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Message: <blockquote data-quote="shadow" data-source="post: 5079734" data-attributes="member: 2182">This really opens a can of worms.  We can really debate about the nature of heroism and morality, but let me explain where I'm coming from...I've been working on a homebrew on and off for several years.  It started as another "generic fantasy world" with little to distinguish it from Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk (except a lower magic level).  At that point I began to wonder to myself, "What's the point?  Why not just save myself the time and do Forgotten Realms?"  About that point I read C.S. Lewis' essay <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Abolition_of_Man" target="_blank">Abolition of Man</a>.  Essentially Lewis argues that by thoroughly "debunking" objective moral values, there is a danger of the majority being controlled by a small group of technocrats who are to mold people to their whims via social engineering and psychology.  Lewis' novel <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That_Hideous_Strength" target="_blank">That Hideous Strength</a> takes this argument and uses it as the basis of a sci-fi/fantasy story.This got me thinking - why should the evil darklord dress in black, laugh maniacally, and kill peasant for the mere sake of killing peasants?  Instead I started postulating a fantasy police state.  My "darklord" is a wizard (in a low magic setting) who has a cult of personality.  While no less evil than other darklords - he is very charismatic and well liked.  Instead of undead legions that terrorize the populace, he rules through propaganda and constant magical surveillance.  People who rebel or don't toe the party line simply "disappear", never to be seen again. (No need to let the public see or know about the unpleasant realities of death camps and a secret police force.)This is where you start really getting into a question of morality.  Since the said darklord rules through propaganda and a personality cult, he is really admired by many people in the setting.  He did, after all, bring peace to a war torn area (at the price of complete control).  Are you still a hero if most people of the setting oppose you?  Is heroism not doing what is right when no one else will support you?  If morality is simply subjective, what is to say going along with the status-quo is not the best thing to do?  After all, from a pure Darwinian standpoint, standing up for what right at the cost of your own life is foolish.If you are interested in further debate, I would suggest that you read C.S. Lewis' Abolition of Man for further insight.  Lewis is coming from a conservative and Christian viewpoint (although he admits that the natural law - or Tao - is found in all cultures), but I find it a very fascinating, if not slightly scary read.With all that said, this is an area where one needs to be careful when running a game.  Although I have a definite morality in my games, I have to be careful to keep it a game and not preach.  As I mentioned in a previous post, most players come to hang out for a few hours, not to participate in morality plays.</blockquote>

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