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ShortQuests -- individual adventure modules! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed to plug in to your game.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="NotAYakk" data-source="post: 9885724" data-attributes="member: 72555">I have been playing with a model to give bonds alignments.  Along this way I had to make Law and Chaos a bit less flanderized.Lawful elevates abstractions over individuals.Chaos elevates individuals over abstractions.If you are loyal to the Crown and not the current Queen, that is a Lawful loyalty.If you are loyal to the current Queen and not the Crown, that is a Chaotic loyalty.This can easily extend to entire societies, without the Chaotic societies being gonzo or otherwise stupid or ineffective.Each could even pass on their loyalty to the heir - but for the Chaotic, it is because the ruler loves their heir, and the Chaotic person protects what their passed Queen loved in her honor.  For the Lawful, it is because the rules of inheritance place the Crown upon the heir.Societies can be built upon both principles in a continuum; a society can be more Chaotic or more Lawful in each and every piece, and as a sum have a tendency one way or the other.  A reasonably complex society can be held together through interpersonal bonds (in fact, I suspect most societies need them).  Dashes of Lawful style rules can exist in otherwise Chaotic societies (like rules about who becomes the next ruler, maybe involving a one-on-one fight, or whatever), and Chaotic bonds change the course of otherwise Lawful societies.In a Lawful society, Chaotic acts are described as corrupt - helping your personal friend get a promotion in the government.  In a Chaotic society, relying upon abstract rules (I am the heir!  I deserve to be chief!) could be viewed as weakness and be looked down upon, reducing its strength.With this framework, the 4 points of LG LE CG CE also are sensible, and none are (by requirement) psychopaths.LG is someone who values abstract rules and principles and will selflessly sacrifice their own interests for them.LE is someone who values abstract rules and principles as tools to selfishly advance their own interests with them.CG is someone who values personal connections and companions and will selflessly sacrifice their own interests for them.CE is someone who values personal connections and companions and will selfishly advance their own interests with them.We can extend this to entire societies, or at least parts of them.  No society is going to be uniform.  LN/LG parts of LE societies will exist, as will CG and CE portions.  The same will be true of CE societies having CN, CG and LE/LG portions or subsystems.</blockquote>

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