Dragon disciple and alignment [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragon disciple and alignment [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
gomeztoo
10-05-06, 03:48 AM According to the LGCS a dragon disciple cannot change alignment unless "something in the campaign forces a change".

I assume this means mostly due to curses/cursed items that change alignment or such, but I would like to knows if a traumatic experience in play might justify a change. (i.e. CG to CN, due to a wrong done to the character)
Otherwise, can you change alignment through campaign documentation, or do you actually have to experience a curse in play?

What if a player simply starts playing a different alignment?
paigeoliver
10-05-06, 07:06 AM There are a lot of different things that can happen in adventures that can force your alignment one step towards evil. Of course you can just change it right back usually, but if it forces you to evil your character is gone.

By the way I have usually found those things in modules to be the most absolute rediculous things I have ever encountered. Neutral characters, which are the ones more likely to be a bit less than goody-goody are instantly removed from play if they do one "evil" thing that the author wanted to force an alignment shift from.

Meanwhile, good characters who (by virtue of their alignment) shouldn't be committing evil deeds can do so all they want without fear of repurcussion.

I have probably seen the "One step towards evil, say goodbye to your formerly neutral character" in about a half dozen of the modules I have played.

As for how your character actually acts, I haven't ever encountered a DM who ever even questioned an action in relation to alignment that wasn't one of the aformentioned things that were written into the module.

Fact is that if Living Greyhawk characters were actually played according to their alignments then you would realistically have to walk away from a lot of modules, either due to lack of motivation, or because of moral reasons.
Sieylianna
10-05-06, 07:42 AM According to the LGCS a dragon disciple cannot change alignment unless "something in the campaign forces a change".

I assume this means mostly due to curses/cursed items that change alignment or such, but I would like to knows if a traumatic experience in play might justify a change. (i.e. CG to CN, due to a wrong done to the character)
Otherwise, can you change alignment through campaign documentation, or do you actually have to experience a curse in play?

What if a player simply starts playing a different alignment?

Playing a different alignment does not qualify. This was done to prevent gold half-dragon barbarians, chaotic neutral half-dragons and the like. Short of a curse or item which changes your alignment, it's never going to change.

Ed
gomeztoo
10-05-06, 11:58 AM The thing is though, it's a campaign rule, not a core rule, and it is weird in that you can't change at all - while for most core rules you can change alignment, but it means loosing abilities.
You'd expect there to be an escape clause.
Japangirl
10-06-06, 03:24 PM Fluff text wise (and thus a fairly meaningless argument, I know) it does make sense that a Dragon Disciple can't change alignment. Dragons of any color have the same alignment, and you basically take on aspects of one of those dragons. So the draconic aspect of you keeps your outlook on life the same as the dragon you have chosen to emulate and take into their lives.
gomeztoo
10-06-06, 03:52 PM Sure, but in the same vein, there have always been exceptions.
And PCs are generally considered exceptional (in fact, the rules explicitly leave that open as they can grant access to EVIL dragon disciples - iow, the rules allow for a LG red dragon disciple but I can't play a CN gold).
And what if, say, I decide to not longer act lawful a gold dragon disciple? A monk or paladin could be told that they don't play their alignment, and an alignment change can be enforced (with accompanying consequences) or a PC can be requited to atone.
But the gold dragon PC can't change at all, so he can't be punished for not playing his alignment either. You can at most dock him roleplaying xp, and that only goes so far (besides, for some people that is only an added bonus).
So as a player restriction, its just doesn't work.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
gomeztoo 10-05-06, 03:48 AM	According to the LGCS a dragon disciple cannot change alignment unless "something in the campaign forces a change". I assume this means mostly due to curses/cursed items that change alignment or such, but I would like to knows if a traumatic experience in play might justify a change. (i.e. CG to CN, due to a wrong done to the character) Otherwise, can you change alignment through campaign documentation, or do you actually have to experience a curse in play? What if a player simply starts playing a different alignment?
paigeoliver 10-05-06, 07:06 AM	There are a lot of different things that can happen in adventures that can force your alignment one step towards evil. Of course you can just change it right back usually, but if it forces you to evil your character is gone. By the way I have usually found those things in modules to be the most absolute rediculous things I have ever encountered. Neutral characters, which are the ones more likely to be a bit less than goody-goody are instantly removed from play if they do one "evil" thing that the author wanted to force an alignment shift from. Meanwhile, good characters who (by virtue of their alignment) shouldn't be committing evil deeds can do so all they want without fear of repurcussion. I have probably seen the "One step towards evil, say goodbye to your formerly neutral character" in about a half dozen of the modules I have played. As for how your character actually acts, I haven't ever encountered a DM who ever even questioned an action in relation to alignment that wasn't one of the aformentioned things that were written into the module. Fact is that if Living Greyhawk characters were actually played according to their alignments then you would realistically have to walk away from a lot of modules, either due to lack of motivation, or because of moral reasons.
Sieylianna 10-05-06, 07:42 AM	According to the LGCS a dragon disciple cannot change alignment unless "something in the campaign forces a change". I assume this means mostly due to curses/cursed items that change alignment or such, but I would like to knows if a traumatic experience in play might justify a change. (i.e. CG to CN, due to a wrong done to the character) Otherwise, can you change alignment through campaign documentation, or do you actually have to experience a curse in play? What if a player simply starts playing a different alignment? Playing a different alignment does not qualify. This was done to prevent gold half-dragon barbarians, chaotic neutral half-dragons and the like. Short of a curse or item which changes your alignment, it's never going to change. Ed
gomeztoo 10-05-06, 11:58 AM	The thing is though, it's a campaign rule, not a core rule, and it is weird in that you can't change at all - while for most core rules you can change alignment, but it means loosing abilities. You'd expect there to be an escape clause.
Japangirl 10-06-06, 03:24 PM	Fluff text wise (and thus a fairly meaningless argument, I know) it does make sense that a Dragon Disciple can't change alignment. Dragons of any color have the same alignment, and you basically take on aspects of one of those dragons. So the draconic aspect of you keeps your outlook on life the same as the dragon you have chosen to emulate and take into their lives.
gomeztoo 10-06-06, 03:52 PM	Sure, but in the same vein, there have always been exceptions. And PCs are generally considered exceptional (in fact, the rules explicitly leave that open as they can grant access to EVIL dragon disciples - iow, the rules allow for a LG red dragon disciple but I can't play a CN gold). And what if, say, I decide to not longer act lawful a gold dragon disciple? A monk or paladin could be told that they don't play their alignment, and an alignment change can be enforced (with accompanying consequences) or a PC can be requited to atone. But the gold dragon PC can't change at all, so he can't be punished for not playing his alignment either. You can at most dock him roleplaying xp, and that only goes so far (besides, for some people that is only an added bonus). So as a player restriction, its just doesn't work.