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<blockquote data-quote="Hriston" data-source="post: 8927097" data-attributes="member: 6787503">I’m partial to nine-point alignment because the 1E AD&amp;D books (PHB and DMG) were a big part of my introduction to the game. I think five-point alignment as found in The Strategic Review, Holmes Basic, and the MM (1977) is fine too if a bit limited as an expression of basically the same concept. I’m getting into three-point alignment. I recently read Three Hearts and Three Lions (1953) by Poul Anderson which has given me a new understanding of what 3-point alignment as a setting element is meant to represent in both Chainmail (1971) and OD&amp;D (1974). In that novel, [SPOILER]the realm of civilized humanity which is aligned with Law is surrounded by various human and non-human forces of Chaos that seek its destruction. The main character is a legendary paladin and champion and defender of Law discovering his place in the world. The morality of medieval Christianity and Islam is very much a part of Law’s power to protect one against the magic of Chaos. For example, in one scene, the party while traveling has been setting up a perimeter of supernatural protections around its campsite to keep out the monsters of Chaos by which they are being pursued, and the main character’s impure (i.e. sexual) thoughts regarding one of his companions render the protections ineffective allowing a giant to break through into their camp.[/SPOILER]</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Hriston, post: 8927097, member: 6787503"] I’m partial to nine-point alignment because the 1E AD&D books (PHB and DMG) were a big part of my introduction to the game. I think five-point alignment as found in [I]The Strategic Review, [/I]Holmes Basic, and the MM (1977) is fine too if a bit limited as an expression of basically the same concept. I’m getting into three-point alignment. I recently read [I]Three Hearts and Three Lions [/I](1953) by Poul Anderson which has given me a new understanding of what 3-point alignment as a setting element is meant to represent in both [I]Chainmail [/I](1971) and OD&D (1974). In that novel, [SPOILER]the realm of civilized humanity which is aligned with Law is surrounded by various human and non-human forces of Chaos that seek its destruction. The main character is a legendary paladin and champion and defender of Law discovering his place in the world. The morality of medieval Christianity and Islam is very much a part of Law’s power to protect one against the magic of Chaos. For example, in one scene, the party while traveling has been setting up a perimeter of supernatural protections around its campsite to keep out the monsters of Chaos by which they are being pursued, and the main character’s impure (i.e. sexual) thoughts regarding one of his companions render the protections ineffective allowing a giant to break through into their camp.[/SPOILER] [/QUOTE]

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