Arcane classes and alignments [Archive] - Wizards Community

Arcane classes and alignments [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
LarsenSan
08-14-05, 05:46 AM Some arcane core classes like the warlock have alignment restrictions, however, it doesn't say anything about turning to a forbidden alignment (like what happens to druids, paladins, monks...). So, my question is what will happen to my warlock if he becomes NG?
Starman IX
08-14-05, 06:57 AM The demon/devil he/his ancestor made eeevil pacts with throws a hissy fit and introduces him to the joys of having a pitchfork through his brain. Nah, probably nothing, just no more advancement until he gets back on the broad and crooked
runestar
08-14-05, 09:03 AM Nothing really. Despite the supposed alignment restrictions, the warlock's powers is theirs to keep. You can even play an exalted warlock without fear of any backlash.
Kavu Monarch
08-14-05, 09:11 AM I'd side with Starman on this one.

If you are required to be of a certain alignment in order to be part of a class, then you should have to stick to it. I wouldn't expect to see a Lawful Barbarian. Rage is too reckless, if somehow a Barbarian became Lawful then I'd rule that his Rage doesn't work.

I believe that if there are no specific rules written out, then the DM should make his own. Such as, for the warlock, he would still be able to use the Eldritch blast, but could no longer modify it until he became Chaotic again.

But this is just my :twocents:.

Kavu.
Particle_Man
08-14-05, 11:07 AM Nothing really. Despite the supposed alignment restrictions, the warlock's powers is theirs to keep. You can even play an exalted warlock without fear of any backlash.

So long as you are the type of Exalted that is Chaotic Good, you can play exalted while maintaining your class alignment restriction of Chaotic *or* Evil.
Leonidus
08-14-05, 11:35 PM I would say alignment restrictions like that, without a pre-specified 'what happens if I go good/evil/whatever' just say you can't advance. For one, it's not a religious association, like a paladin who needs an Atonement. There are a lot of similarities to the barbarian's loss, but on the other hand, the fact that it's both 'Any chaotic OR any evil' says to me that it's more about fulfilling base requirements, to attain the link to the ancestor's power, than about MAINTAINING an inner chaos like the barbarian.

So I'd say, no continued advancement, but no loss of power either. (The way I see it, the demons that granted this in the first place only care about power and the gaining of it. So to lock someone off from gaining FURTHER power, while retaining the taste they began with, would be one of the worst punishments of all.)
runestar
08-15-05, 12:36 AM So long as you are the type of Exalted that is Chaotic Good, you can play exalted while maintaining your class alignment restriction of Chaotic *or* Evil.

Yeah, that too. Or maybe you can revise the flavour to say that perhaps it is the taint of the fiend's powers that corrupts the warlock and causes him to act the way he does. If he could fight it off, he could perhaps emulate some of his good alignment. This would allow you to bypass the normal alignment restrictions. Or maybe create some alternate warlock that gains his powers from celestials instead.
slade_caizer
08-15-05, 01:43 AM I'd side with Starman on this one.

If you are required to be of a certain alignment in order to be part of a class, then you should have to stick to it. I wouldn't expect to see a Lawful Barbarian. Rage is too reckless, if somehow a Barbarian became Lawful then I'd rule that his Rage doesn't work.
Ironically the PHB agrees with you.

I believe that if there are no specific rules written out, then the DM should make his own. Such as, for the warlock, he would still be able to use the Eldritch blast, but could no longer modify it until he became Chaotic again.

But this is just my :twocents:.

Kavu.
I'd agree with not being able to gain any more levels of Warlock. I'd probably treat it about like Monk. Get your head straight, grab a nice atonement, and you're good to go.
Todd
08-15-05, 08:23 AM From the Warlock Faq by Rich Baker (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=405215).

Q: What does happen if a Warlock changes his alignment to a restricted alignment?

A: I think I'd treat it like the monk's alignment restriction. If you change alignment to something incompatible with warlock, you can't gain more levels in warlock, but you keep all your warlock abilities. (If you change it back again later, I suppose you could resume your advancement.)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LarsenSan 08-14-05, 05:46 AM	Some arcane core classes like the warlock have alignment restrictions, however, it doesn't say anything about turning to a forbidden alignment (like what happens to druids, paladins, monks...). So, my question is what will happen to my warlock if he becomes NG?
Starman IX 08-14-05, 06:57 AM	The demon/devil he/his ancestor made eeevil pacts with throws a hissy fit and introduces him to the joys of having a pitchfork through his brain. Nah, probably nothing, just no more advancement until he gets back on the broad and crooked
runestar 08-14-05, 09:03 AM	Nothing really. Despite the supposed alignment restrictions, the warlock's powers is theirs to keep. You can even play an exalted warlock without fear of any backlash.
Kavu Monarch 08-14-05, 09:11 AM	I'd side with Starman on this one. If you are required to be of a certain alignment in order to be part of a class, then you should have to stick to it. I wouldn't expect to see a Lawful Barbarian. Rage is too reckless, if somehow a Barbarian became Lawful then I'd rule that his Rage doesn't work. I believe that if there are no specific rules written out, then the DM should make his own. Such as, for the warlock, he would still be able to use the Eldritch blast, but could no longer modify it until he became Chaotic again. But this is just my :twocents:. Kavu.
Particle_Man 08-14-05, 11:07 AM	Nothing really. Despite the supposed alignment restrictions, the warlock's powers is theirs to keep. You can even play an exalted warlock without fear of any backlash. So long as you are the type of Exalted that is Chaotic Good, you can play exalted while maintaining your class alignment restriction of Chaotic or Evil.
Leonidus 08-14-05, 11:35 PM	I would say alignment restrictions like that, without a pre-specified 'what happens if I go good/evil/whatever' just say you can't advance. For one, it's not a religious association, like a paladin who needs an Atonement. There are a lot of similarities to the barbarian's loss, but on the other hand, the fact that it's both 'Any chaotic OR any evil' says to me that it's more about fulfilling base requirements, to attain the link to the ancestor's power, than about MAINTAINING an inner chaos like the barbarian. So I'd say, no continued advancement, but no loss of power either. (The way I see it, the demons that granted this in the first place only care about power and the gaining of it. So to lock someone off from gaining FURTHER power, while retaining the taste they began with, would be one of the worst punishments of all.)
runestar 08-15-05, 12:36 AM	So long as you are the type of Exalted that is Chaotic Good, you can play exalted while maintaining your class alignment restriction of Chaotic or Evil. Yeah, that too. Or maybe you can revise the flavour to say that perhaps it is the taint of the fiend's powers that corrupts the warlock and causes him to act the way he does. If he could fight it off, he could perhaps emulate some of his good alignment. This would allow you to bypass the normal alignment restrictions. Or maybe create some alternate warlock that gains his powers from celestials instead.
slade_caizer 08-15-05, 01:43 AM	I'd side with Starman on this one. If you are required to be of a certain alignment in order to be part of a class, then you should have to stick to it. I wouldn't expect to see a Lawful Barbarian. Rage is too reckless, if somehow a Barbarian became Lawful then I'd rule that his Rage doesn't work. Ironically the PHB agrees with you. I believe that if there are no specific rules written out, then the DM should make his own. Such as, for the warlock, he would still be able to use the Eldritch blast, but could no longer modify it until he became Chaotic again. But this is just my :twocents:. Kavu. I'd agree with not being able to gain any more levels of Warlock. I'd probably treat it about like Monk. Get your head straight, grab a nice atonement, and you're good to go.
Todd 08-15-05, 08:23 AM	From the Warlock Faq by Rich Baker (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=405215). Q: What does happen if a Warlock changes his alignment to a restricted alignment? A: I think I'd treat it like the monk's alignment restriction. If you change alignment to something incompatible with warlock, you can't gain more levels in warlock, but you keep all your warlock abilities. (If you change it back again later, I suppose you could resume your advancement.)