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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Coldwyn" data-source="post: 5426175" data-attributes="member: 10041">@permetonI try to give you a coherent answer but I fear some things will get lost in translation. But here we go:I think there are cases when alignment should be a balancing factor. I also think that alignment is important when you use alignment-based mechanics as written. Later more on this.When gaming with my regular group, we don´t use alignments at all because we know each other well enough to also know the moral values and thought processes a bit. So we can all agree on which spells do what they should do and so on. When gaming with strangers, either on conventions or RPGA rounds, we use alignments as written right because of the same effects and use the stuff as written to have a coherent guideline.Ok, on alignment as a balancing factor:Thinking back at the AD&D Paladin, that really was a power-house. Full Fighter, added Spellcasting and Turning? Check. Good Stats if you rolled them? Check. Exp Bonus for High Stats? Inbuild. Sure that guy needed some counter-point.On BoED. It defined the concept of exalted along with very strict guidelines and bound to alignment. Note that it is purely optional and doesn´t supersede the normal alignment definitions. The Book also introduced an new type of feat, creativelly called exalted feats which needed a functioning exalted status to gain and use. These feats are pretty mighty and a bit out of whack compared to normal feats. The book states that it is damn hard and complicated to keep and stay exalted and that possibly a lot of dm feedback is involved. That´s the trade-off for power.I go on a small tangente here: If I offer you a chain of Feats about being possessed by a demon, gaining a good chunk of power but sharing controll of the character with the dm (or another player) who´s taking on the demon part of you (Think Wraith: The Oblivion)? Would that be acceptible, even a role-playing challenge for you?To go back: My guess is that the Paladin/Monk chose feats that combine the advancement of both classes, meaning that monk level raise paladin spellcasting while paladin levels raises unarmed damage and ac. That he rounded with exalted feats like vow of poverty, which gives you a whole <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />-load of boni (these boni do level up with you) when your character doesn´t own anything beside the clothes on his back and a holy symbol.So it´s a munchkins dream come true, attached to the cost of being exalted.Where now is the difference between playing a demon-possessed guy and a living saint when in both cases you trade character controll and freedom willingly for raw power?So, now on to two other things. I´m flipping through my 3,5 PHB and reread the alignment section on p.103 and nowhere does it say: The dm controls it. Rather its states here that chosing an alignment is stating an intent what one is trying to portrait and doesn´t have to be totally consistent or uniform.So I guess heavy-handed alignment management is a left-over from earlier editions which is still in the heads of some dms.</blockquote>

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