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<blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 6189496" data-attributes="member: 4937">I generally deal with alignment by letting the players determine their real alignment in play.&nbsp;&nbsp; Most players that are problematic are generally inclined to choose alignments that are pretty flexible in interpretation - neutral, chaotic neutral, even chaotic evil.&nbsp;&nbsp; The main things are:a) Clearly explain what alignments mean in your game.&nbsp;&nbsp; Question why the player has chosen a particular alignment for their character.&nbsp;&nbsp; Make sure that players of characters who are restricted by alignment - clerics, champions, etc. - clearly understand the basic code they are expected to follow.&nbsp;&nbsp; You may need to explain whether in the moral system of your world basic concepts like whether fornication is chaotic or evil, or whether slavery is lawful or evil, or whether charity is lawful or good.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you get some argument and you are still certain about it, explain that this is a fantasy world and may not be perfectly congruent to our own and that having the player champion an outlook like chaotic neutral or lawful evil within this world as the one that is good and right is in fact perfectly good role playing and interesting and good for the campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp; Be a neutral arbiter.&nbsp; b) Freely allow a player to revise their own assessment of an alignment for their player.c) Warn a player when a particular act if repeated may cause you to reassess the alignment of the player.&nbsp;&nbsp; Keep in mind that alignment is not personality and that foibles in a mortals character as well as occasional minor trespasses are expected.&nbsp; d) Warn a player intending to commit an act that will force you to reassess their morality of the consequences (prompting of their conscious).&nbsp;&nbsp; Allow them to explain why they think the action is within their alignment.&nbsp; e) Keep in game punishments to a minimum.&nbsp;&nbsp; Provide outlets for players who change their alignment to remain effective characters and try to create in game justifications for that.&nbsp;&nbsp; Essentially, a character that is changing their alignment is effectively rewriting their character.&nbsp; As long as this is down thoughtfully, go with it.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Celebrim, post: 6189496, member: 4937"] I generally deal with alignment by letting the players determine their real alignment in play. Most players that are problematic are generally inclined to choose alignments that are pretty flexible in interpretation - neutral, chaotic neutral, even chaotic evil. The main things are: a) Clearly explain what alignments mean in your game. Question why the player has chosen a particular alignment for their character. Make sure that players of characters who are restricted by alignment - clerics, champions, etc. - clearly understand the basic code they are expected to follow. You may need to explain whether in the moral system of your world basic concepts like whether fornication is chaotic or evil, or whether slavery is lawful or evil, or whether charity is lawful or good. If you get some argument and you are still certain about it, explain that this is a fantasy world and may not be perfectly congruent to our own and that having the player champion an outlook like chaotic neutral or lawful evil within this world as the one that is good and right is in fact perfectly good role playing and interesting and good for the campaign. Be a neutral arbiter. b) Freely allow a player to revise their own assessment of an alignment for their player. c) Warn a player when a particular act if repeated may cause you to reassess the alignment of the player. Keep in mind that alignment is not personality and that foibles in a mortals character as well as occasional minor trespasses are expected. d) Warn a player intending to commit an act that will force you to reassess their morality of the consequences (prompting of their conscious). Allow them to explain why they think the action is within their alignment. e) Keep in game punishments to a minimum. Provide outlets for players who change their alignment to remain effective characters and try to create in game justifications for that. Essentially, a character that is changing their alignment is effectively rewriting their character. As long as this is down thoughtfully, go with it. [/QUOTE]

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