Help acting lawful neutral [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help acting lawful neutral [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
1hitparry
10-24-06, 12:16 AM Hey all, I'm just hoping some people can help me out with my character. I currently play a lawful-neutral wizard (well he's supposed to be that anyway) who specializes in summoning monsters to fight along side him. My concern is that I'm not really acting in his alignment, which I wouldn't mind, except I've been trying to exercise my roleplaying ability.

Anyway, for the most part, he just does what he's interested in, which, for the most part, consists of seeking out new types of magic and then studying it (such as a old temples with magical structures, going to libraries in magical universities, or studying dead monsters). I was talking to a friend and he said Oro, my character, seems kind of neutral, since he just does whatever his whim tells him to do.

I'd like some help (maybe some examples) of how I could act more lawful.
extraordinarilyAverageJoe
10-24-06, 04:22 PM Well, first you should note that lawful behavior doesn't necessarily follow THE law, because this varies from place to place. Rather, he just believes in some standard of morality by which to live his life.

There are a few common archetypes which could be seen as lawful neutral, though I'm hardly authoritative and it is, to a certain extent, a matter of interpretation.

An example that may work well for your character is that pesky scientist character that seems to pop up in a lot of post world war 2 science fiction. You know, the ones who advance technology without ever thinking of the possible moral consequences of their actions. A decent example of this is Doc Brown from the Back to the Future series, specifically in number two, when he is horrified to concieve of anyone using his time machine for anything but intellectual discovery. He didn't build his time machine for good or evil, but to attempt to understand humanity.

Another example is the soldier character who believes wholly in the cause of the military, or the military itself, and follows orders and the rules of the military without question. A similar archetype is the law officer who looks purely at the law. From his point of view it doesn't matter whether you're a young child taking food to live or a hardened criminal breaking into a jeweler's; stealing is stealing. An example of the latter would be Javert from Les Miserables.

A lot of sci fi android/robot concepts are basically lawful neutral. In this case, however, the "law" is their programming, which they must follow despite any moral reservations. (Whether it makes sense that an android should have desires outside of his programming is beside the point.)

That's all I can think of at the moment, but I hope it was somewhat helpful.
shaynajassan
10-24-06, 09:07 PM There's lawful where you follow the rules laid down by others for whatever reason (you agreed with them, you're scared of getting in trouble, whatever)

And there's lawful where you follow your own code (basically, you are a law unto yourself).
For example, Batman is lawful because he is devoted to stopping crime, altough he often has to work outside of the law to accomplish this end.
Hazkali
10-26-06, 05:50 PM Some points to consider:

1) Lawful characters tend to follow routines. If the style of your campaign allows you to, describe your character doing the same thing every morning- perhaps going to the same place to prepare their spells, or getting up at the same time.

2) Lawful neutral characters tend to have a hard line, no exceptions ("Deontological", for those who want to know) moral code. Think of a few things that your character feels are absolutle moral rules. As he's neutral, try to make these neutral as well- something like never killing/striking a member of the Clergy, or always observing a particular day of the week/ month/ year(holy or secular)

3) Worship lawful/ lawful neutral deities. If your character is religious (although they don't have to be) have them worship St Cuthbert or Wee Jas. Personally I have never really understood the niche that Wee Jas fills, but my favourite god is St Cuthbert. Go around quoting passages of holy books and proclaiming to people you meet how there is only salvation through St Cuthbert and the Law, or something similar.

4) Wizards, especially those with an academic/research type background tend to be LN. Play this up by spending time on one subject at a time. Don't derail the party, but if your character is interested in studying the Columns of Life, when the party needs to move on to the Dungeon of No Hope, then have your character pull an all-nighter gleaning everything he can from them before everyone moves off, or perhaps inbetween adventures he always goes back to a particular project. Lawful characters don;t let things derial them

4.1) A subsiduary of the above, give your character a long-term goal. Whilst this is a general thing that most characters have, a Lawful character needs one even more. This way everything that yoru character does can be connected (again, without derailing a campaign) onto this final goal. It can be as mundane as amassing a good library or settling down to raise a family, to as exotic as raising the Dead God of Knowledge (the goal of the wizard in my campaign...perhaps another 30 or so levels to go!)

I hope his has helped and isn't too long!
Trydan
11-09-06, 08:45 AM If you want to make your character "lawful" in the sense of going by the "laws" of the land, try "permits"!

So, the situation is this... your character sees some NPC or PC casting a spell, and immediately objects, asking ...

"Hey? Do you have a permit to do that? I mean, you can't just cast that spell without a permit you know. It violates regulation 162(b) Para.4 of the Kingdom's Guidelines on the Use of the Archane in Semi-Urban Lands, I'll have you know!"

... and so on.

And, when some other PC challenges you you can whip out a prop that you've pre-prepared, entitled "SPELL-CASTING PERMIT #123075-412 <NAME OF CHARACTER> VALID UNTIL ..."

Or whatever.

Work with your DM on this one, and it can become a great hook for some new roleplaying adventures.
baltasar_basilius
11-09-06, 10:28 PM I was having the same difficulty considering my character's likes, dislikes, and attitudes while being lawful neutral. Then i remembered the old star trek episodes.

Have you ever watched an episode with spock? Very lawful guy. Everything is logical, clear, and precise with him. Spock makes his decisions without emotion, but reason. Whatever the facts tell him he believes and acts upon without regret. One episode he was sent back in time, and was told that he couldn't go back without being destroyed in the process. He just settled down and prepared for starting a new life in the past! (obviously he got back to the future, but i digress)

This may not suite you, but its just another example of what "lawful" would be.
Ty
11-10-06, 11:58 AM Lawful Neutral eh?

Think of any faceless government bueaucrat you have ever dealt with when you think that you should be treated special.

I always think of your typical IRS or DMV person as being lawful neutral when they are working. Everyone gets treated the same (or is supposed to) without regard for their circumstances, social status, income, etc. Laws and bueauracracy are there to maintain order. Order can't be maintained if some are treated more favorably than others.
Doomed_Penguin
11-11-06, 05:00 PM If you've ever watched the movie "Twelve Angry Men" (which I whole-heartedly suggest if you haven't) then there is one character, the one man who wears glasses, who is very lawful neutral. I also like the suggestion of spock, despite the fact that I find him insufferably unhuman.
1hitparry
11-11-06, 10:34 PM Thanks for all of your replies. I retired wizard since he had accomplished what he had wanted with the party and because he was really difficult for me to roleplay as.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
1hitparry 10-24-06, 12:16 AM	Hey all, I'm just hoping some people can help me out with my character. I currently play a lawful-neutral wizard (well he's supposed to be that anyway) who specializes in summoning monsters to fight along side him. My concern is that I'm not really acting in his alignment, which I wouldn't mind, except I've been trying to exercise my roleplaying ability. Anyway, for the most part, he just does what he's interested in, which, for the most part, consists of seeking out new types of magic and then studying it (such as a old temples with magical structures, going to libraries in magical universities, or studying dead monsters). I was talking to a friend and he said Oro, my character, seems kind of neutral, since he just does whatever his whim tells him to do. I'd like some help (maybe some examples) of how I could act more lawful.
extraordinarilyAverageJoe 10-24-06, 04:22 PM	Well, first you should note that lawful behavior doesn't necessarily follow THE law, because this varies from place to place. Rather, he just believes in some standard of morality by which to live his life. There are a few common archetypes which could be seen as lawful neutral, though I'm hardly authoritative and it is, to a certain extent, a matter of interpretation. An example that may work well for your character is that pesky scientist character that seems to pop up in a lot of post world war 2 science fiction. You know, the ones who advance technology without ever thinking of the possible moral consequences of their actions. A decent example of this is Doc Brown from the Back to the Future series, specifically in number two, when he is horrified to concieve of anyone using his time machine for anything but intellectual discovery. He didn't build his time machine for good or evil, but to attempt to understand humanity. Another example is the soldier character who believes wholly in the cause of the military, or the military itself, and follows orders and the rules of the military without question. A similar archetype is the law officer who looks purely at the law. From his point of view it doesn't matter whether you're a young child taking food to live or a hardened criminal breaking into a jeweler's; stealing is stealing. An example of the latter would be Javert from Les Miserables. A lot of sci fi android/robot concepts are basically lawful neutral. In this case, however, the "law" is their programming, which they must follow despite any moral reservations. (Whether it makes sense that an android should have desires outside of his programming is beside the point.) That's all I can think of at the moment, but I hope it was somewhat helpful.
shaynajassan 10-24-06, 09:07 PM	There's lawful where you follow the rules laid down by others for whatever reason (you agreed with them, you're scared of getting in trouble, whatever) And there's lawful where you follow your own code (basically, you are a law unto yourself). For example, Batman is lawful because he is devoted to stopping crime, altough he often has to work outside of the law to accomplish this end.
Hazkali 10-26-06, 05:50 PM	Some points to consider: 1) Lawful characters tend to follow routines. If the style of your campaign allows you to, describe your character doing the same thing every morning- perhaps going to the same place to prepare their spells, or getting up at the same time. 2) Lawful neutral characters tend to have a hard line, no exceptions ("Deontological", for those who want to know) moral code. Think of a few things that your character feels are absolutle moral rules. As he's neutral, try to make these neutral as well- something like never killing/striking a member of the Clergy, or always observing a particular day of the week/ month/ year(holy or secular) 3) Worship lawful/ lawful neutral deities. If your character is religious (although they don't have to be) have them worship St Cuthbert or Wee Jas. Personally I have never really understood the niche that Wee Jas fills, but my favourite god is St Cuthbert. Go around quoting passages of holy books and proclaiming to people you meet how there is only salvation through St Cuthbert and the Law, or something similar. 4) Wizards, especially those with an academic/research type background tend to be LN. Play this up by spending time on one subject at a time. Don't derail the party, but if your character is interested in studying the Columns of Life, when the party needs to move on to the Dungeon of No Hope, then have your character pull an all-nighter gleaning everything he can from them before everyone moves off, or perhaps inbetween adventures he always goes back to a particular project. Lawful characters don;t let things derial them 4.1) A subsiduary of the above, give your character a long-term goal. Whilst this is a general thing that most characters have, a Lawful character needs one even more. This way everything that yoru character does can be connected (again, without derailing a campaign) onto this final goal. It can be as mundane as amassing a good library or settling down to raise a family, to as exotic as raising the Dead God of Knowledge (the goal of the wizard in my campaign...perhaps another 30 or so levels to go!) I hope his has helped and isn't too long!
Trydan 11-09-06, 08:45 AM	If you want to make your character "lawful" in the sense of going by the "laws" of the land, try "permits"! So, the situation is this... your character sees some NPC or PC casting a spell, and immediately objects, asking ... "Hey? Do you have a permit to do that? I mean, you can't just cast that spell without a permit you know. It violates regulation 162(b) Para.4 of the Kingdom's Guidelines on the Use of the Archane in Semi-Urban Lands, I'll have you know!" ... and so on. And, when some other PC challenges you you can whip out a prop that you've pre-prepared, entitled "SPELL-CASTING PERMIT #123075-412 <NAME OF CHARACTER> VALID UNTIL ..." Or whatever. Work with your DM on this one, and it can become a great hook for some new roleplaying adventures.
baltasar_basilius 11-09-06, 10:28 PM	I was having the same difficulty considering my character's likes, dislikes, and attitudes while being lawful neutral. Then i remembered the old star trek episodes. Have you ever watched an episode with spock? Very lawful guy. Everything is logical, clear, and precise with him. Spock makes his decisions without emotion, but reason. Whatever the facts tell him he believes and acts upon without regret. One episode he was sent back in time, and was told that he couldn't go back without being destroyed in the process. He just settled down and prepared for starting a new life in the past! (obviously he got back to the future, but i digress) This may not suite you, but its just another example of what "lawful" would be.
Ty 11-10-06, 11:58 AM	Lawful Neutral eh? Think of any faceless government bueaucrat you have ever dealt with when you think that you should be treated special. I always think of your typical IRS or DMV person as being lawful neutral when they are working. Everyone gets treated the same (or is supposed to) without regard for their circumstances, social status, income, etc. Laws and bueauracracy are there to maintain order. Order can't be maintained if some are treated more favorably than others.
Doomed_Penguin 11-11-06, 05:00 PM	If you've ever watched the movie "Twelve Angry Men" (which I whole-heartedly suggest if you haven't) then there is one character, the one man who wears glasses, who is very lawful neutral. I also like the suggestion of spock, despite the fact that I find him insufferably unhuman.
1hitparry 11-11-06, 10:34 PM	Thanks for all of your replies. I retired wizard since he had accomplished what he had wanted with the party and because he was really difficult for me to roleplay as.