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Message: <blockquote data-quote="I'm A Banana" data-source="post: 5683411" data-attributes="member: 2067">There is Order and Chaos and Good and Evil. These are cosmic forces that have existed since before the dawn of time. They power the most powerful magic in existence, define the layout of the cosmos, and may affect you, on a daily basis, as you go about your business of being a hero. You can tap into one or two of these eternal forces by picking an Alignment. You can choose one from the first bit and one from the second bit. You could also choose none from any bits ("unaligned"/neutral) or one from one bit and one from the other ("Ordered" or "Good"). These are mostly character traits, but a few supernatural elements can and do depend on your alignment. For instance, an artifact that radiates Evil like the Book of Vile Darkness will be more effective in Evil hands than in unaligned hands, and may actively hurt Good characters. These great treasures are manifestations of these moral forces in the world. Certain meaphysical creatures, such as devils, demons, angels, and the like, also use alignment to determine their powers -- though only the most powerful and unique of them. Alignment-based effects are truly rare and ancient effects, the underpinnings of reality itself shaken with their use or misuse. There's no bonus or penalty for changing alignment. You should pick the alignment that best represents your idea of your character based on a few questions. You may change alignment over the course of the adventure, and that's OK. You may not, and that's OK, too. The DM cannot change your alignment any more than he can change your race (e.g.: maybe its the result of some curse or plot device, but he has no authority to tell you how you have been acting), though he might suggest an alignment that might be more appropriate to your style.The following are useful questions for determining your character's alignment. If you wind up with some contradictory or complex answers, consider leaving that part of your alignment "unaligned," since you likely have a blend of the ideas."My character enjoys the safety and social life of a city."If True, consider being Ordered."My character values the input of others, and works well in a team, especially with a good plan."If True, consider being Ordered."My character wants to contribute to something greater than themselves."If True, consider being Ordered."My character enjoys the freedom and isolation of the wilderness."If True, consider being Chaotic."My character does his own thing, even if no one else agrees with it, and prefers rapid action to intricate planning."If True, consider being Chaotic."My character mistrusts authority, and doesn't take orders very well."If True, consider being Chaotic."My character thinks that life is cheap -- people die all the time, from a variety of causes, or for no reason at all, so there's little value to it."If True, consider being Evil."If presented with a chance to get something my character wants, my character takes that chance, even if the consequences may be dire."If True, consider being Evil."My character thinks that those who stand in their way deserve what they get."If True, consider being Evil."My character feels that every life is important to save, from the poorest plague-bearing beggar to the highest noble king."If True, consider being Good."If someone asks my character for help, they will probably give what help they can."If True, consider being Good."My character is concerned for the weak and defenseless."If True, consider being Good....etc....This sets up how the game defines alignments (which isn't really how the Real World uses the terms), and it stresses that every choice -- even unaligned -- has consequences. It roots alignment in the player's concept of the character, rather than the DM's impression, which might provoke discussion, but would rarely cause much debate. The line of authority is pretty clear, and its not based in your actions. You can burn down an orphanage and still be Good if you think your character did so in a manner respectful of life and others. That might be a pretty hard sell for most orphanages, so clearly if you're regularly doing this, you might want to re-examine your alignment.  I also think "lawful" carries some unnecessary baggage (though to be fair, Good and Evil probably do, too), so it would help to call it something else. Very few people would say "I like Law!", a lot more would say "Yeah, I want to be part of a team, not a crazy lone wolf."So if I am a guy who works well with a team and wants to help others, I'm probably Lawful Good. If I'm a loner who thinks that life is cheap and I will kill easily to get what I want, I'm probably Chaotic Evil -- that's what orcs do, after all.</blockquote>

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