Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="billd91" data-source="post: 3288600" data-attributes="member: 3400">One of the way I look at the differences between lawful and chaotic creatures is to look at why they do things the way they do and what customs to they follow. A character may belong to any number of distinct groups larger than him self: an ethnic group, a race, a city, a kingdom, a religion, a professional organization. Each of these organizations has its own customs, expectations, and requirements.A lawful character intends to conform to as many of those customs faithfully as he can without them conflicting. It's something he naturally wants to do because, based on his lawful approach to the world, it's the right thing to do. His personal codes conform to broader codes as much as they can. Customs from all of these groups are often in conflict and then, the lawful character will choose which group has the priority to follow at the expense of the others. Take Don Corleone as an example of a likely lawful evil character. He is reasonably patriotic, family comes first, devout and yet criminal. Of the organizations in his life that could claim his allegiance, he has prioritized his professional organization (the mob), his family, his ethnic group, and religion over his country and its laws.A chaotic character intends to conform to those customs that he personally feels are appropriate for him. Thus, his personal codes, and he probably has some, are idiosynchratic and individual. He follows them because they appeal to him as right for him, not because they are the right thing to do for everyone in the organization. The customs he follows should have their own intenal logic to compel them, not merely the weight of time.If you want to project a lawful character, I would suggest thinking of customs and traditions to follow or favor. Respect the social order. Respect honor and agreements. Respect the rules of your religion, your country. Things are done this way because there is value in doing them this way, proven by years of tradition. As a lawful character, you would recognize this weight of history and agree that it has a certain compelling logic to it rather than throw it away on personal fancies. You and your beliefs are the product of tried and true methods. Be proud of them. Defend them. Uphold them.</blockquote>

Verification