"moodswings" and alignment [Archive] - Wizards Community

"moodswings" and alignment [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
claypigeons
03-03-06, 05:09 AM A player in a campaign im Dm'ing wants his character to have "moodswings". He assures it wont be anything as drastic as say... suddenly wanting to slaughter the villagers he just saved. Smaller stuff, like going from a generally nice guy to a total douche.

What alignment (as per RAW) best fits the moodiness?

I suggested chaotic neutral. Moodswings, to me, seem inherently "chaotic" in nature, and going from a "goodguy" to a "badguy" on a whim seems Neutral, rather than good or evil to me as well.

Was mine a good suggestion?
strcpy
03-03-06, 05:20 AM Why wood moodiness effect alignment?

I mean a devil in a bad mood would just be a more misearble version of his usual self. Where as a devil in a good mood is still LE, but may be feeling paticularly nice that day. (IE, just beat you into a bloody pulp instead of tearing you up and feeding you to his pet hell hound while you were still breathing)

Most dragons are moody. Lets not even mention the werebear.

I do not see what mood has to do with alignment :confused:
hmmmm
03-03-06, 05:43 AM why would he want his character to have mood swings? My players characters seem to have the same mood that the player is in. say for example if one of my players just failed a major test (he probally should not be playing but instead studying) his character is not in a good mood.
Bryarr
03-03-06, 05:47 AM why would he want his character to have mood swings? My players characters seem to have the same mood that the player is in. say for example if one of my players just failed a major test (he probally should not be playing but instead studying) his character is not in a good mood.

That's what we in the biz call "bad roleplaying."

Bry
claypigeons
03-03-06, 06:00 AM It's not so much the alignment governing a person. It's choosing an alignment that matches the personality (disorder) of the character. He doesnt want to just be a person that changes moods. He wants it to be more like a personality disorder. Almost to the point of multiple personalities, but more in the vein of tourette's, but with actions instead of words.
Bryarr
03-03-06, 07:14 AM Ahh, personality disorders. The whipping boys of the DSM-IV. But I digress.
May I introduce you to borderline personality disorder?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality

A character with borderline p/o would be very hard to run. The player needs to be constantly evaluating the social situation with his comrades. He'll often view a given party member as either the best guy ever or the scum of the earth, and will often flip flop back and forth between these evaluations. The smallest things can cause a borderline to change their evaluations. Such as: "My boyfriend forgot to call me after work. He hates me and is probably cheating on me, that bastard! *ring-ring* Honey? Your cell-phone battery died, and you went to a pay phone to call me? Oh, you're the best boyfriend in the entire world! I love you with all my heart! Will you remember to pick up the chicken for dinner? OK, bye. -1 hour later- You forgot the chicken? YOU JERK! You don't care about me or my needs!" etc.
Extreme instability in social relationships.
Anyway, read the link above, its some interesting stuff.

Bry
Millennium
03-03-06, 07:54 AM I'd say Neutral, rather than Chaotic Neutral. Although the character's behavior can change drastically, there is a definite pattern to them: he acts according to whichever of these modes -'manic' and 'depressive' for lack of better terms, though they're not a terribly good match- he's in.

The other way you might go with this is to separate the swings into two or more "personalities" and give each personality its own alignment. The character is treated as being the same alignment as whichever personality is currently active. This could create some interesting issues if the character has any alignment-bound magic items.
Chobemaster
03-03-06, 08:27 AM I would say that being more ruled by emotion and passion would generally be a chaotic characteristic (see barbarian) while discipline and an even temperment would be more apt to be a lawful characteristic (see monk.)

Assuming the "moodswing" isn't a ruse similar to the common perception of CN to "do absolutely whatever" which isn't roleplaying at all, then I would suggest that a character who has wide varabilities in behavior be chaotic.
claypigeons
03-03-06, 08:32 AM The other way you might go with this is to separate the swings into two or more "personalities" and give each personality its own alignment. The character is treated as being the same alignment as whichever personality is currently active. This could create some interesting issues if the character has any alignment-bound magic items.

That's a great idea. I never even thought about it that way. Might make for some interesting/fun/deadly interactions with NPC's. :P
Sereno
03-03-06, 08:43 AM The other way you might go with this is to separate the swings into two or more "personalities" and give each personality its own alignment. The character is treated as being the same alignment as whichever personality is currently active. This could create some interesting issues if the character has any alignment-bound magic items.

Or, take this even a level higher and play a changeling (from Eberron) and not only change your personality but your entire appearance with each mood swing!

Most Eberron changelings have complete control over their appearance, but you could argue that this particular one is not. Instead of conscious will driving the changes, the changes "affect" the character randomly (or, specifically, according to certain stressors).
Chobemaster
03-03-06, 08:45 AM Or, take this even a level higher and play a changeling (from Eberron) and not only change your personality but your entire appearance with each mood swing!

Most Eberron changelings have complete control over their appearance, but you could argue that this particular one is not. Instead of conscious will driving the changes, the changes "affect" the character randomly (or, specifically, according to certain stressors).

OR another flavor, play an Athasian half-giant, and change half of your alignment from day to day in response to your surroundings.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
claypigeons 03-03-06, 05:09 AM	A player in a campaign im Dm'ing wants his character to have "moodswings". He assures it wont be anything as drastic as say... suddenly wanting to slaughter the villagers he just saved. Smaller stuff, like going from a generally nice guy to a total douche. What alignment (as per RAW) best fits the moodiness? I suggested chaotic neutral. Moodswings, to me, seem inherently "chaotic" in nature, and going from a "goodguy" to a "badguy" on a whim seems Neutral, rather than good or evil to me as well. Was mine a good suggestion?
strcpy 03-03-06, 05:20 AM	Why wood moodiness effect alignment? I mean a devil in a bad mood would just be a more misearble version of his usual self. Where as a devil in a good mood is still LE, but may be feeling paticularly nice that day. (IE, just beat you into a bloody pulp instead of tearing you up and feeding you to his pet hell hound while you were still breathing) Most dragons are moody. Lets not even mention the werebear. I do not see what mood has to do with alignment :confused:
hmmmm 03-03-06, 05:43 AM	why would he want his character to have mood swings? My players characters seem to have the same mood that the player is in. say for example if one of my players just failed a major test (he probally should not be playing but instead studying) his character is not in a good mood.
Bryarr 03-03-06, 05:47 AM	why would he want his character to have mood swings? My players characters seem to have the same mood that the player is in. say for example if one of my players just failed a major test (he probally should not be playing but instead studying) his character is not in a good mood. That's what we in the biz call "bad roleplaying." Bry
claypigeons 03-03-06, 06:00 AM	It's not so much the alignment governing a person. It's choosing an alignment that matches the personality (disorder) of the character. He doesnt want to just be a person that changes moods. He wants it to be more like a personality disorder. Almost to the point of multiple personalities, but more in the vein of tourette's, but with actions instead of words.
Bryarr 03-03-06, 07:14 AM	Ahh, personality disorders. The whipping boys of the DSM-IV. But I digress. May I introduce you to borderline personality disorder? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality A character with borderline p/o would be very hard to run. The player needs to be constantly evaluating the social situation with his comrades. He'll often view a given party member as either the best guy ever or the scum of the earth, and will often flip flop back and forth between these evaluations. The smallest things can cause a borderline to change their evaluations. Such as: "My boyfriend forgot to call me after work. He hates me and is probably cheating on me, that bastard! ring-ring Honey? Your cell-phone battery died, and you went to a pay phone to call me? Oh, you're the best boyfriend in the entire world! I love you with all my heart! Will you remember to pick up the chicken for dinner? OK, bye. -1 hour later- You forgot the chicken? YOU JERK! You don't care about me or my needs!" etc. Extreme instability in social relationships. Anyway, read the link above, its some interesting stuff. Bry
Millennium 03-03-06, 07:54 AM	I'd say Neutral, rather than Chaotic Neutral. Although the character's behavior can change drastically, there is a definite pattern to them: he acts according to whichever of these modes -'manic' and 'depressive' for lack of better terms, though they're not a terribly good match- he's in. The other way you might go with this is to separate the swings into two or more "personalities" and give each personality its own alignment. The character is treated as being the same alignment as whichever personality is currently active. This could create some interesting issues if the character has any alignment-bound magic items.
Chobemaster 03-03-06, 08:27 AM	I would say that being more ruled by emotion and passion would generally be a chaotic characteristic (see barbarian) while discipline and an even temperment would be more apt to be a lawful characteristic (see monk.) Assuming the "moodswing" isn't a ruse similar to the common perception of CN to "do absolutely whatever" which isn't roleplaying at all, then I would suggest that a character who has wide varabilities in behavior be chaotic.
claypigeons 03-03-06, 08:32 AM	The other way you might go with this is to separate the swings into two or more "personalities" and give each personality its own alignment. The character is treated as being the same alignment as whichever personality is currently active. This could create some interesting issues if the character has any alignment-bound magic items. That's a great idea. I never even thought about it that way. Might make for some interesting/fun/deadly interactions with NPC's. :P
Sereno 03-03-06, 08:43 AM	The other way you might go with this is to separate the swings into two or more "personalities" and give each personality its own alignment. The character is treated as being the same alignment as whichever personality is currently active. This could create some interesting issues if the character has any alignment-bound magic items. Or, take this even a level higher and play a changeling (from Eberron) and not only change your personality but your entire appearance with each mood swing! Most Eberron changelings have complete control over their appearance, but you could argue that this particular one is not. Instead of conscious will driving the changes, the changes "affect" the character randomly (or, specifically, according to certain stressors).
Chobemaster 03-03-06, 08:45 AM	Or, take this even a level higher and play a changeling (from Eberron) and not only change your personality but your entire appearance with each mood swing! Most Eberron changelings have complete control over their appearance, but you could argue that this particular one is not. Instead of conscious will driving the changes, the changes "affect" the character randomly (or, specifically, according to certain stressors). OR another flavor, play an Athasian half-giant, and change half of your alignment from day to day in response to your surroundings.