D&D 4E Poll for 4e DMs: Alignment System

[Lanefan]

Question for 4e DMs out there, to satisfy my curiosity: do you use the 4e alignment system, the 0-1-2-3e alignment system, something else, or no alignments at all?

I ask as I'm curious to see how popular 4e's alignment set-up is among those who are in a position to use/change it.

Lanefan

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I play, but do not run, 4Ed: it's alignment system is one reason I don't run it, so I voted the last slot in the poll.

 

[Lanefan]

I play, but do not run, 4Ed: it's alignment system is one reason I don't run it, ...

If 4e otherwise works for you, may I ask why you don't just bolt on a different alignment system, or none at all?

Lan-"some say alignment is what you do to wheels"-efan

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Because

1) alignment isn't my sole issue with 4Ed.

2) bolt-on is unacceptable. I play all kinds of RPGs, with & without alignment, including my all-time fave, HERO. Of all those alignment systems, previous editions of D&D's version, in which alignment is a true game mechanic with concrete campaign world implications, is my favorite. For me to be satisfied with adding a real alignment system back in would be too much work. (My view: it would have been far easier to keep it as it was and let those who disliked it simply ignore it.)

Overall, I like playing the game, but I'd never want to run it.

 

[Pentius]

I don't use alignment mechanics. I don't like them. This would almost free my table of alignment arguments, but I do want players not to be evil, which last session resulted in an argument from one about how mutilating a prisoner was just him playing his character as Chaotic Neutral(they prefer the 9-point system) and following his whims.

 

[Spinachcat]

In OD&D, I use Law / Neutral / Chaos because fits Sword & Sorcery and its Moorcockian and lots of fun because unlike Good vs. Evil, you can have a party with all 3 alignments and its not an auto-PvP.

The only time I've cared about the AD&D 9-side alignment was with Planescape where alignment truly mattered.

In 4e, I don't consider alignments. PCs are heroes on a big adventure, its all high fantasy and PCs are the good guys. At worst, they will be the Han Solo or Lando rogue-ish good guy.

I am very cool with my 4e games being Good vs. Evil. I find the game very superhero comic book-ish AND I mean that as a big compliment since I love superhero comic books. 4e is my Medieval X-men and that rocks.

 

[Pentius]

In 4e, I don't consider alignments. PCs are heroes on a big adventure, its all high fantasy and PCs are the good guys. At worst, they will be the Han Solo or Lando rogue-ish good guy.

I am very cool with my 4e games being Good vs. Evil. I find the game very superhero comic book-ish AND I mean that as a big compliment since I love superhero comic books. 4e is my Medieval X-men and that rocks.

Odd, the most successful evil campaign I've been in was in 4e, and from what I've seen, it doesn't work any worse for them than any other edition.

 

[delericho]

I have DMed 4e exactly twice, and don't expect to do so again. Still, that counts, right?

Anyway, when DMing 4e, the alignment system was ditched immediately.

IMO, they did exactly the wrong thing with alignments in 4e. They should either have kept them as-was in 3e (that is, some but not much game effect, and the 9-point alignments), or they should have dropped them entirely (probably the better option).

Leaving them in their current neutered fashion was just sad.

 

[Nebten]

I use the default system but I really don't care. And neither do my characters. Over 50% are "unalligned." There is no reason for it to be in 4th ed except to tie a divine caster to its god. Honestly, alignment can be thrown out and people can describe themselves in better detail: I follow a Bushido like code, I'm motherly and nurturing, I open up the DSM IV pick a random page and play like that for day.

No Robe of the Magi, Holy Avengers or Atonment in 4th ed. We fill in the box, use it as a guide but really don't worry about it. It's hard enough to figure out who gave +2 to whom and who has -5 to all defenses.

 

[Grydan]

Not sure which option to choose between "I DM 4e and I use 4e's 5-alignment system or something close" and "I DM 4e and I don't have alignments as a game mechanic", as the 5-alignment system doesn't really have much in the way of game mechanics.

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any mechanical impact it has at all. I dimly recall there being an item or two with alignment restrictions, or an artifact whose concordance was modified based on alignment, but nothing much beyond that. Those items might not even exist, I could be misremembering.

I don't mind them being in there the way they are, as general descriptors with no significant mechanical effects. I also wouldn't be inconvenienced much if they left them out.

I don't recall ever formally discussing alignment with my players. If I did, it was a couple years ago, back when the campaign began. It hasn't come up since.

When I make a character to play, I generally write down "unaligned" on the Alignment line, just in case the DM decides to care. Then I go about playing the character pretty much the same way I'd play them if there wasn't a space for alignment on the sheet at all.