D&D 5E (2014) What if the only 4 alignments were NE, LN, CN and NG? (No true neutrals).

[Valetudo]

I dont use alignment anymore, except for monsters

 

[ppaladin123]

Arguments about how to classify batman would get 44.4% less fun.

 

[cbwjm]

If I was going to simplify alignment, I'd either use the 4e alignments of LG, G, Unaligned, E, CE; or I'd just do away with it, it doesn't seem to come up often in our games.

Actually, another option I would consider would be to the Palladium alignments which include a code of behaviour. The alignments in Palladium were some of the best things about the system.

 

[Gardens & Goblins]

Good -- Not So Good -- Really Pushing It -- Ok, That's Just Not Nice, At All, Mister -- Down Right Rude --Positively Naughty -- Bad

 

[schnee]

I dont use alignment anymore, except for monsters

Yeah, the only mechanical value is for Outsiders, so certain kinds of magic work on them.

Other than that it's a shorthand of an internal value system for role-playing. The only interaction other characters have with it is with RP.

 

[CydKnight]

What if there were no alignment labels and we let the characters simply act their conscience at that particular time and place? If we are mirroring real life to any degree, consider that those labeled good people have been known to do bad, even evil deeds forget mentioning actual thoughts. Conversely many who have been considered to be evil have done good. All this to say that I play alignments very loosely among the PCs in my games.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

My initial thought is: "Why?"

This. In order to discuss why this is a good idea or a bad one, we have to have some notion of what you're trying to accomplish.

 

[Particle_Man]

A curiosity about what the setting would be like, I suppose. The eliminationist version would be interesting to me just to see what kind game world could be built from it (daemons, guardinals, slaadi and modrons/inevitables as the main outsiders?).

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Those elements do not demand alignment systems. An alignment system is sufficient unto itself, whether or not they're RP only or have actual mechanical ramifications.

My "D&D" sims in Fantasy HERO had no real alignments- HERO has none- but did have Paladins, Devils, weapons that didn't work for certain beings or only against certain beings and circles of protection. How? By redefining how things worked within HERO's framework.

For instance, a Paladin would probably have a limitation of a Code of Honor and another that was a Sacred Vow. Violating the Code of Honor might only have political/RP consequences, or might manifest itself as losing the benefit of Contacts and having negative modifiers to Presence based checks. A Sacred Vow might be done similarly, or for real teeth, would be an operant precondition on all of the Paladin's "holy powers"- violate it, lose all your powers.

Yada, yada, yada...

 

[Particle_Man]

I think part of it is that so many monsters were invented during a 5 alignment system (LG, CG, N, LE, CE) that it would be interesting to see a campaign that doesn't have those particular monsters.

For one thing, many dragons (all the standard chromatic/metallic 10, for example) wouldn't exist. That puts a different spin on things.