What Alignment is Rorschach?

[Celebrim]

Unless, of course, the alignment system just fails to describe real or fictional personalities of reasonable complexity.

I don't think the alignment system was ever intended to describe personalities.

What in the quoted section made you think I was talking about personalities?

 

[Klaus]

I love the idea of "extremist neutrality." It reminds me of the "Unitarian Jihad"!

Back in 1e, True Neutral had very active proponents, Mordenkainen being one of the prime examples in Greyhawk. He could help or hinder the forces of Good, as long as the Balance is maintained in the end.

 

[Leatherhead]

Do you think maybe they tried to cram about 50 different dimensions of personality and moral code into one dimension? Could that be why nobody can ever agree whether Batman is chaotic or lawful?

My theory is that people are too focused on the extremes of Lav VS Chaos and Good VS Evil to notice the option of "Neutral."

It doesn't help that few seem to understand what neutral means. That, and some characters (Batman especially), have had their personalities rewritten several times over.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I don't think the alignment system was ever intended to describe personalities.

What in the quoted section made you think I was talking about personalities?

Maybe that's the issue. What is it for? What do alignments describe?
Behavior? Tendencies of behavior? How is either not defined by a characters personality?

Maybe that is looking at it wrong. Alignment is more like a team or a party. It is something you associate with yourself, but you don't necessarily agree with all of the teams or parties aspects. (And sometimes you are in a team or party despite there being another one better suited to you.)

 

[Nightson]

Alignment vs. Personality in 4e

Isn’t alignment just another part of your personality? Yes
and no.

Certain personality traits have moral weight, particularly
those that influence how you interact with others.
Cruelty and generosity can be considered personality
traits, but they’re also manifestations of your beliefs about
the importance and worth of other people. A character
who aspires to good might have a cruel streak, but if that
streak manifests too frequently or in extreme ways, it’s
hard to say he’s really upholding his moral ideals.

Other personality traits have no moral weight at all. A
fastidious and well-organized person can just as easily be
evil as good. An impulsive prankster can also be good or
evil. These quirks of personality are mostly unrelated to
alignment, but your alignment might affect the way your
personality translates into action. An evil prankster might
favor cruel practical jokes that cause personal harm and
damage property, while a good one would steer away from
such injurious acts.

 

[wingsandsword]

Chaotic Neutral. . .who thinks he's Lawful Good.

 

[WalterKovacs]

I am Chaotic Neutral.

Anyone that sees Lawful is merely applying a pattern.

Seriously though, one of things about the whole Rorschach test, and things related to it is that people do have a tendency to see patterns in everything, even stuff that doesn't actually have a pattern. So, Rorschach would seem lawful, but ultimately he isn't. He is a blank slate/rorschach test that is hard to pin down, but is useful to tell people about themselves by their reaction to him.

Ultimately though, I'd lean towards pegging him as chaotic. His methods are mostly reactionary. He reacts to problems and criminals ... he doesn't really do much to prevent crimes (at least from the limited extent we see), instead just punishing those responsible. He doesn't seem particularly interested in saving the city, only in punishing the guilty. He also criticizes things like prostitution and drug use without really doing anything to try to stop it. One thing to consider is Rorschach's journal and actions don't necessarily sync up perfectly. One perfect example is the ironic entry bemoaning how few of the masks are still active and sane, considering his own reputation as a loon.

 

[ppaladin123]

A fastidious and well-organized person can just as easily be
evil as good. An impulsive prankster can also be good or
evil.

I think this is yet another aspect of the law/chaos dimension that people latch onto.

fastidious/well-organized = lawful (ordered/organized, predictable, like clockwork)

impulsive/capricious = chaotic (random, whimsical, difficult to predict)

These are aspects of personality that when described offer a player or some other observer some sense of the behavior associated with a character. Since the alignment system is supposed to do the same (though with reference to moral code in particular) and has a related dimension (law/chaos) it is not surprising that that these personality traits became conflated with it.

 

[darkseraphim]

LN (E)

Lawful Neutral with Evil tendencies.

You can do wonders with tendencies.

 

[GSHamster]

Chaotic Evil.

Law vs. Chaos, Rorschach is not orderly or methodical at all. He doesn't really plan. He doesn't carry a weapon. There is no sense of order around him. He is a master improviser as he uses whatever is at hand to brilliant effect.

Second, at the end he is the only hero who does not choose the Greater Good. He chooses justice for the few over safety for the many, even though it costs him his life. This is the quintessential Chaotic choice.

On Good v. Evil. Rorschach is evil. I believe that good and evil are about means and ends. Rorschach chooses evil methods like murder and torture, even to those who pose no threat to him. Remember the story of the crook who wanted to be punished that Rorschach dropped down an elevator shaft. Thus I class him as evil, just like Ozymandias. Both of them chose evil means for a good end.

So Chaotic Evil. I think a lot of the ambivalence towards labelling Rorschach as CE comes not from Rorschach's description, but from our own attitude towards Chaotic Evil.

In a lot of ways we admire Rorschach. He was clearly the fan favorite at the showing I went to. He is the justice we secretly desire, retribution untainted by mercy, but the justice we are terrified of actually getting.

But Chaotic Evil is the alignment of the monsters, the ugly pyschopaths and murderers. The people we can't admit to admiring. If we as a community want to be "edgy", we drool over villains who have the intelligence and good taste to be Lawful Evil.

Rorschach is Chaotic Evil. He is also the most admirable character in Watchmen.

Other characters:

Nite Owl - Lawful Good
Silk Specter - Neutral Good
Ozymandias - Lawful Evil
Dr. Manhattan - Lawful Neutral
The Comedian - Neutral Evil