Marks of Ascension Alignment System [Archive] - Wizards Community

Marks of Ascension Alignment System [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Jolly Josh
07-27-05, 05:12 PM Marks of Ascension Alignment System
This sliding alignment system provides special and unique abilities as bonuses for excellent roleplaying and a unique method of determining alignment. This will encourage NPC interactions and increase dramatic encounters. All players are assumed to start out as a certain alignment(for class requirements) but don’t give them any levels until they have earned one. After they recieve a level in an aspect, the reward should encourage future behavior (good Role-playing).
1 Good Lawful Neutral Chaotic Evil
2
3
4 Beacon Constable Aloof Lawless Wicked
5
6
7 Pure Judge Balanced Tempestuous Repugnant
8
9
10 Virtuous Imperial Dispassionate Havoc Villianous
11
12
13 Exalted Axiomatic Achromatic Anarchic Vile

Mark of Ascension: These are heraldry marks on a characters path to perfection. The mere morals of the world will probably never surpass the first level marks being that they could never have so much to give and so much to lose to the world. These advancements are only given to those who help in defending, balancing, and destroying the world. These powers work as psionic abilities. A characters power points equal his total levels on the above chart in the particular aspect. A character has a manifester level equal to its Hit Dice unless otherwise specified.

Ascending: When a character displays a profound aspect of her alignment, she is rewarded instantaneously with one level of that alignment aspect. Thus moving further down the chart but ascending towards the perfect Mark of Ascension.

Descending: Each time a character earns ascension in good or evil or law and chaos the polar opposite is decreased by 2 levels in the chart. If the character fails below gained Marks of Ascensions, he then loses those abilities.

Ohm: When a character manages to reach a perfect equilibrium between good and evil or law and chaos on a Mark of Ascension, Ohm happens. All abilities gained by previous mark of ascensions in either good or evil or law and chaos are lost and character receives all marks equal to the level of the Ohm.

Marks of Good: 1st – Attraction, 4th – Danger Sense, 7th – Aura Sight(Evil), 10th – Empathic Feedback, 13th - Energy Wave(Holy)
Marks of Law: 1st – Call to Mind, 4th - Detect Hostile Intent, 7th - Mental Barrier, 10th – True Seeing(Psionic), 13th - Psionic Moment of Prescience
Marks of Neutrality: 1st - Empty Mind, 4th - Body Equilibrium, 7th Psionic Divination, 10th - Adapt Body, 13th – Overland Flight
Marks of Chaos: 1st – Demoralize, 4th - Id Insinuation, 7th – Freedom of Movement(Psionic), 10th - Psychic Reformation, 13th - Aura Alteration
Marks of Evil: 1st – Conceal Thoughts, 4th – Time Hop, 7th – Aura Sight(Good), 10th Death Urge, 13th – Psychic Crush
Sinaz
07-27-05, 06:20 PM This system has the potential to turn every game into a philosophy debate.

Adjucating this is going to be a nightmare.

Mostly I'm thinking, I could gain neutrality levels really easily by just constantly going "eh... que sera sera..." DM: "congradulations, your complete and utter lack of concern over the burning village has gained you a level of Neutrality! You can now psionically divine!" Me: "Cool, I divine what's on tv right now." DM: "Another level!"

Plus I forsee players doing really hokey and awkward things just to get those level-ups.

My personal opinion... go back to the drawing board... it's a neat idea, just not really executed very well.
Jolly Josh
07-27-05, 06:43 PM well... you would have to be a stooge DM to hand them out like a hand of poker. hand them out rarely to make them coveted. Of course if your group already has tons of flare and excellent role playing then this isnt for you. But i'm sure there is a 100 groups to your 1 that have:

DM: "The town is engulfed in flames as the dark shrouded warriors ride through torching everything they see. you see people running around inside the burning buildings close to you."
Fighter: "I Attack"
Cleric: "........." (is reading the complete divine)
Barbarian: "Instanteous rage charge power attack"
Paladin: "I'll save the villagers"

they are all playing there roles... kinda... but i'll not going to give any merits for that. Its the same thing as the belief points from Planescape. You have to majorly exercise your beliefs before a merit is do.
EvilVegan
07-27-05, 06:52 PM Apathy is not neutrality.

Not in D&D anyway.

Neutrality is seeking balance between extremes.

A village on fire? Find the cause. If it is a person, set them on fire. If it is a group, set their village on fire.

Put out the fire? . . . well. . . maybe after I go burn down the other village.

Thats a really simplified example.

Interesting mechaninc, I wouldn't base it off of psionics however, perhaps a bonus feat or something. Psionics aren't very alignmenty. Tend towards neutrality I'd say.

I'd just give stuff like +1 caster level for [alignment] spells or bonuses to diplomacy.
EvilVegan
07-27-05, 09:31 PM i was going with psionics for the sheer fact that they always get over looked... but the marks could be anything

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jolly Josh 07-27-05, 05:12 PM	Marks of Ascension Alignment System This sliding alignment system provides special and unique abilities as bonuses for excellent roleplaying and a unique method of determining alignment. This will encourage NPC interactions and increase dramatic encounters. All players are assumed to start out as a certain alignment(for class requirements) but don’t give them any levels until they have earned one. After they recieve a level in an aspect, the reward should encourage future behavior (good Role-playing). 1 Good Lawful Neutral Chaotic Evil 2 3 4 Beacon Constable Aloof Lawless Wicked 5 6 7 Pure Judge Balanced Tempestuous Repugnant 8 9 10 Virtuous Imperial Dispassionate Havoc Villianous 11 12 13 Exalted Axiomatic Achromatic Anarchic Vile Mark of Ascension: These are heraldry marks on a characters path to perfection. The mere morals of the world will probably never surpass the first level marks being that they could never have so much to give and so much to lose to the world. These advancements are only given to those who help in defending, balancing, and destroying the world. These powers work as psionic abilities. A characters power points equal his total levels on the above chart in the particular aspect. A character has a manifester level equal to its Hit Dice unless otherwise specified. Ascending: When a character displays a profound aspect of her alignment, she is rewarded instantaneously with one level of that alignment aspect. Thus moving further down the chart but ascending towards the perfect Mark of Ascension. Descending: Each time a character earns ascension in good or evil or law and chaos the polar opposite is decreased by 2 levels in the chart. If the character fails below gained Marks of Ascensions, he then loses those abilities. Ohm: When a character manages to reach a perfect equilibrium between good and evil or law and chaos on a Mark of Ascension, Ohm happens. All abilities gained by previous mark of ascensions in either good or evil or law and chaos are lost and character receives all marks equal to the level of the Ohm. Marks of Good: 1st – Attraction, 4th – Danger Sense, 7th – Aura Sight(Evil), 10th – Empathic Feedback, 13th - Energy Wave(Holy) Marks of Law: 1st – Call to Mind, 4th - Detect Hostile Intent, 7th - Mental Barrier, 10th – True Seeing(Psionic), 13th - Psionic Moment of Prescience Marks of Neutrality: 1st - Empty Mind, 4th - Body Equilibrium, 7th Psionic Divination, 10th - Adapt Body, 13th – Overland Flight Marks of Chaos: 1st – Demoralize, 4th - Id Insinuation, 7th – Freedom of Movement(Psionic), 10th - Psychic Reformation, 13th - Aura Alteration Marks of Evil: 1st – Conceal Thoughts, 4th – Time Hop, 7th – Aura Sight(Good), 10th Death Urge, 13th – Psychic Crush
Sinaz 07-27-05, 06:20 PM	This system has the potential to turn every game into a philosophy debate. Adjucating this is going to be a nightmare. Mostly I'm thinking, I could gain neutrality levels really easily by just constantly going "eh... que sera sera..." DM: "congradulations, your complete and utter lack of concern over the burning village has gained you a level of Neutrality! You can now psionically divine!" Me: "Cool, I divine what's on tv right now." DM: "Another level!" Plus I forsee players doing really hokey and awkward things just to get those level-ups. My personal opinion... go back to the drawing board... it's a neat idea, just not really executed very well.
Jolly Josh 07-27-05, 06:43 PM	well... you would have to be a stooge DM to hand them out like a hand of poker. hand them out rarely to make them coveted. Of course if your group already has tons of flare and excellent role playing then this isnt for you. But i'm sure there is a 100 groups to your 1 that have: DM: "The town is engulfed in flames as the dark shrouded warriors ride through torching everything they see. you see people running around inside the burning buildings close to you." Fighter: "I Attack" Cleric: "........." (is reading the complete divine) Barbarian: "Instanteous rage charge power attack" Paladin: "I'll save the villagers" they are all playing there roles... kinda... but i'll not going to give any merits for that. Its the same thing as the belief points from Planescape. You have to majorly exercise your beliefs before a merit is do.
EvilVegan 07-27-05, 06:52 PM	Apathy is not neutrality. Not in D&D anyway. Neutrality is seeking balance between extremes. A village on fire? Find the cause. If it is a person, set them on fire. If it is a group, set their village on fire. Put out the fire? . . . well. . . maybe after I go burn down the other village. Thats a really simplified example. Interesting mechaninc, I wouldn't base it off of psionics however, perhaps a bonus feat or something. Psionics aren't very alignmenty. Tend towards neutrality I'd say. I'd just give stuff like +1 caster level for [alignment] spells or bonuses to diplomacy.
EvilVegan 07-27-05, 09:31 PM	i was going with psionics for the sheer fact that they always get over looked... but the marks could be anything