Behavioral Alignment [Archive] - Wizards Community

Behavioral Alignment [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
meatpuppet
12-12-05, 10:54 AM Hi y'all :D

Havent bought Heroes of horror yet...

In the excerpts somewhere, "the behavioral Alignment variant" is mentionned.

I'am intrigued, could someone who as access to HoH give me just a bit of info on this variant.

Is it a new approach to alignment? Is it taint related?

Thanx in advance
meatpuppet
12-14-05, 10:30 AM :bump:

Pretty please? (it's on page 76 of Heroes of Horror)
Draco Strang
12-14-05, 11:49 PM Behavioral alignment is basically when you let your actions dictate your character's alignment, instead of vice-versa. Eberron is a good example of this. That's why you see good red dragons, evil gold dragons, and neutral vampires in that setting. What you do determines who you are.

The system requires a little thought when dealing with alignment based spells like Detect Evil, and alignment requirements for PrCs and core classes.

If you're a player, how to roll with it is notice the decisions you make as you play your character, and you'll see that he's shifting towards law, chaos, good, evil, or neutrality (or a mixture of them).

Simple in theory, tough in practice, but worth it.
Seeker95
12-15-05, 08:49 AM Based on Draco's description, that's exactly what alignment is already. While most people treat their alignment like a straight-jacket, the rules as written treat it as a measuring stick. You act X? You are aligned X. Even if you wrote Y on your Character Sheet.
Draco Strang
12-15-05, 08:58 AM Based on Draco's description, that's exactly what alignment is already. While most people treat their alignment like a straight-jacket, the rules as written treat it as a measuring stick. You act X? You are aligned X. Even if you wrote Y on your Character Sheet.
This is true, but I feel that by and large, the D&D community as a whole lets alignment dictate action, and not vice-versa. That's why I explained it this way.

How many times have you seen a thread that has something like "You're Lawful Neutral, you can't do that!"?
meatpuppet
12-15-05, 09:46 AM Thanks for your replies :)

I thought this variant would be something like this.

And I agree with you, Alignment should always be Behavioral not the other way around...
Gilean
12-15-05, 12:56 PM Based on Draco's description, that's exactly what alignment is already. While most people treat their alignment like a straight-jacket, the rules as written treat it as a measuring stick. You act X? You are aligned X. Even if you wrote Y on your Character Sheet.Alignment is how you see the world. It guides thoughts and, thus, actions.
The confusion comes from changing alignment when someone acts in unacceptable, to the new alignment, way. This means that the character is already of different alignment, the change is merely recognising it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
meatpuppet 12-12-05, 10:54 AM	Hi y'all :D Havent bought Heroes of horror yet... In the excerpts somewhere, "the behavioral Alignment variant" is mentionned. I'am intrigued, could someone who as access to HoH give me just a bit of info on this variant. Is it a new approach to alignment? Is it taint related? Thanx in advance
meatpuppet 12-14-05, 10:30 AM	:bump: Pretty please? (it's on page 76 of Heroes of Horror)
Draco Strang 12-14-05, 11:49 PM	Behavioral alignment is basically when you let your actions dictate your character's alignment, instead of vice-versa. Eberron is a good example of this. That's why you see good red dragons, evil gold dragons, and neutral vampires in that setting. What you do determines who you are. The system requires a little thought when dealing with alignment based spells like Detect Evil, and alignment requirements for PrCs and core classes. If you're a player, how to roll with it is notice the decisions you make as you play your character, and you'll see that he's shifting towards law, chaos, good, evil, or neutrality (or a mixture of them). Simple in theory, tough in practice, but worth it.
Seeker95 12-15-05, 08:49 AM	Based on Draco's description, that's exactly what alignment is already. While most people treat their alignment like a straight-jacket, the rules as written treat it as a measuring stick. You act X? You are aligned X. Even if you wrote Y on your Character Sheet.
Draco Strang 12-15-05, 08:58 AM	Based on Draco's description, that's exactly what alignment is already. While most people treat their alignment like a straight-jacket, the rules as written treat it as a measuring stick. You act X? You are aligned X. Even if you wrote Y on your Character Sheet. This is true, but I feel that by and large, the D&D community as a whole lets alignment dictate action, and not vice-versa. That's why I explained it this way. How many times have you seen a thread that has something like "You're Lawful Neutral, you can't do that!"?
meatpuppet 12-15-05, 09:46 AM	Thanks for your replies :) I thought this variant would be something like this. And I agree with you, Alignment should always be Behavioral not the other way around...
Gilean 12-15-05, 12:56 PM	Based on Draco's description, that's exactly what alignment is already. While most people treat their alignment like a straight-jacket, the rules as written treat it as a measuring stick. You act X? You are aligned X. Even if you wrote Y on your Character Sheet.Alignment is how you see the world. It guides thoughts and, thus, actions. The confusion comes from changing alignment when someone acts in unacceptable, to the new alignment, way. This means that the character is already of different alignment, the change is merely recognising it.