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Message: <blockquote data-quote="El Mahdi" data-source="post: 5248729" data-attributes="member: 59506">I've thought about this myself before. I think listing an alignment for every group, race, or individual one has or might encounter is just way too complicated. In fact, I don't really like alignment in the first place. It's just too subjective. What I have characters in my games do is think about their own characters instincts and priorities. Every creature has instincts, almost all concerning survival. I think our sense of Good and Evil comes directly from those instincts (although an argument could be made that they are all an extension of the "top" instinct: Self Survival). Every creature or person prioritizes them differently, but we all have instincts for: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Self Survival</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Familial Survival (Mate, Offspring)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Race/Species Survival</li> </ul>I believe that most creatures don't care about other creatures as long as they don't threaten any of the above (or they don't see the creature as food - in which case see "Self Survival"<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />). I'd find it easier to have a player define and prioritize those instincts for their character. Anything that threatens those instincts, is considered "Evil" by that character/creature. Otherwise, they're just neutral or good. I also believe that when these instincts get over-emphasized, out of balance, or out-of-control in a creature, that's when prejudice, bullying, discrimination, and in severe extremes: genocide, start to happen. (In a game sense only - in real life it's way more complicated than this, and something not meant for discussion on these boards.) Things like a characters group can easily be considered part of the "Family" unit of a character. Some with a strong instinct for Familial Survival can very easily suppress their Self Survival Instinct in order to protect or defend a Family/Group Member.  So I do something like this:  Assad El Mahdi ibn Al'aif, Half-Elf (Bedine Human/Wood Elf), 12th level Ranger (Forgotten Realms) <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Familial Survival<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Sabra Corrino (wife)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Wood Elf family and tribe and Anauroch Bedine family and tribe</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Group Companions - all except that Drow Rogue Taria, she's such a dastardly thief!</li> </ol></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Race/Species survival<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">All Wood Elves and Anauroch Bedines</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The Anouroch and the Border Forrest (by extension will defend the Dales, especially from the Zhentarim as that also helps protect the Border Forrest)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The World</li> </ol></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Self Survival (note: he would die for the above, a more selfish character may list Self Survival first - but not always...*)</li> </ol>Evil (kill on sight with no remorse or guilt)<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Any person or creature that threatens the above.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Zhentarim</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Drow (has made an exception - temporary exception - for Taria)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Spiders</li> </ul>After his Survival Priorities, considers Honor and Courtesy as paramount.  Also, considers theft for almost any reason as morally wrong, even from the above groups.  However, if survival for any of the listed groups was in question, he would steal - but with strong remorse and guilt.  (*not a moral qualifier - I'm not saying whether placing self-survival first or last is morally superior or deficient - it is what it is, a way to help define your character)</blockquote>

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