Alignments anyone?

[TKDB]

I like the idea of alignments in general, but I think it's way too overused in D&D. It's a very useful tool for classic high fantasy campaigns where the conflict between forces of good and evil (and/or law and chaos, if you prefer that) is a major factor, but outside of that it's mostly a stumbling block for a lot of players.

Generally, unless you're actually using effects that really care about alignment (a divine plague that selectively strikes down evildoers, a holy artifact that can only be used by the pure of heart, and so forth), I find it's best to ignore it. However, when you are using such effects, it's a lot easier to have alignment as a shorthand for how a character interacts with it than to evaluate each one on a case-by-case basis.

Also, I find that a lot of the perceived issues with alignment can be fixed by viewing it as a loose coordinate system rather than a fixed set of discrete categories. Imagine plotting your character's general outlook and tendencies with respect to each alignment axis on a two-dimensional graph, then see where you wind up. Two characters might be in the same general region of the graph (have the same alignment), but still have significant differences in how they view alignment-relevant issues.

 

[Corathon]

I use it because its part of the game and because IME, you often get a group of boring thug characters if you don't. I like it as both DM and player.

 

[Vincent Blackwater]

I never cared for it, because certain players and DM's used it as a way to define who your character was and I think because that's the way it was back in the day for my group I grew disdain for the whole concept. I like being free and not having any guidelines or restrictions to my character.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

As DM's do you use alignments? Why/Why not?

After I say "No evil PCs," alignment doesn't come up. Players are free to write anything or nothing regarding alignment on their own CSs.

As to why, well, it just doesn't matter in 4e.

As players do you like using alignments?

I like Good and Evil, but the Chaos vs. Law thing doesn't really click with me. I like alignment to matter sometimes for some characters (paladins smiting evil), but I don't like a lot of the micromanagement that has traditionally come hand in hand with alignment (paladins must be lawful good, and a specific breed of LG at that).

If I'm playing 4e, I don't even bother noting an alignment. If I'm playing another edition, I'll write it down and steer clear of draconian Codes and alignment restrictions.

 

[David Howery]

in 1E/2E, it was rather hard to dispense with alignment just because it was woven into the rules so heavily. I remember a Dragon article that dealt with one DM's no-alignment campaign that he came up because he wanted a sorta-Arthurian campaign with fantasy monsters tossed in, and wanted paladins from different nations to be able to fight each other, and paladins to be able to attack rangers... so he basically dropped ethical alignment in favor of national/regional alignment...

 

[DMBrendon]

The most important reason that I use alignment in my games is that it gives the players a lot of freedom, but there are still some lines that they can't cross without warning bells going off. One of my regular players is very strategic, and at the very least, alignment stops him from taking the optimal solution at all times, and introduces some semblance of role playing where there are certain things that his character will and will not do, depending on the situation, irrespective of how much it would benefit him.

 

[Vincent Blackwater]

The most important reason that I use alignment in my games is that it gives the players a lot of freedom, but there are still some lines that they can't cross without warning bells going off. One of my regular players is very strategic, and at the very least, alignment stops him from taking the optimal solution at all times, and introduces some semblance of role playing where there are certain things that his character will and will not do, depending on the situation, irrespective of how much it would benefit him.

I pretty much tell them that they can behave however they want, it should be relatively consistent though and as players they need to all make an effort to make sure their characters personalities mesh well enough to have a positive rping experience. With that being said I expect some personality changes until they settle into a "perfect" personality that they really like and works with the group.

But not every DM has the benefit of having a full group they could do that with. Y'know esse?

 

[El Mahdi]

As a DM, I don't use them. I do ask the characters for a basic idea of their morals and loyalties, but that's it, I don't use them to force the players into rigid actions based on what they've told me.

If a player wants to use the standard 9 alignments to define their charcter for them, they are more than welcome to. But I do point out to them that the world I DM is not based on those 9 alignments, and game features that rely on that (Detect Alignment, etc.) do not exist.

 

[howandwhy99]

Alignment is assigned to everything, but the PC alignment is tracked according to the actions the players accomplish. It isn't a straightjacket except in a few cases like Paladin where it is elected to be. Even then it's not as if actions that alter alignment aren't able to be taken. It has more to do with the consequences of one's actions.

 

[Dordledum]

I actually do like to use the 9 alignments.

For DM's sake, in some cases they are quite strict (Demons v Devils = CE vs LE).

In the case of handling player characters it's more malleable. Some actions are clearly chaotic/ lawful/good/evil. If a character of an opposite alignment performs such an act (more than once for smaller ones or just once if it's a major decision), I'd ask the player to reconsider or adopt an alignment shift. I think it helps people stay in character better to have the according alignment jotted down somewhere.

As a player it does help me immerse myself in a character sometimes. I tend to think I am naturally a Lawful kind of guy myself, therefore it's a bit harder for me to roleplay a Chaotic character. When my lawful player gut says: "do this", my chaotic character might not do so.