#alignment debates

[virovac]

Alignment debates aren’t much fun now

Talk of learning about real life inspiration behind the six D&D alignments below, with some portential triggering info about authors.

I think I lost all enthusiasm for alignment charts when learning that in 2004 Gary Gygax argued the Sand Creek Massacre, a real life atrocity against Southern Cheyenne and Arapahoe Native Americans, is consistent with lawful good behavior.

He also apparently in the past argued killing orc babies was fine.

Not making a moral statement or arguing a boycott, just say that now they invite sobering thoughts now.

Especially since I’ve recognized how much ableism against neurodivergent people can be found in people’s assumptions on chaotic alignments.

I just wonder how much of the alignment system can be salvaged and how much should be thrown out.

[virovac]

Trying to classify dynamic characters by alignment is an exercise in failure.

Take Deadpool, his alignment depends on the storyline because he’s a person who sometimes gets better only to backslide.

[virovac]

Lawful and Chaotic are too broad in what aspects of a person they appliy too

I think chaotic and lawful should be about how you think is the best way to live, and not things like approaches to tasks all the time. Feels too much like "all bards are chaotic becacuse they are artists". Otherwhise in my experience leads to ableist approaches to the chaotic neutral alignment.

A character should be chaotic not for having trouble fitting in, but for refusing to fit in.

Ideology over neurology.

[virovac]

Alignment and ableism

Wow, when you look at any debate of alignment on the internet, Chaotic Neutral and Chaotic Evil bring up a lot of unexamined ableism, don’t they?

...Can we seriously stop equating chaotic = mentally ill= compulsive. Its hitting even chaotic good characters to an extent.