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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MonkeyBoy" data-source="post: 458668" data-attributes="member: 1229">In all cases I consider declaring yourself for one of the 4 axes of alignmentto be a declaration of "dogma"; you believe in the correctness of this axiom,and will argue for it, deny arguments against it, and if need be, fight for it.By extension, not declaring (i.e. being neutral on an axis) is a declaration ofNOT being dogmatic; you are therefore more likely to be persuaded on the subject,and to view individual situations on their merits, rather than apply your ownbeliefs to everything.I also use a system where (optionally) a character can be assigned a weak anda strong element to their alignment; for instance an lG character emphasises theGood over the Law in their alignment...As an aside; I do not consider "chaotic" cahracters to be anarchists. To my mind expecting tobe able to live to your own code of rules and yours alone is the ultimate in chaotic thought,lawfulness is a willingness to work within the constraints of the population's expectations, notjust your own. (think about it; if a monk can be lawful following their own personal code, whycan a paladin not be lawful following their own personal code?)LGHas a clear vision of what is good and right, is intollerant of those who willingly don't do what is good and right; will fight for what is good and right. Generally will see no distinction between "correct" and "good". Will face crises of concience if confronted with legitimate but malignant authority. (will, essentially, have to decide whether they are Lg or lG)NGProbably has a more instinctive view of what is good, and is somewhat less concerned with what is right. Inclined to clearly favour what they believe to be good above what others percieve to be right, but not totally beligerant about it. Will be more interested in general welfare of people than the LG character. (this is, in effect, bland-good or tractable good.)CGHas an even more instinctual view of good and evil thatn the NG. I usually define this alignment in terms of "do as you would be done by" - The CG character values other people's freedom and wellbeing because they also value their own. The CG character is unlikely to attempt to enforce their will on others. They may make effective leaders, but probably make reluctant rulers...LNObviously this is a belief in correctness, unfettered by a view on good or evil. It can be quite an apathetic alignment; a rulebook and a disinterest in the "goodness" of the rules therin could be used as an excuse not to consider your actions' consequences. In general this alignment is conformist, and expects others to be so. LN should be like LG, just without the moral outlook.NI always view this alignment as being 2 alignments in reality. First is the great balancing act; not too much of anything, otherwise it all goes wrong. Second is the disinterested "blank slate". I'll be honest; I find this alignment somewhat incomprehensible, and a bit dull.CNThis is the alignment I always get into arguments with players about. This alignment is centered about a wish to be free to express itself and to determine its own fate, unlike CG it is less fettered with a wish to allow others to do the same, so it is a little selfish. Essentially, given the choice between satisfying its own desires, or helping another to satisfy their needs, CG will generally choose the latter, because it is Good to do so. CN will have a bit more of a choice to make...LELE is the evil that doesn't want to get caught. (i.e. wants to at least appear to work within the confines fo society's expectations) LE is generally to be expected to use the rules of society simultaneously to facilitate, hide and defend its activities. LE can also be seen in the villain who goes about their deeds because they are denied their rights / due; a more driven and goal-oriented evil than the others.    NEAs planescape once mentioned; this is "Pure Evil", evil for its own sake. This is where I categorise sociopathic type villains; serial killers etc who do evil purely because of the satisfaction the acts alone give them. I also use this as "default evil" when there is no clear reason that something should be chaotic or lawful, but is clearly evil. Its also the alignment of being evil because the character    doesn't know any other way.CEThis is the alignment of the despot and tyrant. CE is actually quite like both CG and CN, except removing all consideration for the wellbeing or freedom of others. A CE character will readily sacrifice others for their own convenience, and will readily construct plans which openly involve loss or harm to others in the process of achieving their goal. CE also believes that might makes right, and a motivator for this alignment is the ability to express themselves in terms of their power over others.In contrast to LE, this power will need to be overt for the CE character to enjoy it.I'm reminded of a phrase from George Orwell's 1984 whenever I consider what CE is (or evil in general, but the simplistic view makes me think particularly of CE), to paraphrase;"The only way you can know you have power, is to use that power to oppress someone else"</blockquote>

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