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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GM_Brad" data-source="post: 2143066" data-attributes="member: 24760">Reading through this thread, I see all the reasons why I've ditched the whole alignment systems in the vast majority of the games I run.  As far as I'm concerned, and as far as I can tell, it's never been missed.  When I play in games that require an alignment, I tend to pull the "I'm neutral" trick myself; not because I want to get away with commiting evil acts, but because often there are serious misunderstandings amongst the group as a whole, and particularly between the GM and the PCs, as to what the various alignments mean and require.  I've been in games where players are genuinely doing what they believe is good, but are punished (I can't think of any other word that fits) by the GM because he has a different view.  Usually, this difference rests on a technicality or slight semantical twist.  How frustrating.  Someone used the word "straightjacket" to describe the in-game effect, and they are dead on.  Playing neutral characters, when I'd rather be playing "good" ones, is a defense mechanism for me, brought on by too many bad experiences in the past.  In the case of the player in the original post, by the alignment system, he has definitely left true neutral behind...far, far behind.  If it's getting in the way of the game, I'd have a conversation with him, however non-productive that might be.  After that, when you've made your position clear, feel free to attack the problem in-game.  At least you've given him a head's up that things are about to change.  If you did this without a warning, it'd be like you were ambushing him, since he's been playing this way for some time and all had seemed well up to that point.  Good luck!</blockquote>

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