Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kikoskia 04-03-05, 11:05 PM	I am planning on creating a mercenary ninja for my next D&D game. I know that the only thing that appeals to him is money and he is not influenced by the struggles of good or evil or even that or law and chaos. What alignment does that place my character within?
Plastik 04-03-05, 11:11 PM	Chaotic Neutral, until he takes some jobs. Depending on the jobs, that Neutral could turn into Good or Evil. Murder is Evil, wealth redistribution is Good.
Kikoskia 04-03-05, 11:14 PM	He'll only take a job if it means he'll get paid. He won't be ordered around by other people withut given a good, selfish incentive for it and the only way to get him to do something for anyone else is to pay him. The type of job he takes, however, has no real bounds. He does have a few limits, but not many. I do know that he killed his own lord because he was offered more coin, but his actions aren't random acts of death; it's money that drives him.
Salla 04-03-05, 11:20 PM	I'd say Neutral Evil. He's definitely just out for himself and doesn't care who gets hurt in the meantime.
Kikoskia 04-03-05, 11:21 PM	Yes, that seems fair. But playing that alignment in a good/netural party would be very hard, would it not? (If it was even allowed by the DM) To play a mercenary ninja, it seems from the comments so far that I have to make him evil and if we have a paladin in the party that would fail at step one.
Gedrin 04-04-05, 01:10 AM	You could make the merc... Lawful Good: Disciplined mercenary available for contract to the right customer. Like a professional soldier, he offers his skills in combat for a fee. However, unlike the professional soldier, he may undertake the jobs he chooses. It's important to this character who he works for and what the job is. He is very like a traditional adventurer, except he makes it very clear what the terms of his service are and offers his services as a comercial practice. Lawful Neutral: This character is similar to the one above, except he doesn't care who he works for. Money is money and it's not his responsibility what other business a client may have. He won't do certain jobs, because he does have a code of some sort, perhaps a very strict warrior code. Killing civilians, burning villages and other "punative" actions are things he won't hire for. He may hire on as a main force though, while his employer uses other troops for such actions. It's not his business what's going on elsewhere, but he will enforce his code among his troops. Lawful Evil: This character only cares for who he works for in the extent that it effects his payment (liars and cheats won't get his services usually). He doesn't care what the job is beyond the fact that certain "dirty work" usually pays better. Punative jobs may even be desireable, since they're often against softer targets. The only code present here is that the job get done and everyone get's paid without undue trouble. Obviously, there are many other options
Kikoskia 04-04-05, 09:19 AM	Hmmm, some good options there. With that in mind, he's a little more likely to be lawful neutral as he has certain taboos. For example, he won't take a mission like 'Kill this child' unless there was a DARN good and sensible reason why. To use your examples, he won't take jobs like 'raze this village' or mindless tasks. You couldn't tell him to mug someone but you could tell him to extort money out of the same mane because he owes somenoe some debts.
Naeron 04-04-05, 11:19 AM	The differentiation on alignment is fairly easy to make. If he will not kill an innocent being for money but will kill non-innocents then he can be Good if he also helps the innocent without payment - but this is a highly unlikely alignment given what you have posted. If he will kill anyone for money then he is evil. If he will not kill a friend/relative for money (athough he can kill them if there is a strong reason to do so, just not for profit), will only kill innocents for money if there is a very strong reason to do and will freely kill non-innocents for money then he is neutral. He could be lawful if he has a strong personal code or Chaotic if he is a "free spirit". But considering the probable dedication to training and extensive planning involved in assasination I would say he is most likley to be Lawful or Neutral.
Kikoskia 04-04-05, 12:42 PM	Okay, I understand. So, the two main options I have here are neutral and lawful neutral, since he has a contract and a code that he acts by. Chances are he'll be lawful neutral.
Osiris Memnoch 04-04-05, 02:48 PM	I'm playing a ninja mercenary right now and he's Lawful Neutral. Works really well. All I had to do was specifically define is code to the DM. You know things like: 1) His word is his bond. He would never back out of a job once taken. Ever. 2) He will do what it takes to complete a mission. If what it takes includes doing something very obviously chaotic or evil he will try and find an alternate solution first. 3) Doesn't like hitting girls. 4) Won't turn down a challenge. That's just a few points but you get the idea.