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<blockquote data-quote="MNblockhead" data-source="post: 8182632" data-attributes="member: 6796661">This is a bit hyperbolic. From the perspective of verisimilitude to real life, sure. But the nine-alignment system has been a long-time aspect of D&amp;D lore AND mechanics. Over time, the mechanics related to alignment have been watered down (e.g. no more alignment languages) but 5e still nods to those of us who continue to use alignment by having some magic items usable only by characters of certain alignments.In my current campaign, alignment is important. It is less about a character's psychology and character (although it can affect both) and more about a cosmic battle over how reality should be ordered. Yes, the great-wheel and similar cosmologies aligned to alignment are ham-fisted, but this is a game, not an exercise in philosophy.At some point, if you keep taking away these weird bits of D&amp;D, it stops becoming D&amp;D.&nbsp; Already alignment is clearly an optional subsystem in 5e. I don't see needing to get rid of it entirely.&nbsp; You can have settings that don't use alignment and those where it features front and center.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="MNblockhead, post: 8182632, member: 6796661"] This is a bit hyperbolic. From the perspective of verisimilitude to real life, sure. But the nine-alignment system has been a long-time aspect of D&D lore AND mechanics. Over time, the mechanics related to alignment have been watered down (e.g. no more alignment languages) but 5e still nods to those of us who continue to use alignment by having some magic items usable only by characters of certain alignments. In my current campaign, alignment is important. It is less about a character's psychology and character (although it can affect both) and more about a cosmic battle over how reality should be ordered. Yes, the great-wheel and similar cosmologies aligned to alignment are ham-fisted, but this is a game, not an exercise in philosophy. At some point, if you keep taking away these weird bits of D&D, it stops becoming D&D. Already alignment is clearly an optional subsystem in 5e. I don't see needing to get rid of it entirely. You can have settings that don't use alignment and those where it features front and center. [/QUOTE]

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