Roleplaying Chaotic Good Psion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Roleplaying Chaotic Good Psion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MindFlayerZoidberg
02-17-08, 11:46 PM So there is an alignment debate going with my DM, another player/roommate, and me about a Psion's inclination toward Chaos. This was brought up as I am trying to enter into the Anarchic Initiate prestige class from CP.

They say 1) Psion's self-discipline about achieving power is very lawful and therefore 2) the character should be more random in behavior.

I do agree to a point, but my argument is that I have a 19 Int and 12 Cha, not 19 Cha and 12 Int; so I am going to be more subtle in undermining institutions and not be reckless or impulsive in behavior. And I also point to my self-discipline as showing an individual path to power without having to rely on an institution or external force. This, as the entry in the XPH says, is a tendency toward neutrality, but if the actions and powers used by a Psion are anti-authoritarian, then I feel that truly designates a Chaotic Good alignment.

Still, I haven't played CG before, and I might need some more advice, especially in a prestige class made for Wilder's in everything except logical requirements. Plus, I now have "Create Sound" as a power, so I am sure I can use it to cause trouble among the suppressive 'lawful' types.
Lycanthromancer
02-18-08, 12:18 AM Have you or your DM read the RA Salvatore novels about Drizzt Do'Urden? He's Chaotic Good, but he's also exceptionally well-disciplined. He's also brooding and is best friends with the (very Lawful) king of a clan of dwarves.

However, he is also all about society being for the individual, and about the individual's path being his own to walk. He's very anti-authoritarian when it comes to corrupt governments, as he believes government (Law) is meant to serve the individual (which is a very CG way of looking at things), rather than the other way around.

So yes, you can be disciplined without being Lawful (or even Neutral). It's all about how you apply that discipline.

After all, Good needs to be disciplined in order to make the right choices and to keep from falling into vice and the 'best of intentions' route. Thus, consider your discipline stemming from the Good portion of your alignment, rather than Chaos. If anything, it takes more discipline to be Good than Lawful, as Lawful characters generally just follow the orders of those above them in the hierarchy.
AntiDjinn
02-18-08, 12:22 AM Chaotic and Random are not the same thing. A character who is chaotic may still have an agenda other than simply shaking things up. A character who is chaotic who happens to step into a campfire will still pull his foot back out. One who is random is as likely to stand there and incinerate as he is to withdraw because his actions are random; any response is as likely as any other regardless of whether or not is it appropriate.
Lycanthromancer
02-18-08, 12:24 AM If you stand back and look at the big picture, you can always find order in chaos.

If you scrutinize closely, you can always discern chaotic behavior in a lawful system.

Neither of those statements has any relevance to the topic at hand, but they *sound* profound. :D
The_Mess
02-18-08, 12:38 AM I had a DM let me play a chaotic good monk because I convinced him that the character made internal sense. The character in question was personally very disciplined, but hated all *imposed* laws. You know, one of those people who is happy getting up every day and having eggs for breakfast, until the king declares, "All shall have eggs for breakfast!" at which point, the law must be broken.

With a sufficiently complicated backstory to explain why she made the choices she did, the contradictions in her nature made for a very interesting and dynamic character.
MindFlayerZoidberg
02-18-08, 12:49 AM Thanks for the feedback. For any character to progress, they have to have discipline and training, even the Barbarian becomes better at raging the more he does it and the more practice he has at it. It becomes focused.

I think I have to determine at what level his anti-authoritarian nature is when he starts having the power to topple governments if so inclined. I think it would show his general outlook and suspicion of governments, corrupt or not.

The big picture is not the problem, I guess the DM wants to see CG in more day to day interactions with people, since I am putting a big emphasis on this prestige class and therefore my alignment should be more prevalent in different aspects of my behavior.
calronmoonflower
02-18-08, 12:50 AM They say 1) Psion's self-discipline about achieving power is very lawful and therefore 2) the character should be more random in behavior.

:nonono:

http://www.badongo.com/t/640/2967455.jpg (http://www.badongo.com/pic/2967455)
MindFlayerZoidberg
02-18-08, 12:52 AM Have you or your DM read the RA Salvatore novels about Drizzt Do'Urden? He's Chaotic Good, but he's also exceptionally well-disciplined. He's also brooding and is best friends with the (very Lawful) king of a clan of dwarves.

Hmm, no, but I am interested. Love to throw some literature to illustrate a point, my DM is always talking about Dragon Lance novel's when discussing his characters in other games.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MindFlayerZoidberg 02-17-08, 11:46 PM	So there is an alignment debate going with my DM, another player/roommate, and me about a Psion's inclination toward Chaos. This was brought up as I am trying to enter into the Anarchic Initiate prestige class from CP. They say 1) Psion's self-discipline about achieving power is very lawful and therefore 2) the character should be more random in behavior. I do agree to a point, but my argument is that I have a 19 Int and 12 Cha, not 19 Cha and 12 Int; so I am going to be more subtle in undermining institutions and not be reckless or impulsive in behavior. And I also point to my self-discipline as showing an individual path to power without having to rely on an institution or external force. This, as the entry in the XPH says, is a tendency toward neutrality, but if the actions and powers used by a Psion are anti-authoritarian, then I feel that truly designates a Chaotic Good alignment. Still, I haven't played CG before, and I might need some more advice, especially in a prestige class made for Wilder's in everything except logical requirements. Plus, I now have "Create Sound" as a power, so I am sure I can use it to cause trouble among the suppressive 'lawful' types.
Lycanthromancer 02-18-08, 12:18 AM	Have you or your DM read the RA Salvatore novels about Drizzt Do'Urden? He's Chaotic Good, but he's also exceptionally well-disciplined. He's also brooding and is best friends with the (very Lawful) king of a clan of dwarves. However, he is also all about society being for the individual, and about the individual's path being his own to walk. He's very anti-authoritarian when it comes to corrupt governments, as he believes government (Law) is meant to serve the individual (which is a very CG way of looking at things), rather than the other way around. So yes, you can be disciplined without being Lawful (or even Neutral). It's all about how you apply that discipline. After all, Good needs to be disciplined in order to make the right choices and to keep from falling into vice and the 'best of intentions' route. Thus, consider your discipline stemming from the Good portion of your alignment, rather than Chaos. If anything, it takes more discipline to be Good than Lawful, as Lawful characters generally just follow the orders of those above them in the hierarchy.
AntiDjinn 02-18-08, 12:22 AM	Chaotic and Random are not the same thing. A character who is chaotic may still have an agenda other than simply shaking things up. A character who is chaotic who happens to step into a campfire will still pull his foot back out. One who is random is as likely to stand there and incinerate as he is to withdraw because his actions are random; any response is as likely as any other regardless of whether or not is it appropriate.
Lycanthromancer 02-18-08, 12:24 AM	If you stand back and look at the big picture, you can always find order in chaos. If you scrutinize closely, you can always discern chaotic behavior in a lawful system. Neither of those statements has any relevance to the topic at hand, but they sound profound. :D
The_Mess 02-18-08, 12:38 AM	I had a DM let me play a chaotic good monk because I convinced him that the character made internal sense. The character in question was personally very disciplined, but hated all imposed laws. You know, one of those people who is happy getting up every day and having eggs for breakfast, until the king declares, "All shall have eggs for breakfast!" at which point, the law must be broken. With a sufficiently complicated backstory to explain why she made the choices she did, the contradictions in her nature made for a very interesting and dynamic character.
MindFlayerZoidberg 02-18-08, 12:49 AM	Thanks for the feedback. For any character to progress, they have to have discipline and training, even the Barbarian becomes better at raging the more he does it and the more practice he has at it. It becomes focused. I think I have to determine at what level his anti-authoritarian nature is when he starts having the power to topple governments if so inclined. I think it would show his general outlook and suspicion of governments, corrupt or not. The big picture is not the problem, I guess the DM wants to see CG in more day to day interactions with people, since I am putting a big emphasis on this prestige class and therefore my alignment should be more prevalent in different aspects of my behavior.
calronmoonflower 02-18-08, 12:50 AM	They say 1) Psion's self-discipline about achieving power is very lawful and therefore 2) the character should be more random in behavior. :nonono: http://www.badongo.com/t/640/2967455.jpg (http://www.badongo.com/pic/2967455)
MindFlayerZoidberg 02-18-08, 12:52 AM	Have you or your DM read the RA Salvatore novels about Drizzt Do'Urden? He's Chaotic Good, but he's also exceptionally well-disciplined. He's also brooding and is best friends with the (very Lawful) king of a clan of dwarves. Hmm, no, but I am interested. Love to throw some literature to illustrate a point, my DM is always talking about Dragon Lance novel's when discussing his characters in other games.