Baby's alignment?

[Yair]

What is the alignment of a baby? How will it be detected with the detect X spells?
Supposedly they are innocent, but is that TN? NG? LG? What?

 

[dpmcalister]

I can't foresee a situation that would require a baby's alignment needing to be checked but, obviously, you can, so I'd go with TN.

 

[Berandor]

A baby has no alignment, unless it's of a race with alignment descriptor, i.e. inherently [good/evil/etc.]. Imo, a newborn has no concept of life and lacks the basic understanding of the world to apply for detect alignment spells. Its alignment will only gradually emerge until puberty, when it becomes automatically CN, and afterwards, it regains its "real" alignment.

 

[shilsen]

True Neutral at birth.

And in my book, in most cases:

Chaotic Neutral for a couple years afterwards, as it does whatever the heck it feels like, but is too weak to be able to physically hurt others.

Chaotic Evil when it moves into the phase in life where it does whatever the heck it feels and doesn't care whether it hurts (or takes distinct pleasure in hurting) others.

Chaotic Stupid for the rest of its life.

Most people don't read my book

 

[Gez]

If the race's alignment is "Always This", then it's this. (So, a red wyrmling is chaotic evil.)

If it's "often" or "usually", then alignment is cultural rather than metaphysical. It would be True Neutral at least for the toddler period, when the baby, unable to speak, can be considered like an animal. (Even if it is more intelligent than animals.) Once the infant is able to speak, even a few words, you can assume he or she has developed his/her thought patterns enough to develop also his/her first moral and ethical position.

 

[Umbran]

Once the infant is able to speak, even a few words, you can assume he or she has developed his/her thought patterns enough to develop also his/her first moral and ethical position.

From the way my friends with kids talk, that means that every child is Evil. Self-centered, uncaring of what happens to others... yep, evil.

The ability to speak comes up before a kid is anywhere near fully socialized. At this point, they are only beginning to figure out the Universe - including interactions with other sentients, consequences, and personal responsibility for actions - and cannot be held responsible for decisions.

If a creature is incapable of moral action, then it is Neutral. Not necessarily "True Neutral" which for some folks has a slightly different connotation. But Neutral in the "I haven't made any commitments to a moral stance" sense.

 

[Gez]

Well, yes, kids all pass through an evil phase, selfish and egocentric. The first task of all parents is to redeem their brats to at least neutralness.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

Babies are Chaotic Evil. They care only for themselves and shamelessly flaunt the laws of society while taking and taking, giving nothing in return.

Oh and they scheme, too.

 

[dagger]

My 10 month old daughter is clearly CN:

She will jump off of anything head first, swallow pointy things with reckless abandon and poke you in the eye. All while giving you a smile and a hug....

Please help me............!!!

 

[diaglo]

nature vs. nuture...

actually in a world where alignment is an integral part of the game... i'm going with the race alignment in womb and at birth. nature

the nuture part is what can change baby's alignment.