture or even roleplaying.  You simply talk to them.  (You heard that right:  you can convert a death knight to Good by talking to him.)  After a while, they must start making DC checks against your Diplomacy.  After 7 failed saves in a row, they become neutral.  After 7 more, they become good.  This is permanent and desired by the redeemed villain.  That is what is meant, when we are talking about an Exalted Character.  An Exalted Character is not just a good character, he is an exalted character.  He holds himself to standards and norms that exceed the typical standards of good (as in:  most elves are chaotic good, most dwarves are lawful good, most halflings are neutral good, etc.) in the game.  It does not matter how many horrific acts of murder, torture, or depravity the villain has committed.  He is still redeemable.  His soul can still be saved.  He can still earn a place in the Upper Planes.  The Powers of Good are willing to accept him, if he repents and mends his ways.  This is how Exalted Characters think and work.  And the Book of Exalted Deeds grants them very great power.  Exalted Feats, Exalted Spells, and Exalted PrCs are much more powerful than what is found in the Player's Handbook</blockquote>

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