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<blockquote data-quote="Aberzanzorax" data-source="post: 5575038" data-attributes="member: 64209"><p>I agree with S'mon and Elf Witch, but with a caveat.</p><p> </p><p>I actually just went through the 2e and 3e PHB and DMG. Slavery is "usually by evil societies". In none of these sources is it actually defined as "evil". Although, every mention of slavery in those sources is usually tied to something evil (is the purview of an evil god, for example). </p><p> </p><p>In the 4e PHB, however, I found this under the description for lawful good: "<span style="font-family: 'MentorStd'"><span style="font-size: 10px"><span style="font-family: 'MentorStd'"><span style="font-size: 10px">When leaders exploit their authority for personal</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'MentorStd'"><span style="font-size: 10px"><span style="font-size: 10px"><span style="font-family: 'MentorStd'">gain, when laws grant privileged status to some citizens and reduce others to slavery or untouchable status, law has given in to evil and just authority becomes tyranny. You are not only capable of challenging such injustice, but morally bound to do so."</span></span></p><p></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'MentorStd'"><span style="font-size: 10px"><span style="font-size: 10px"><span style="font-family: 'MentorStd'">I also found, under the description for evil: "They support institutional structures that give them power, even if that power comes at the expense of others’ freedom. Slavery and rigid caste structures are not only acceptable but desirable to evil characters, as long as they are in a position to benefit from them."</span></span></p><p></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'MentorStd'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Are there societies that view slavery as acceptable/neutral? Sure. Is that core/standard? Maybe marginally in 2e and 3e and, I'd say it is houserule for a 4e game. Though, show me a god of slavery in 2e or 3e and I'll show you a god with an evil alignment.</p><p></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'MentorStd'"><span style="font-size: 10px">EDIT: Book of Exalted Deeds quote: "Even if slavery, torture, or discrimination are condoned by society, they remain evil."</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'MentorStd'"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'MentorStd'"><span style="font-size: 10px">The point isn't that morality can't be explored in D&D and the point isn't that it's wrong to develop a society or even a perspective of the gods that changes some of the "standard" moral rules. The point is that it IS a change. That's fine, houserules are great. </p><p></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'MentorStd'"><span style="font-size: 10px">My point is that, if I, as DM decide that animate dead or slavery are not evil, or I decide that "aid another always grants +4 instead of +2" then that is a houserule. Again, houserules are fine, and I like Kalamar, but that is a houserule if the behavior is actually considered non-evil. (A cool, reasonable, and excellent/intriguging houserule that I totally approve of by the way...often houserules can be better than the main/original rules). </p><p></span></span></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In regard to the whole "railroading" component, however, my searches for "slavery" and "evil" came up with some very interesting guidelines, which basically tell the DM to do exactly what has been defined by some in this thread as "Railroading". Look into "changing alignment" in either/both the 2e and 3e DMG. Actually, I'll share those quotes in another post.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Aberzanzorax, post: 5575038, member: 64209"] I agree with S'mon and Elf Witch, but with a caveat. I actually just went through the 2e and 3e PHB and DMG. Slavery is "usually by evil societies". In none of these sources is it actually defined as "evil". Although, every mention of slavery in those sources is usually tied to something evil (is the purview of an evil god, for example). In the 4e PHB, however, I found this under the description for lawful good: "[FONT=MentorStd][SIZE=2][FONT=MentorStd][SIZE=2]When leaders exploit their authority for personal[/SIZE][/FONT] [LEFT][SIZE=2][FONT=MentorStd]gain, when laws grant privileged status to some citizens and reduce others to slavery or untouchable status, law has given in to evil and just authority becomes tyranny. You are not only capable of challenging such injustice, but morally bound to do so."[/FONT][/SIZE][/LEFT] [LEFT][SIZE=2][FONT=MentorStd]I also found, under the description for evil: "They support institutional structures that give them power, even if that power comes at the expense of others’ freedom. Slavery and rigid caste structures are not only acceptable but desirable to evil characters, as long as they are in a position to benefit from them."[/FONT][/SIZE][/LEFT] [LEFT]Are there societies that view slavery as acceptable/neutral? Sure. Is that core/standard? Maybe marginally in 2e and 3e and, I'd say it is houserule for a 4e game. Though, show me a god of slavery in 2e or 3e and I'll show you a god with an evil alignment.[/LEFT] EDIT: Book of Exalted Deeds quote: "Even if slavery, torture, or discrimination are condoned by society, they remain evil." [LEFT]The point isn't that morality can't be explored in D&D and the point isn't that it's wrong to develop a society or even a perspective of the gods that changes some of the "standard" moral rules. The point is that it IS a change. That's fine, houserules are great. [/LEFT] [LEFT]My point is that, if I, as DM decide that animate dead or slavery are not evil, or I decide that "aid another always grants +4 instead of +2" then that is a houserule. Again, houserules are fine, and I like Kalamar, but that is a houserule if the behavior is actually considered non-evil. (A cool, reasonable, and excellent/intriguging houserule that I totally approve of by the way...often houserules can be better than the main/original rules). [/LEFT] [/SIZE][/FONT] In regard to the whole "railroading" component, however, my searches for "slavery" and "evil" came up with some very interesting guidelines, which basically tell the DM to do exactly what has been defined by some in this thread as "Railroading". Look into "changing alignment" in either/both the 2e and 3e DMG. Actually, I'll share those quotes in another post. [/QUOTE]
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