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I don't get the dislike of alignment as a character-building concept
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<blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 5708340" data-attributes="member: 22779"><p>I'm not sure I completely agree with that though. Sure, the issue is probably broader than just the mechanics that are presented, but, in my mind anyway, the problem stems from a combination of fairly vague mechanics (what does Alignment X actually mean) and some pretty strong wording in the rules.</p><p></p><p>A character of Alignment X believes Y. The problem comes is that the meaning of Y is often somewhat up for grabs. But, when the DM decides that Y=one thing and the player decides that Y=something else, then you have a recipe for trouble.</p><p></p><p>After all, the DM is encouraged to make sure that players are playing their characters. All the way back in 1e, the training rules talk about players not playing their characters being forced to spend extra time training. Granted it wasn't directly linked to alignment, but, it's not too much of a stretch to connect the dots.</p><p></p><p>Never minding classes where alignment actually has direct impact as well - the paladin being probably the biggest issue here. But other classes often have alignment elements built into them as well. </p><p></p><p>And, let's be honest, it's not the easiest thing to discuss morality in any situation. People can get right testy very quickly when you start talking about morality. Heck, all you have to do is watch the alignment discussions on En World whenever someone claims that His Favorite Character has to be a particular alignment.</p><p></p><p>I think the game is well served having a section in character generation dealing with deciding what the moral compass of the character is. I'm not sure the game is well served by having that moral compass have direct mechanical effects in the game.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Hussar, post: 5708340, member: 22779"] I'm not sure I completely agree with that though. Sure, the issue is probably broader than just the mechanics that are presented, but, in my mind anyway, the problem stems from a combination of fairly vague mechanics (what does Alignment X actually mean) and some pretty strong wording in the rules. A character of Alignment X believes Y. The problem comes is that the meaning of Y is often somewhat up for grabs. But, when the DM decides that Y=one thing and the player decides that Y=something else, then you have a recipe for trouble. After all, the DM is encouraged to make sure that players are playing their characters. All the way back in 1e, the training rules talk about players not playing their characters being forced to spend extra time training. Granted it wasn't directly linked to alignment, but, it's not too much of a stretch to connect the dots. Never minding classes where alignment actually has direct impact as well - the paladin being probably the biggest issue here. But other classes often have alignment elements built into them as well. And, let's be honest, it's not the easiest thing to discuss morality in any situation. People can get right testy very quickly when you start talking about morality. Heck, all you have to do is watch the alignment discussions on En World whenever someone claims that His Favorite Character has to be a particular alignment. I think the game is well served having a section in character generation dealing with deciding what the moral compass of the character is. I'm not sure the game is well served by having that moral compass have direct mechanical effects in the game. [/QUOTE]
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I don't get the dislike of alignment as a character-building concept
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