D&D General If the Alignment system itself had an Alignment, what Alignment would it be?

[Marandahir]

Which is not what I said. It just means that you are not playing alignment the way it is intended. If you create the problem, then the problem is with you, not alignment. If you play alignment and it's a hinderance, that's on you for making it one. Played the way it was intended, it's just a non-straightjacket roleplaying aid.

Dude, I was agreeing with you. I think the Alignment system is Lawful Stupid, but if it's useful to a bunch of players, then it deserves a place in the game. Just not as a straight jacket. Which is what we have in 5e.

 

[Tonguez]

Lawful stupid

 

[Maxperson]

Dude, I was agreeing with you. I think the Alignment system is Lawful Stupid, but if it's useful to a bunch of players, then it deserves a place in the game. Just not as a straight jacket. Which is what we have in 5e.

Just to clarify, are you saying 5e alignment is or is not a straight jacket?

 

[HomegrownHydra]

Which is not what I said. It just means that you are not playing alignment the way it is intended. If you create the problem, then the problem is with you, not alignment. If you play alignment and it's a hinderance, that's on you for making it one. Played the way it was intended, it's just a non-straightjacket roleplaying aid.

What is the intended way to use alignment? Are you talking 5e or in general?

 

[Swarmkeeper]

Lawful stupid

Another Paladin non-vote vote!

 

[Maxperson]

What is the intended way to use alignment? Are you talking 5e or in general?

The intended way to use alignment is just as a roleplaying aid that isn't in any way a straightjacket. Especially in 5e. If you make alignment into some sort of constraining thing and then argue over it, you've created the problem. Not alignment.

 

[Tonguez]

The intended way to use alignment is just as a roleplaying aid that isn't in any way a straightjacket. Especially in 5e. If you make alignment into some sort of constraining thing and then argue over it, you've created the problem. Not alignment.

Yeah, I dumped Alignment early in DnD, replacing it first with the linear Palladium Ethics system (Principled -> Selfish -> Miscreant). Then I started playing GURPS were alignment is treated as a Quirk and those wholey optional and not really worth giving it its own page in the rules

 

[Maxperson]

Yeah, I dumped Alignment early in DnD, replacing it first with the linear Palladium Ethics system (Principled -> Selfish -> Miscreant). Then I started playing GURPS were alignment is treated as a Quirk and those wholey optional and not really worth giving it its own page in the rules

As I've said either in this thread or one of the other alignment threads running around. I personally don't use alignment as a player, since I don't need it. However, I've seen many new players use it very effectively to help get into roleplaying AND as a DM I find it invaluable for running the myriad of NPCs that aren't major enough to warrant more work on personality.

Alignment is worth keeping around for those people who do need and use it.

 

[Marandahir]

Just to clarify, are you saying 5e alignment is or is not a straight jacket?

I'm saying that it usually is.

As I've said either in this thread or one of the other alignment threads running around. I personally don't use alignment as a player, since I don't need it. However, I've seen many new players use it very effectively to help get into roleplaying AND as a DM I find it invaluable for running the myriad of NPCs that aren't major enough to warrant more work on personality.

Alignment is worth keeping around for those people who do need and use it.

I'm also saying that I agree with the above 100%.

 

[Maxperson]

I'm saying that it usually is.

Then those people are by the rules playing it incorrectly and have been since 4e. 3e was the last edition to have mechanics tied to it to a major degree, unless what I've heard about 4e is wrong. 5e alignments only have one freaking sentence for crying out loud. There isn't enough for a straightarm, let alone an entire jacket.

I'm also saying that I agree with the above 100%.

Excellent!