Is Dungeons and Dragons Black and White?

[Plane Sailing]

Personally, I'd prefer to do away with it entirely. It's not too hard, but it does require you be methodical and not accidentally leave it in the mechanics somewhere.

I suppose the biggest classic is "holy sword". What would you do with that if you did away with alignment?

(I think I'd be tempted to include supernatural Eeeeeevil, but not impose alignments on humans or natural races. A faction system would work much better (Like RQ used to have)

Cheers

 

[The Sigil]

Balance. It's all about balance.

The prime material plane is grey - and so are the creatures on it - because it is a balance of all other planes and ideals.

Outer planes are black and white. That's because they are out of balance (individually; collectively they are in balance). Hence, planar creatures are black and white.

It's like that detergent commercial... shows a black screen and asks "does this look black to you?" Then fades in a truly black screen (instead of the dark gray) and says, "keeps colors from fading - even black". Someone who is "evil" in the prime plane may not be black, but is a dark gray. Once they get gray enough (to the point where they can be described as evil instead of neutral) holy weapons cause extra damage, etc.

Simplistic? Yes. But for me, a nice way to start.

--The Sigil