D&D General Which edition handled alignment best?

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

It can help with role playing monsters, but not much beyond that.

I'd argue the only monsters it "helps" with roleplay is Demons and Devils. Those are the only monsters that are so reliant on their alignments that it actually matters to how they act. For most other monsters, like Hags or Ogres, their motivations and personalities are more complex and alignment is detrimental if anything.

 

[Maxperson]

This topic is perfect for arguments, combining alignment and edition war.

I don't really see alignment as adding much to the game. Often times it's just a constraint and an arbitrary distinction that doesn't work in real life, which I try to emulate. It can help with role playing monsters, but not much beyond that.

I don't require my players to even use it. They are capable of coming up with and roleplaying some fairly realistic personalities for their PCs. They still like to write down the two letters on their character sheets, though.

Where alignment really shines is on my side of the screen. It gives me a quick way to get a grasp of approximately how minor NPCs and monsters will behave when roleplayed with. I'm not going to give minor NPCs and monsters complex personalities like the more important ones receive.

I find alignment to be invaluable as an aid to DMing, and newer players also typically find it to be helpful as an RP aid.

 

[Nikosandros]

This topic is perfect for arguments, combining alignment and edition war.

I don't really see alignment as adding much to the game. Often times it's just a constraint and an arbitrary distinction that doesn't work in real life, which I try to emulate. It can help with role playing monsters, but not much beyond that.

I certainly agree that alignment is completely useless to simulate anything in real life. I also think that there are RPGs where I'm interested in some kind of simulation or real life. AD&D, for me, is not such a game.

 

[Mind of tempest]

looking at this from the other direction what if rather than making 'law' sound worse you made chaos sound better, if chaos was instead called 'liberty' or similar, 'law vs liberty' presents a duality which is much clearer to see the benefits of both sides.

or better yet they each use the nice one for themselves and the bad one for their foe?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

This topic is perfect for arguments, combining alignment and edition war.

 

[Aldarc]

looking at this from the other direction what if rather than making 'law' sound worse you made chaos sound better, if chaos was instead called 'liberty' or similar, 'law vs liberty' presents a duality which is much clearer to see the benefits of both sides.

Order vs. Freedom?

 

[CreamCloud0]

Order vs. Freedom?

i think i'd split the difference and go with Order VS Liberty,

 

[jgsugden]

My approach since AD&D has been - ignore alignment. Outside of a few mechanics that connect to alignment I have ignored the concept entirely. This is essentially where we've gone in modern editions. There is no need to 'bucket' individuals into 9 categories.

 

[Minigiant]

I'd argue the only monsters it "helps" with roleplay is Demons and Devils. Those are the only monsters that are so reliant on their alignments that it actually matters to how they act. For most other monsters, like Hags or Ogres, their motivations and personalities are more complex and alignment is detrimental if anything.

I agree.

Really only the alignment-brained extraplanar outsiders are very attuned to an alignment t long enough for it to matter. Mortals and "demimortals" are too nuanced for alignment.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Order vs. Freedom?

stasis verse freedom or stagnacy.