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<blockquote data-quote="jsaving" data-source="post: 5991768" data-attributes="member: 16726"><p>The alignment sidebar definitely needs to be more precise in detailing what 5e alignments mean. "Following one's conscience" is obviously intended to imply "doing what is right in one's own eyes even when it doesn't correspond to societal norms," but this needs to be explicitly stated so people don't think it simply means "listening to one's inner voice."</p><p></p><p>I'd also say the alignment sidebar is only partially successful in providing outlooks that shed light on what people will do in particular situations. The LN writeup clearly and helpfully conveys that LN characters will enforce laws and traditions without being swayed by either selfishness or compassion. But the CN writeup's statement that an individual will be governed by "whim" almost harkens back to the bad old days of editions past, where CNs were viewed as rolling a die and acting randomly in response any given situation. That's more of a personality disorder than an outlook, and doesn't give you any idea how such a person would actually behave. </p><p></p><p>If lawfulness and chaos are going to be part of the same alignment axis, and if lawfulness embraces laws and traditions because they provide welcome direction for all, then chaos should logically shun laws and traditions because they provide unwelcome coercion for all. Viewed in this light, the CN character would be somebody who "fights the power" no matter how well-intentioned or benevolent it may be, and values the freedom to be <em>able</em> to act on a whim no matter what social mores might be violated by so doing.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jsaving, post: 5991768, member: 16726"] The alignment sidebar definitely needs to be more precise in detailing what 5e alignments mean. "Following one's conscience" is obviously intended to imply "doing what is right in one's own eyes even when it doesn't correspond to societal norms," but this needs to be explicitly stated so people don't think it simply means "listening to one's inner voice." I'd also say the alignment sidebar is only partially successful in providing outlooks that shed light on what people will do in particular situations. The LN writeup clearly and helpfully conveys that LN characters will enforce laws and traditions without being swayed by either selfishness or compassion. But the CN writeup's statement that an individual will be governed by "whim" almost harkens back to the bad old days of editions past, where CNs were viewed as rolling a die and acting randomly in response any given situation. That's more of a personality disorder than an outlook, and doesn't give you any idea how such a person would actually behave. If lawfulness and chaos are going to be part of the same alignment axis, and if lawfulness embraces laws and traditions because they provide welcome direction for all, then chaos should logically shun laws and traditions because they provide unwelcome coercion for all. Viewed in this light, the CN character would be somebody who "fights the power" no matter how well-intentioned or benevolent it may be, and values the freedom to be [i]able[/i] to act on a whim no matter what social mores might be violated by so doing. [/QUOTE]
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