I miss CG

[Celebrim]

The one thing I liked about RIFTS is the alignment system. Not only does it make a little more sense, they give you specific actions a character of each alignment would or would not due, just as a guideline. There are 7 total alignments, 2 for Good, 2 for Selfish and 3 for Evil. Here is how the RIFTS alignments work...

To be perfectly frank, if I had to vote for the worst rules system ever published, it would be RIFTS.

The problem with thier alignment system is that its a less interesting and less flexible subsystem of the D&D nine. It is well described perhaps in a way that D&D's never has been, but its maybe over defined for my taste and lacks the interesting symmetry and relationships of D&D's nine.

Principled is basically LG.
Scrupulous is CG.
Unprincipled is basically CN with slight good tendancies.
Anarchist is basically CN with evil tendancies.
Aberrant is basically LE. And its really misnamed at that.
Miscreant is basically CE.
Diabolical is basically a more extreme CE.

Notice who unbalanced its characterizations fall under the D&D scheme. Most of them are chaotic. Balance between individualism and collectivism or its relationship to good and evil are seldom considered except for mentioning that 'Aberrant' people despise 'Diabolical' ones and the contrast between 'Principled' and 'Scurpulous' (which seems to imply the same 'Principled' (LG) is more good than 'Scrupulous' (CG) bias long standing in D&D as well). And notice the huge holes and how badly various people practicing the various philosophies would feel misrepresented. Is there nothing between 'Principled' and 'Aberrant'? Where are the more subtle cases? Is there no selfless alignment which isn't good? Where is 'unaligned'? Shouldn't there be room for an unpricipled character that does try to work within the law? Is obeying the law the end all be all of good that the description seems to imply?

And so forth.

 

[Thasmodious]

It's a pity the whole alignment system wasn't ditched, really.

At least it no longer has a mechanical component, so I don't have to worry about it messing with my games and causing silly player arguments.

Is that confirmed information?

I've never liked alignment and think its a clunky way to pigeonhole characters. If it has no mechanical bearing, I can ditch it without a second though.

 

[Ten]

The biggest problem with the alignment system is that very few people seem to understand it.

The biggest problem with the alignment system is that people have different values and can interpret the alignments in a variety of different ways without being wrong. The alignment system flat out creates arguments, especially from principled people who feel they have a good handle on the system and insist their interpretations are right when there are other people people who are the same way. No one is willing to cede a point when it comes down to their moral compass.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

As much as I LIKED the alignment system, I'd rather have it completely destroyed before this new five tier system comes into place. And as much as I ADORE the chaos vs law, I'd much rather have that hacked out before this five tier system comes into place.

This is, bar none, the worst decision they could have made regarding alignment.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

People Equating "Chaos" with "Freedom" was probably the reason CG was axed.

Freedom is up held by order. Chaos is your 9th grade gym class for the rest of your life.

*stop hitting yourself* *stop hitting yourself*

 

[Sojorn]

This is, bar none, the worst decision they could have made regarding alignment.

Nay, using my psychic powers to determine exactly what Lawful Good and Chaotic Evil actually mean now, I have devised an alignment system far worse:

Ethical/Neutral/Unethical
Moral/Neutral/Immoral

Pick one from each axis.

Ok, so I cribbed some notes from some place. If you don't get it, just walk away, please don't ask, you're really, really better off not knowing. Arg. I really wish I didn't know. Oh, god, the magic fumble tables... the horror...

 

[ProfessorCirno]

Nay, using my psychic powers to determine exactly what Lawful Good and Chaotic Evil actually mean now, I have devised an alignment system far worse:

Ethical/Neutral/Unethical
Moral/Neutral/Immoral

Pick one from each axis.

Ok, so I cribbed some notes from some place. If you don't get it, just walk away, please don't ask, you're really, really better off not knowing. Arg. I really wish I didn't know. Oh, god, the magic fumble tables... the horror...

...Why did you remind me that this exists?

You are now rolling to see how fast you can talk.

People Equating "Chaos" with "Freedom" was probably the reason CG was axed.

Freedom is up held by order. Chaos is your 9th grade gym class for the rest of your life.

*stop hitting yourself* *stop hitting yourself*

CG shouldn't be axed because people are dumb, though.

I forget if it was here or in the other thread, but someone else put it much better - CG is John Locke, or classic liberallism. FEWER laws, more personal freedoms. And the absence of Lawful Evil is just pants on head retarded. Or maybe pants on head drunk, as I...well, we won't go there.

 

[Sojorn]

...Why did you remind me that this exists?

Pain exists to be shared. Have a cookie and know that you do not suffer alone

 

[Ipissimus]

The biggest problem with the alignment system is that people have different values and can interpret the alignments in a variety of different ways without being wrong. The alignment system flat out creates arguments.

Then it should have been ripped out completely or included as an optional rule in the DMG.

Nine Alignments gave DnD depth beyond killing things and taking their stuff. LG-G-U-E-CE is just dull, it infuses DnD with all the worst aspects of a children's cartoon serial.

It's always infuriated me that there's been a slow creep of 'philosophy bias' built into the rules. LG is the 'best good' and CE is the 'worst evil'. Formalizing that by gutting the rest of the system disgusts me. It's the greatest waste of potential I've ever seen.

 

[Family]

CG is John Locke, or classic liberallism. FEWER laws, more personal freedoms.