Chaotic Good [Archive] - Wizards Community

Chaotic Good [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nature-boy
01-28-04, 10:18 PM Typically, I play a NG character because it's simple, but this time I chose to play a CG elf and I find that I'm not really playing him all that chaotic. Sure he values freedom and self-expression, but his personality is not all that different from neutral. So after some inner turmoil I have come to you people for some suggestions. How do you all play your chaotic characters without your him being a jerk?
Orcish Fury
01-28-04, 10:36 PM Be more of a risk taker. I'm not saying that you should be suicidal or endanger your party, but don't always take the safest way out.
Dragontooth
01-29-04, 02:17 AM Who says that you have to be a jerk just cause your chaotic good?

You don't have to be the good, dark in your face, type hero.

You can be someone that likes being alone, but you know in order for you to complete the task that you've been thrust apon you'll need help(your party members).

You can be the good natured person that dis-like "correct way" of doing things. Now not saying doing evil things to accomplish a good thing. But breaking a few laws, or codes to accomplish something is ok. ie Robin Hood stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.
Inigo Carmine
01-29-04, 10:02 AM Personally, I think you're better off assigning your character's alignment based off of his personality than assigning your character's personality based off his alignment. (not always possible because of Paladins and monks).

It's one of the things I hate most when people excuse their actions by saying "I have to man, I'm playing ***** aligment"(usually chaotic neutral). Though i've seen it with plenty of other alignments as well.
Stormweaver
01-29-04, 10:44 AM Your alignement shouldn't be perceptible by your personnality... Jerks can be lawfull good and this sweet girl next door might be a neutral evil she devil. You never know. Evil people are not all killers, just some bastards who look out for #1 without any tough about others.
Now a chaotic will differs from a lawfull in the way he deals with situations. Chaotics tends more to run aways, do unpredictable moves and use poetic justice. A chaotic will not hesite to kick you in the nuts or while you are down. A chaotic's room's usually have all the laundry in a pile and the dirty clothes in another. While a lawfull will usually be more organised and neat. Lawfull try to work within the rules and usually behave better than chaotics. If a lawfull finds a body on his door steps, he will call the authorities. If a chaotic find a body on his door step, he'll looks around, make sure nobody saw him and dump the body in the backyard of the neighboors he dislikes the most.

A chaotic is more "rob the robber" than "put the robber in jail"
Tzor
01-29-04, 12:56 PM Being CG is really no more complex than being NG. In many cases people can be confused at what is CG and what is NG.

Chaotic does not mean stupid.
Chaotic does not mean random.

Chaotic does mean that you are not lawful. But you are still good.

Thus it might not be good to lie to your friends, but it's certanly OK to lie to a demon. And sometimes it's good to lie to your friends.

Laws don't have to be followed. Good laws do good thigns, so there is a good motivation for doing them, but no such motivation exists for evil laws or laws that promote evil. "Is it good?", should be your only criteria, as opposed to whether some person who thinks he has authority has decreed a law.

Discipline, planning, consistancy should also be thrown out the window. That doesn't mean you should wreck yourself, but instead of dieting for the sake of dieting, you might decide to diet when you notice you are somewhat chubby, because looking chubby isn't "in." (But doing it for over a week might start to push you into the neutrual bracket.)
Silimaure
01-29-04, 04:16 PM I usually play my chaotic characters as extremly casual, But that's just me.
Nature-boy
01-29-04, 10:54 PM Thanks for the insight, fellas.
CyberCat
01-31-04, 10:40 PM One of the differences between NG and CG is an CG beleives in personal freedom. People are basicly not evil and are perfectly capable of living their lives as they see fit.
Laws for the most part just get in the way.
You aren't one of those people who makes a lot of plans, infact you probably don't think much of those types. Their lives being ruled by the hands of a clock. Life is meant to be enjoyed an one of the great things about life is you don't know what's coming next. So just sit back and enjoy the ride doing what you can to help others and see that they have their chance to enjoy a carefree existence.
Edymnion
01-31-04, 10:57 PM Best example of Chaotic Good I can think of is Han Solo, the Han Solo by the end of the original Star Wars trilogy. Started off as more of a Chaotic Neutral (didn't care for good or evil one way or another, or for the law, he was just out for himself and his own good), but had shifted to Chaotic Good by the end of the trilogy.

Pair of good trait suggestions for a Chaotic Good character:
Little respect for tradition or protocol, they are more likely to take the most direct path to accomplish their goals. Like Han Solo, just plop down next to the Princess and hit on her, screw royal heritage and all that jazz. Second Guesser. Have them start to do something selfish that would endanger others, then stop and go "I'm going to hate myself for this in the morning..." and go back to do the right thing. Using Han Solo again, look at where he said he wasn't doing the Death Star attack, that he was going to take his money and run. Then, when it counted, there he is to pull Luke's butt out of the fire.
A classic example of Chaotic Good would be Robin Hood, always snuffing his nose at the lawful authority (aka the Sherrif), doing what he thought was right.
Phist
01-31-04, 11:07 PM I usually play chaotic characters as having a problem with authority. Generally the only difference is that they are a little less ridged and less accepting of other player's commands but woe to the guard that tries to tell my character to do something...
Bopple
02-01-04, 03:26 AM I don't think you're playing CG wrong.
In most everyday-life situations, CG char's behavior doesn't really differ from that of NG char.
CyberCat
02-01-04, 12:29 PM It differs even in day to day life, depending on where you are.
A NG and a CG might not appear all the different in some elven village. However in the dwarven city their differences will be noticeable.
A CG likes their freedom the more rules and demands you place upon then, the more structured you make the lives the more they are going to chew at the bit.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nature-boy 01-28-04, 10:18 PM	Typically, I play a NG character because it's simple, but this time I chose to play a CG elf and I find that I'm not really playing him all that chaotic. Sure he values freedom and self-expression, but his personality is not all that different from neutral. So after some inner turmoil I have come to you people for some suggestions. How do you all play your chaotic characters without your him being a jerk?
Orcish Fury 01-28-04, 10:36 PM	Be more of a risk taker. I'm not saying that you should be suicidal or endanger your party, but don't always take the safest way out.
Dragontooth 01-29-04, 02:17 AM	Who says that you have to be a jerk just cause your chaotic good? You don't have to be the good, dark in your face, type hero. You can be someone that likes being alone, but you know in order for you to complete the task that you've been thrust apon you'll need help(your party members). You can be the good natured person that dis-like "correct way" of doing things. Now not saying doing evil things to accomplish a good thing. But breaking a few laws, or codes to accomplish something is ok. ie Robin Hood stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.
Inigo Carmine 01-29-04, 10:02 AM	Personally, I think you're better off assigning your character's alignment based off of his personality than assigning your character's personality based off his alignment. (not always possible because of Paladins and monks). It's one of the things I hate most when people excuse their actions by saying "I have to man, I'm playing ***** aligment"(usually chaotic neutral). Though i've seen it with plenty of other alignments as well.
Stormweaver 01-29-04, 10:44 AM	Your alignement shouldn't be perceptible by your personnality... Jerks can be lawfull good and this sweet girl next door might be a neutral evil she devil. You never know. Evil people are not all killers, just some bastards who look out for #1 without any tough about others. Now a chaotic will differs from a lawfull in the way he deals with situations. Chaotics tends more to run aways, do unpredictable moves and use poetic justice. A chaotic will not hesite to kick you in the nuts or while you are down. A chaotic's room's usually have all the laundry in a pile and the dirty clothes in another. While a lawfull will usually be more organised and neat. Lawfull try to work within the rules and usually behave better than chaotics. If a lawfull finds a body on his door steps, he will call the authorities. If a chaotic find a body on his door step, he'll looks around, make sure nobody saw him and dump the body in the backyard of the neighboors he dislikes the most. A chaotic is more "rob the robber" than "put the robber in jail"
Tzor 01-29-04, 12:56 PM	Being CG is really no more complex than being NG. In many cases people can be confused at what is CG and what is NG. Chaotic does not mean stupid. Chaotic does not mean random. Chaotic does mean that you are not lawful. But you are still good. Thus it might not be good to lie to your friends, but it's certanly OK to lie to a demon. And sometimes it's good to lie to your friends. Laws don't have to be followed. Good laws do good thigns, so there is a good motivation for doing them, but no such motivation exists for evil laws or laws that promote evil. "Is it good?", should be your only criteria, as opposed to whether some person who thinks he has authority has decreed a law. Discipline, planning, consistancy should also be thrown out the window. That doesn't mean you should wreck yourself, but instead of dieting for the sake of dieting, you might decide to diet when you notice you are somewhat chubby, because looking chubby isn't "in." (But doing it for over a week might start to push you into the neutrual bracket.)
Silimaure 01-29-04, 04:16 PM	I usually play my chaotic characters as extremly casual, But that's just me.
Nature-boy 01-29-04, 10:54 PM	Thanks for the insight, fellas.
CyberCat 01-31-04, 10:40 PM	One of the differences between NG and CG is an CG beleives in personal freedom. People are basicly not evil and are perfectly capable of living their lives as they see fit. Laws for the most part just get in the way. You aren't one of those people who makes a lot of plans, infact you probably don't think much of those types. Their lives being ruled by the hands of a clock. Life is meant to be enjoyed an one of the great things about life is you don't know what's coming next. So just sit back and enjoy the ride doing what you can to help others and see that they have their chance to enjoy a carefree existence.
Edymnion 01-31-04, 10:57 PM	Best example of Chaotic Good I can think of is Han Solo, the Han Solo by the end of the original Star Wars trilogy. Started off as more of a Chaotic Neutral (didn't care for good or evil one way or another, or for the law, he was just out for himself and his own good), but had shifted to Chaotic Good by the end of the trilogy. Pair of good trait suggestions for a Chaotic Good character: Little respect for tradition or protocol, they are more likely to take the most direct path to accomplish their goals. Like Han Solo, just plop down next to the Princess and hit on her, screw royal heritage and all that jazz. Second Guesser. Have them start to do something selfish that would endanger others, then stop and go "I'm going to hate myself for this in the morning..." and go back to do the right thing. Using Han Solo again, look at where he said he wasn't doing the Death Star attack, that he was going to take his money and run. Then, when it counted, there he is to pull Luke's butt out of the fire. A classic example of Chaotic Good would be Robin Hood, always snuffing his nose at the lawful authority (aka the Sherrif), doing what he thought was right.
Phist 01-31-04, 11:07 PM	I usually play chaotic characters as having a problem with authority. Generally the only difference is that they are a little less ridged and less accepting of other player's commands but woe to the guard that tries to tell my character to do something...
Bopple 02-01-04, 03:26 AM	I don't think you're playing CG wrong. In most everyday-life situations, CG char's behavior doesn't really differ from that of NG char.
CyberCat 02-01-04, 12:29 PM	It differs even in day to day life, depending on where you are. A NG and a CG might not appear all the different in some elven village. However in the dwarven city their differences will be noticeable. A CG likes their freedom the more rules and demands you place upon then, the more structured you make the lives the more they are going to chew at the bit.