The Alignment Game

[WD40]

Thought I'd try this..

Alignment is still the cause of some of the biggest arguments and best discussions in D&D... so I've thought of making a game about it... Combining a whole bunch of threads like this: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=166771 Into one happy single thread...

Quite simply, I say the name of a pop culture figure, Superman, for example, and the person below me gives his interpretation of that characters Alignment, and reasoning why.

After that, the poster pops down a new figure for the next person to analyze...

Of course, critiques and discussions over previous posts are accepted, infact, encouraged...

Superman is, of course, Lawful Good.

But what about Batman?

 

[SteelDraco]

Superman is, of course, Lawful Good.

But what about Batman?

Also LG, just not exalted about it. Some interpretations might have been NG or LN, but for the most part, he's LG.

Conan the Barbarian.

 

[moritheil]

It's important to note that the very definitions of alignments have shifted with different editions, and DMs/players accustomed to thinking of an alignment one way often get a bad taste in their mouth when a new definition rolls out. For example, the original CN was an alignment for madmen; the new CN is more of a free spirit.

In the Batman example above, some argue that Batman's vigilantism and operating outside the bounds of the law make him not lawful; others argue that his inherently ordered approach to problems means he is lawful even if he is not always on the right side of the law. There is also the difference between the feel-good and grim-and-gritty versions of Batman.

In the Conan example above, CN is the most likely answer, but which Conan is involved? A heavily censored and kid-safe Conan might arguably be CG because of his preoccupation with slaying/overthrowing tyrants . . .

Bugs Bunny.

 

[STARP_Social_Officer]

Bug's Bunny is absolutely Chaotic Neutral. He basically does whatever he likes. It'd be easy to think he was Good, but consider: He never attacks first - he only ever retaliates. And when he does, he uses extreme force to do so. A Good character would stop when he's made his point. Bugs just keeps on going. He's the classic example of CN, if you ask me. And you did.

OK. Try this one:
Homer Simpson.

 

[Satori]

Neutral.

He's too stupid to actually pick an alignment.

He's too random to be lawful.

He's to predictable to be chaotic.

If it weren't for Marge, he'd be arrested by now.

Ok, how about...

Garfield

 

[AnonymousOne]

Chaotic Neutral.

Perfect representative of Olidamara.

Deadpool?

 

[Clavis]

Also LG (Batman), just not exalted about it. Some interpretations might have been NG or LN, but for the most part, he's LG.

Conan the Barbarian.

I am currently reading the original REH Conan stories, and I would say True Neutral for Conan. At first CN seems right, but Conan ALWAYS keeps his word, once given. The moral standards of civilized men simply mean nothing to him. He is however, quite capable of organized action as part of a group, although he almost invariably ends up acting alone because he survives things that would kill civilized men.

 

[WD40]

Deadpool?

From what I've seen of him he seems to swing from CN, being a thorn in the side of people just for the hell/fun of it, to NG being a good guy because fundamentally, that's what he is...

Hmmmm....

Ryu, from Street Fighter.

 

[Drowbane]

Ryu, from Street Fighter.

Lawful Neutral. Strict code of honor. Is all about the fight and being the best. Unworthy opponents need not apply. If you follow the anime series he struggles with Evil tendencies later on.

Samus Aran

 

[robberbaron]

I am currently reading the original REH Conan stories, and I would say True Neutral for Conan. At first CN seems right, but Conan ALWAYS keeps his word, once given. The moral standards of civilized men simply mean nothing to him. He is however, quite capable of organized action as part of a group, although he almost invariably ends up acting alone because he survives things that would kill civilized men.

Definitely not TN, then. Keeping one's word requires getting off the fence.

He's more like Palladium's Aberrant. He has his own code and he sticks to it.

Much more difficult in D&D. Lawful 'cos he keeps his word but Chaotic 'cos he does his own thing. Good 'cos he doesn't kill innocents, Evil 'cos he kills everything else.
TN is the only one left but, IMO, doesn't exist as no-one can sit on the fence for a lifestyle, can they? They'd never get anything done.