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*Pathfinder & Starfinder
Running a morally ambiguous game in a world where Alignment is real
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<blockquote data-quote="spasemunki" data-source="post: 5736524" data-attributes="member: 29783"><p>The areas where alignment gets in the way are easily sidestepped- things like certain classes (monks, paladins) having alignment requirements, and the Detect Good/Evil spell/paladin ability.</p><p></p><p>For an underworld-based game, monks and paladins would be a pretty counter-intuitive class choice, so there isn't really any conflict there unless your players want to push it.</p><p></p><p>Detect Alignment spells can easily be dropped in that case, or ruled to only detect supernatural good/evil, like angels and demons.</p><p></p><p>Alternatively, you could also build it into the background of the setting- alignment detecting magic is unreliable on this world, or was banned because of abuses by an absolutist theocracy, or is over-used by police stats, resulting in widely available counters. It could be fun for players to try to 'maintain their cover' in a place where alignment-detecting magic is widely used, or for people who can detect that someone is evil to be unable to officially do anything about it because they broke the law to find out.</p><p></p><p>Alignment can also be a red herring. Lawful Good NPC's can be dangerously wrong about a situation and end up doing terrible harm by following the law. A Lawful Neutral character will be a terrible foe in a nation with tyrannous laws, but a useful ally in a more benevolent kingdom. Alignment doesn't do a good job of taking into account prejudices and other personal flaws- what alignment is an otherwise Lawful Good landowner who lives in an area where slavery is the norm, and who believes that a certain race or species is "better off" being looked after by their "betters"?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="spasemunki, post: 5736524, member: 29783"] The areas where alignment gets in the way are easily sidestepped- things like certain classes (monks, paladins) having alignment requirements, and the Detect Good/Evil spell/paladin ability. For an underworld-based game, monks and paladins would be a pretty counter-intuitive class choice, so there isn't really any conflict there unless your players want to push it. Detect Alignment spells can easily be dropped in that case, or ruled to only detect supernatural good/evil, like angels and demons. Alternatively, you could also build it into the background of the setting- alignment detecting magic is unreliable on this world, or was banned because of abuses by an absolutist theocracy, or is over-used by police stats, resulting in widely available counters. It could be fun for players to try to 'maintain their cover' in a place where alignment-detecting magic is widely used, or for people who can detect that someone is evil to be unable to officially do anything about it because they broke the law to find out. Alignment can also be a red herring. Lawful Good NPC's can be dangerously wrong about a situation and end up doing terrible harm by following the law. A Lawful Neutral character will be a terrible foe in a nation with tyrannous laws, but a useful ally in a more benevolent kingdom. Alignment doesn't do a good job of taking into account prejudices and other personal flaws- what alignment is an otherwise Lawful Good landowner who lives in an area where slavery is the norm, and who believes that a certain race or species is "better off" being looked after by their "betters"? [/QUOTE]
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