D&D General IMO, Alignment should be "Fill in the blank"

[Li Shenron]

But alignment has a mechanical impact so if they’re acting chaotic evil… do you have protection from evil affect them even though their sheet says Lawful Good? Because… you should.

Not in the current edition

 

[Aldarc]

Having alignment actually reflect where your character's interests align as in what side you're on and what you're fighting for? Fits with where this whole thing was meant to work back in the day.

Not having it wrapped up in moralizing baggage? A bold and worthwhile step forward from where things slipped in the intervening editions.

I mean it's basically Allegiances from d20 Modern, which was already 'Alignment if it was good', but it's good to still see it alive and well.

If Alignment had the sort of mechanical meat that involved either the Icons in 13th Age or Piety in Theros (reflecting cosmological allegiences to Goodness or Evil), then I would find that more interesting than its lukewarm moral compass nonsense. Alignment in its current form feels a little too much like "crap or get off the pot." I would rather it be gone entirely and replaced with something more straightforward, like Allegiances or Motives.

 

[pemerton]

Alignment is not a "moral compass". Practically all real-world moral disputes happen within the scope of what D&D labels good.

 

[Oofta]

If Alignment had the sort of mechanical meat that involved either the Icons in 13th Age or Piety in Theros (reflecting cosmological allegiences to Goodness or Evil), then I would find that more interesting than its lukewarm moral compass nonsense. Alignment in its current form feels a little too much like "crap or get off the pot." I would rather it be gone entirely and replaced with something more straightforward, like Allegiances or Motives.

Allegiances only make sense where there are established groups and organizations, something to have allegiance to, in every campaign. You need an overriding campaign setting that D&D doesn't have. We have motives in TIBF.

 

[teitan]

Not in the current edition

Could swear my Paladin has protection from Evil and smite abilities.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Could swear my Paladin has protection from Evil and smite abilities.

Perhaps you could tell us how the rules of those abilities interact with alignment then?

 

[Maxperson]

Could swear my Paladin has protection from Evil and smite abilities.

In 5e those are not alignment based, though.

 

[Vaalingrade]

And, IIRC, can trigger on non-evil ghosts.