D&D General Why do people like Alignment?

[kermit4karate]

I've co-authored a lot of papers. That doesn't require a "leader".

Noted. That's a good one. Maybe it's a trend that'll catch on.

 

[kermit4karate]

Why is so binary and extreme? A DM can be the the one making the final decision while still running a cooperative game. No tyranny in sight.

No way! It's better to mischaracterize everyone's positions in extremes. More fun that way.

 

[Scribe]

I think music bands and most creative production do have a less strict hierarchy. Like in some of those groups the Leadership is a collective, and we have the word tyrant for a reason.

And there's plenty of shared group leadership in Video Games development. Most importantly they are small groups creating a creative endeavour.

Anything of great enough scale, anything commercial, is going to have leadership, and a hierarchy.

Yes, you can small teams create something truly collaborative, but well, there is almost always a lead, a song writer, the face, the manager, whatever you want to call it, that says 'this is the direction we are going' and then you either buy in, and contribute, or you leave.

 

[GobHag]

Anything of great enough scale, anything commercial, is going to have leadership, and a hierarchy.

Yes, you can small teams create something truly collaborative, but well, there is almost always a lead, a song writer, the face, the manager, whatever you want to call it, that says 'this is the direction we are going' and then you either buy in, and contribute, or you leave.

And is a ROleplaying something of a great scale?

Yeah, you contribute but the leader isn't infallible and neither is that direction something that only those who agree and create it have a say in.

 

[Scribe]

And is a ROleplaying something of a great scale?

Considering the game which gets the lions share of attention, the one this thread started being about?

That has game directors, art directors, lead writers, VPs, and managers?

 

[Clint_L]

It is cooperative. But since the DM is the one providing the campaign they can choose who to share it with.

Again, that seems to be your experience, but it is not a universal truth.

Case in point, D&D Club at my school is open to all, and I cannot deny kids the right to play unless they are breaking school rules.

In my home game, I am the DM, but the story is built in cooperation with the players. Their backstories are the basis of the major story arcs, and I bend the world to allow for their character ideas. Nothing is set in stone. If a player wants to play a concept that requires significant changes, we find a way to make it work. They also add story details and description if they want.

Aside from being a contrived way to build a character, alignment also tends to ask the DM to act as a sort of morality police, especially as it was traditionally conceived. That style of storytelling is not for me. D&D functions absolutely fine without alignment - better, IMO - but I'm glad it's there for those who like it.

As I originally posted, one of my current players at home is kind of old school about it and uses it for his paladin. That's his choice, so I just roll with it. In my beginner campaigns, I just tell the students not to worry about that box on DDB, and the game proceeds without any significant difference. You have to tweak a few spells. Alignment really is vestigial in the current rules.

Edit: oh, and many folks have mentioned that they love it as an aspect of setting - games set in a grand conflict between alignment factions, Planescape, etc. Again, not my jam, but so what? Others love it and that makes it good.

 

[GobHag]

Considering the game which gets the lions share of attention, the one this thread started being about?

That has game directors, art directors, lead writers, VPs, and managers?

Well I don't need directors and lead writers in my table so.....

 

[Scribe]

Well I don't need directors and lead writers in my table so.....

No of course not, I don't either, but when I DM, I'm the final word, just as my friend is when he DMs.

Such is how the world works.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

I had a fellow player insist his Paladin taking on an assassination contract without even bothering to check if the target was guilty and then lying to try to get a double payday was Lawful Good.

He also had them justify slavery for personal gain.

In the same session.

He is no longer in the group.

Good. Sustained bad-faith player behavior should get no more (nor less) respect than bad-faith GM behavior.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Interesting. What is this social contract you speak of?? I was under the impression that oppressive DMs were zip-tying people to dining room chairs, sticking pencils in their mouth and forcing them to play the f*$@#% game or else!!!

It would seem inaccurate caricature is not exclusive to those who are critical of classic gameplay styles.