Another alignment thread... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Another alignment thread... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dowjin
09-29-06, 07:22 PM I houserule that the straight up "Neutral" alignment choose between two sub-alignments;

True Neutral - Keeping the balance, the common interpretation.

and

Indifferent Neutral - A person who is Indifferent Neutral doesn't really care about anything, one way or the other. His own life, everyone else's life, any interests or motives, are all moot. He lives moment to moment, observing that his actions kill as many as they save, breaking or adhering to laws as his mood finds him. He'll uphold the values of the people that pay him the most, be they tyrants or the most lawful saints. He is rarely inspired towards commiting to anything, difficult to disuade once set in his path, and is prone to leaving things incomplete as oft as they are no longer "worth the effort". He is not malicious in his negligence of others, he just simply does not care. Likewise, standing up for an ideal or person gives him little- if any-satisfaction. A somber and stoic bounty hunter would be a good example of Indifferent Neutral.

I feel that both viewpoints are radically different, but both classify as neutral.

Thoughts?
LCD2YOU
09-29-06, 08:54 PM I think your "Indifferent Neutral" sounds a lot like a version of CN.
Tichrimo
09-29-06, 09:06 PM How about "consciously neutral" versus "unconsciously neutral" instead?

The former knowingly chooses between good/evil and lawful/chaotic acts in some odd score-keeping version of "maintaining the balance". Too much good in the city; do evil. Too much chaos; instill order.

The latter just acts without thought of the moral or ethical rammifications.
Vengeblade
09-29-06, 09:50 PM I just use a grid based system, gives players a bit of roaming area with their actions.

Each alignment is a 9x9 square, for a tatal area of 27x27. That's 729 sqaures, but it still allows me to use the standard alignment system.

I also put some very basic guide lines on the alignment sheets to help my players understand how it all works, something like this:

You start out in the center of your designated alignment. As your characters take actions, either minor or major, that reflect upon your alignment, you will be moved accordingly.
Minor changes will only move you 1 or maybe 2 boxes in a given direction, while major can be anywhere from 3 to as many as appropriate.

These are basic principles behind each part of alignment, not set in stone, but guidelines.

Law = Orderly, conformist, strict, traditionalist.
Neutral = Un-biased, balanced or disregarding of all.
Chaos = Free spirited, disorderly, nonconformist.
Good = Helpful, kind, benevolent, well intentioned.
Neutral = Fair or disregarding of all, balanced.
Evil = Selfish, mean, hurtful, sadistic.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dowjin 09-29-06, 07:22 PM	I houserule that the straight up "Neutral" alignment choose between two sub-alignments; True Neutral - Keeping the balance, the common interpretation. and Indifferent Neutral - A person who is Indifferent Neutral doesn't really care about anything, one way or the other. His own life, everyone else's life, any interests or motives, are all moot. He lives moment to moment, observing that his actions kill as many as they save, breaking or adhering to laws as his mood finds him. He'll uphold the values of the people that pay him the most, be they tyrants or the most lawful saints. He is rarely inspired towards commiting to anything, difficult to disuade once set in his path, and is prone to leaving things incomplete as oft as they are no longer "worth the effort". He is not malicious in his negligence of others, he just simply does not care. Likewise, standing up for an ideal or person gives him little- if any-satisfaction. A somber and stoic bounty hunter would be a good example of Indifferent Neutral. I feel that both viewpoints are radically different, but both classify as neutral. Thoughts?
LCD2YOU 09-29-06, 08:54 PM	I think your "Indifferent Neutral" sounds a lot like a version of CN.
Tichrimo 09-29-06, 09:06 PM	How about "consciously neutral" versus "unconsciously neutral" instead? The former knowingly chooses between good/evil and lawful/chaotic acts in some odd score-keeping version of "maintaining the balance". Too much good in the city; do evil. Too much chaos; instill order. The latter just acts without thought of the moral or ethical rammifications.
Vengeblade 09-29-06, 09:50 PM	I just use a grid based system, gives players a bit of roaming area with their actions. Each alignment is a 9x9 square, for a tatal area of 27x27. That's 729 sqaures, but it still allows me to use the standard alignment system. I also put some very basic guide lines on the alignment sheets to help my players understand how it all works, something like this: You start out in the center of your designated alignment. As your characters take actions, either minor or major, that reflect upon your alignment, you will be moved accordingly. Minor changes will only move you 1 or maybe 2 boxes in a given direction, while major can be anywhere from 3 to as many as appropriate. These are basic principles behind each part of alignment, not set in stone, but guidelines. Law = Orderly, conformist, strict, traditionalist. Neutral = Un-biased, balanced or disregarding of all. Chaos = Free spirited, disorderly, nonconformist. Good = Helpful, kind, benevolent, well intentioned. Neutral = Fair or disregarding of all, balanced. Evil = Selfish, mean, hurtful, sadistic.