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<blockquote data-quote="Maxperson" data-source="post: 9625091" data-attributes="member: 23751">Only if misused, though.&nbsp; From 3e on alignment has not been a straightjacket like that.3e: &quot;Alignment is a tool for developing your character’s identity. It is not a straitjacket for restricting your character. Each alignment represents a broad range of personality types or personal philosophies, so two lawful good characters can still be quite different from each other. In addition, few people are completely consistent. A lawful good character may have a greedy streak that occasionally tempts him to take something or hoard something he has even if that’s not lawful or good behavior. People are also not consistent from day to day. A good character can lose his temper, a neutral character can be inspired to perform a noble act, and so on.&quot;4e: &quot;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.&quot;5e: &quot;These brief summaries of the nine alignments describe the typical behavior of a creature with that alignment. Individuals might vary significantly from that typical behavior, and few people are perfectly and consistently faithful to the precepts of their alignment.&quot;Heck, even in 1e Gygax had creatures and people with X alignment, but Y alignment tendencies, so it wasn't even a straightjacket back then.&nbsp; It was just that AD&amp;D penalties for changing alignment and DM interpretation of when things went too far caused people to stay in the lane and not really deviate.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Maxperson, post: 9625091, member: 23751"] Only if misused, though. From 3e on alignment has not been a straightjacket like that. 3e: "Alignment is a tool for developing your character’s identity. I[B]t is not a straitjacket for restricting your character[/B]. Each alignment represents a broad range of personality types or personal philosophies, so two lawful good characters can still be quite different from each other. [B]In addition, few people are completely consistent. A lawful good character may have a greedy streak that occasionally tempts him to take something or hoard something he has even if that’s not lawful or good behavior. People are also not consistent from day to day. A good character can lose his temper, a neutral character can be inspired to perform a noble act, and so on[/B]." 4e: "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. [B]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.[/B]" 5e: "These brief summaries of the nine alignments describe the typical behavior of a creature with that alignment.[B] Individuals might vary significantly from that typical behavior, and few people are perfectly and consistently faithful to the precepts of their alignment[/B]." Heck, even in 1e Gygax had creatures and people with X alignment, but Y alignment tendencies, so it wasn't even a straightjacket back then. It was just that AD&D penalties for changing alignment and DM interpretation of when things went too far caused people to stay in the lane and not really deviate. [/QUOTE]

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