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Message: <blockquote data-quote="shadow" data-source="post: 5078518" data-attributes="member: 2182">The heavens declare the glory of God;       the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Psalm 19:1 (NIV)The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference. - Richard Dawkins "Out of Eden"While working on a world building for a D&D setting, I started thinking about the concept of morality as it relates to a heroic fantasy game like D&D.  Are the characters in the setting fighting for what is objectively right, or is right simply defined by what the characters desire?Most religions assume that there is some type of morality built into the universe.  In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam this morality comes from God the creator.  While Hinduism isn't monotheistic, it teaches that there is a universal law of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rta" target="_blank">rta</a> that exists in the universe.When it comes to fantasy settings, it seems like most "high fantasy" settings definitely go for an objective moral order.  Right is very clearly defined and objective.  This is not to say that characters have to be perfect, but you definitely see an objective morality that comes from God, a religion, or simply a higher law.For example, in Narnia, good and evil are not just subjective words, but real forces with Aslan (a metaphor for Christ) being the source of good.While The Lord of the Rings don't have the obviously religious references of Narnia, there is a clear moral order to the story. (In the Simarillion, however, there is a clear religious element.)Toward the other end of the spectrum, there is "sword and sorcery".  In this genre, moral focus is generally not the focus of the story.  Instead, the focus is on the action.  Of course, the characters don't always have to be completely amoral, but most of the time questions of whether the characters are "on the side of right" are left out.For example, Conan stories generally leave out the question of what is right and wrong and focus on Conan's exploits.To the extreme end of the spectrum are "postmodern fantasy" that assumes a fairly nihilistic outlook on morality.  The lines of hero and villain are blurred, and there is really no way that right and wrong can be objectively defined.When building a setting do you think of such things?  Are there objective moral standards in your setting?  What is the source of such standards?  Do you incorporate moral themes in your setting as a DM?  Do your players get into moral themes, or are they more interested only in the action? (Or do the players use the game as a form of escapism and play completely amoral character?)  If you do incorporate moral themes into your setting, how do you do so without "being heavy handed and preachy"?I would like to hear your perspectives on this issue.</blockquote>

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