Alignment Problems [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alignment Problems [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The_Epic_Paladin
02-22-04, 06:05 PM In a campaign I’m in I have a Moon Elf Ranger/Fighter/Dark Wood Stalker. When he was young his older brother was killed by orcs. Ever since then he has held a deep hatred for orcs, hence the Dark Wood Stalker levels. He is not stupid with his hatred but he is more than willing to fight an orc with little to no provocation and kill if situation permits. To any other race he is a nice person and is more than helpful. He is NG but a member of the party says that his hatred of a race and want to kill them makes him more of a neutral alignment. I think that his hatred is justified by the killing of his brother and his attitude around other races makes him good. Opinions?
TheBlackBart
02-22-04, 07:24 PM You are right. Hating something does not automatically evil.

This isn't Star Wars. You wont fall into the Dark Side just because of your feelings.

Yet, hate is a step towards that fate. If you let your hate blind you, you could become less and less good, and become neutral. Maybe even Evil, eventually.
Hubbs
02-22-04, 10:41 PM It depends.

Is every orc played as being inherently evil fodder? A recent issue of Dragon -- from the last year or so -- proposed that drow <b>are</b>. So orc could be. If so, then its about as alignment-threatening as, say, getting rid of roaches.

On the other hand, the DM could throw a neutral or even good orc at you, and then problems could arise. What if the orc has worked toward a good standing amongst the local villagers, and you just knifed their butcher? Or, for a more appropriate sense of irony, he has a brother and comes looking for you and every elf he comes across?

Lets also point out that as a ranger, a wisdom score should be a mid- to high-count score. That makes them a little more clear-headed than the barbarian with a greataxe that doesn't mind who he slaughters. Rangers, no matter their favored enemies, should still be cautious how they mete out their own form of justice and what-have-you.
Bromabaz Silvertwister
02-23-04, 02:52 AM Originally posted by The_Epic_Paladin
In a campaign I’m in I have a Moon Elf Ranger/Fighter/Dark Wood Stalker. When he was young his older brother was killed by orcs. Ever since then he has held a deep hatred for orcs, hence the Dark Wood Stalker levels. He is not stupid with his hatred but he is more than willing to fight an orc with little to no provocation and kill if situation permits. To any other race he is a nice person and is more than helpful. He is NG but a member of the party says that his hatred of a race and want to kill them makes him more of a neutral alignment. I think that his hatred is justified by the killing of his brother and his attitude around other races makes him good. Opinions?

I hate to tell you this, but that player.... well...

He's Captain Kirk.

Sorry.:(
Galethorn
02-28-04, 12:34 PM Kirk's son was killed, not his brother. And it's not like he opely attacked any orc...err...klingon...that he came across, he just didn't trust them.

And don't think I'm a star trek nerd, it's just that a few days ago they were playing one of the movies on TV, and there was nothing else to watch.
Ahnehnois
02-28-04, 04:26 PM Killing orcs isn't necessarily going to make you evil, but it's certainly a step in that direction. But then treating other people "nicely" does not make you good. To be good you need to really be good, to put other (non orcs) ahead of yourself, to not lie and cheat and that sort of thing. Are you sure your character is really that good, or is he just a normal, decent person (which is not good)?
Bromabaz Silvertwister
02-29-04, 12:51 AM Originally posted by Galethorn
Kirk's son was killed, not his brother. And it's not like he opely attacked any orc...err...klingon...that he came across, he just didn't trust them.

And don't think I'm a star trek nerd, it's just that a few days ago they were playing one of the movies on TV, and there was nothing else to watch.

(pats back) I believe you...
:rolleyes: ;)

I meant his mindset was that of captian kirk. That he hated the lot of them for killing a family member, and that it doesn't make him evil.

It makes him a Ranger.
:smirk:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The_Epic_Paladin 02-22-04, 06:05 PM	In a campaign I’m in I have a Moon Elf Ranger/Fighter/Dark Wood Stalker. When he was young his older brother was killed by orcs. Ever since then he has held a deep hatred for orcs, hence the Dark Wood Stalker levels. He is not stupid with his hatred but he is more than willing to fight an orc with little to no provocation and kill if situation permits. To any other race he is a nice person and is more than helpful. He is NG but a member of the party says that his hatred of a race and want to kill them makes him more of a neutral alignment. I think that his hatred is justified by the killing of his brother and his attitude around other races makes him good. Opinions?
TheBlackBart 02-22-04, 07:24 PM	You are right. Hating something does not automatically evil. This isn't Star Wars. You wont fall into the Dark Side just because of your feelings. Yet, hate is a step towards that fate. If you let your hate blind you, you could become less and less good, and become neutral. Maybe even Evil, eventually.
Hubbs 02-22-04, 10:41 PM	It depends. Is every orc played as being inherently evil fodder? A recent issue of Dragon -- from the last year or so -- proposed that drow <b>are</b>. So orc could be. If so, then its about as alignment-threatening as, say, getting rid of roaches. On the other hand, the DM could throw a neutral or even good orc at you, and then problems could arise. What if the orc has worked toward a good standing amongst the local villagers, and you just knifed their butcher? Or, for a more appropriate sense of irony, he has a brother and comes looking for you and every elf he comes across? Lets also point out that as a ranger, a wisdom score should be a mid- to high-count score. That makes them a little more clear-headed than the barbarian with a greataxe that doesn't mind who he slaughters. Rangers, no matter their favored enemies, should still be cautious how they mete out their own form of justice and what-have-you.
Bromabaz Silvertwister 02-23-04, 02:52 AM	Originally posted by The_Epic_Paladin In a campaign I’m in I have a Moon Elf Ranger/Fighter/Dark Wood Stalker. When he was young his older brother was killed by orcs. Ever since then he has held a deep hatred for orcs, hence the Dark Wood Stalker levels. He is not stupid with his hatred but he is more than willing to fight an orc with little to no provocation and kill if situation permits. To any other race he is a nice person and is more than helpful. He is NG but a member of the party says that his hatred of a race and want to kill them makes him more of a neutral alignment. I think that his hatred is justified by the killing of his brother and his attitude around other races makes him good. Opinions? I hate to tell you this, but that player.... well... He's Captain Kirk. Sorry.:(
Galethorn 02-28-04, 12:34 PM	Kirk's son was killed, not his brother. And it's not like he opely attacked any orc...err...klingon...that he came across, he just didn't trust them. And don't think I'm a star trek nerd, it's just that a few days ago they were playing one of the movies on TV, and there was nothing else to watch.
Ahnehnois 02-28-04, 04:26 PM	Killing orcs isn't necessarily going to make you evil, but it's certainly a step in that direction. But then treating other people "nicely" does not make you good. To be good you need to really be good, to put other (non orcs) ahead of yourself, to not lie and cheat and that sort of thing. Are you sure your character is really that good, or is he just a normal, decent person (which is not good)?
Bromabaz Silvertwister 02-29-04, 12:51 AM	Originally posted by Galethorn Kirk's son was killed, not his brother. And it's not like he opely attacked any orc...err...klingon...that he came across, he just didn't trust them. And don't think I'm a star trek nerd, it's just that a few days ago they were playing one of the movies on TV, and there was nothing else to watch. (pats back) I believe you... :rolleyes: ;) I meant his mindset was that of captian kirk. That he hated the lot of them for killing a family member, and that it doesn't make him evil. It makes him a Ranger. :smirk: