Forcing Players to create GOOD characters...

[Belbarrus]

I usually restrict players to "non-evil" alignments. This is not done because I "cant handle" evil characters or an a lousy, unimagitive DM. This is done because of two main reasons, that I have encountered throughout the years:

1) Party unity. Evil characters in a party always resorts in the evil ones wanting to loot, injure, mock or otherwise antagonize or interfere with the non-evil characters. This usually resorts in, not only animosity between the characters, but between players as well.

2) Players cannot accept the fact that their evil deeds will actually have consequences. If a character does something evil and is caught and will be punished, I have found that the players usually view this with outrage. As if punishing their characters for acting "evil" is wrong. No, your character is not being punished for acting evil, your character is being punished for murdering, looting, plotting against the king or whatever crime it was that you had your character do.

B

 

[ciaran00]

Learn the difference between "evil character" and "evil act".

Do I or DragonLancer need to learn this difference? Scroll above and reread what's been said.

ciaran

 

[DragonLancer]

1) Party unity. Evil characters in a party always resorts in the evil ones wanting to loot, injure, mock or otherwise antagonize or interfere with the non-evil characters. This usually resorts in, not only animosity between the characters, but between players as well.

2) Players cannot accept the fact that their evil deeds will actually have consequences. If a character does something evil and is caught and will be punished, I have found that the players usually view this with outrage. As if punishing their characters for acting "evil" is wrong. No, your character is not being punished for acting evil, your character is being punished for murdering, looting, plotting against the king or whatever crime it was that you had your character do.

Belbarrus has it right. I don't allow evil characters for the above reasons. I've never yet found a group that could pull it off without resorting to backstabbing the other party members, or screwing them over. Often to the detriment of the game.

As I also said, I feel that D&D is about heroic fantasy. Heroes against evil. But I wouldn't say I run a bad game because of that choice. Its for me something that makes more sense due to my DMing philosophy.

 

[hong]

Do I or DragonLancer need to learn this difference?

Worst. Troll. Evar!

Scroll above and reread what's been said.

You're kinda new to this whole "alignment" thing, aren't you?