#character alignments

[rainysofsunshineao3]

No thoughts just them...

[thephilosophersapprentice]

I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about how D&D memes have damaged the understanding of what chaotic neutral is and how it functions in the context of the game. Sit back, relax, and pour yourself a hot drink; this is going to maybe get intense.

Disclaimer: This is not a vagueblog, just a mindset I've seen around, both on Reddit and Tiktok. It's my intention to aid understanding, not sound accusatory.

For those who've never played, or who only have a passing concept of character alignments, D&D uses a system not unlike a political compass, just replacing the economic axis with a good-to-evil axis and reversing the direction of the libertarian-to-authoritarian axis.

Let's break down the two components (the two axes) that make up a character alignment.

Lawful to chaotic is a measure of how much you value your personal freedom over the law. However, there are different ways to spin lawful vs. chaotic characters; a chaotic character may believe, for instance, that the law limits the true scope of what one person can do to help another, while a lawful person may be lawful because they believe that the law exists to make everyone equal and protect them all. On the other hand, a lawful character may not care about the laws of the civilization they're in so much as a personal moral code. A chaotic character isn't 2014 Tumblr Random because they're chaotic; the Randomness is a character trait, not the result of the alignment.

Good to evil is a bit harder to define. Red from Overly Sarcastic Productions defines evil as "causing harm unnecessarily," but also goes into the fact that any definition breaks down under specific circumstances, all in her excellent Trope Talk on the subject. Basically, a good character tries to minimize the harm they cause others, while an evil character may not care or outright cause as much harm as possible because they think it's fun.

A neutral character (on either scale) is hard to define as well. Roughly, a neutral character has situations in which they act chaotic and situations in which they act lawful, situations in which they act moral and situations in which they cause harm needlessly.

Dear reader, you may have already grasped an idea of why "chaotic neutral" is so misunderstood. There are players out there who use the chaotic neutral alignment to justify acting like a chaotic evil character and avoid the associated bad press. I'd argue that you can't play this style and keep your alignment chaotic neutral unless you chaotically do roughly as much good as you do harm.

Why does it matter? Gameplay-wise, in 5e, it doesn't. There were editions in the past where there were consequences to your alignment choices, but no more. But from a storytelling perspective? From the motivation of not being terrible to your fellow players? Understanding the alignments (and table etiquette as well) can make or break the experience.

Please, if you want to do terrible things, just go ahead and play any flavor of evil--chaotic, lawful, or neutral. Following table rules and player etiquette, there is absolutely nothing wrong with playing an evil character. There's not even any gameplay mechanics to make it uncomfortable, and being evil in the game does not equal being evil in the real world. Look at the DM--they're probably portraying evil characters so you have a villain to fight, and it doesn't make them any less a good person or any less a good DM.

As a personal example, I have a chaotic neutral rogue/artificer/bard (I haven't decided which way I want to multiclass.) Said character is chaotic neutral because she has seen the men in charge fail the people they were supposed to serve (therefore chaotic, valuing personal freedom) and because she's seen and done things that make her believe she isn't a good person (though she doesn't believe she's a bad one, either.) She might believe that the ends justify the means, but there are lines that she still won't cross.

Alignments are nuanced. They're highly dependent on the situation and the group you play with. As a DM, if you have a justification for why your character alignment is what it is, I'll listen and allow it, but bear in mind that how your character acts will affect how people around them react to them. (For instance, if your character has been a jerk to everyone in the vicinity, I'll probably set the persuasion DC at 25--which, unless you're a level 20 character, is very high.)

Also, fun fact--if you play chaotic, you're kind of sharing the same half of the political compass with the libertarians. 😊

Go forth! Have fun!

[recycledoj]

This old bit came up in a Discord server.

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Best way to describe each alignment

Lawful Good: "I follow the laws because they are good. Breaking the law is wrong."

Neutral good: "I want to do the most good for the most amount of people."

Chaotic good: "I will do what I think is right."

Lawful neutral: "I am governed solely by my creed and will do whatever is the best course of action so long as it aligns with my laws."

True Neutral: "I am governed by logic. The best course of action is what should always be done, regardless of impact on others."

Chaotic Neutral: "I am governed solely by my emotions and I will do good or bad depending on how I feel."

Lawful evil: "I do whatever I want but I also have a set of personal rules to keep things fresh and won't DARE break them'

Neutral Evil: "I will do whatever is to achieve my end goal and I don't care how many people get hurt."

Chaotic evil: "I have zero impulse control. I have no interest in end goals or honor, I just want what I want and anything getting in the way will be destroyed."

[thursdayplaid]

How to Identify Character Alignments: A Field Guide

Lawful Good: Smiling on the outside, crying on the inside.  Doesn’t realize they’re Important until the third act.  Provides someone food at least once.  Paperwork (TM).  Faith in the System, not in the Leader.  Will sometimes throw people under the bus because The System Works and It Will Be Okay.

Neutral Good: Has a Friend Assortment.  Journey of discovery where they knock something over and think they’re a rebel.  Talks about life in metaphorical terms.  Is just here to find a companion and learn something about themselves.  Will make a point about mentioning some food item.

Chaotic Good: Cannot stay clean.  At some point they’re going to have to sit or kneel in order to show an emotional shift.  Is a martyr because the System Isn’t Working.  They Will Cry.  For some reason isn’t eating even though everyone else is?  Can live in the woods with little effort.

Lawful Neutral: Sorry, sir, a background character you love that’s too interesting to be a background character will die.  Will be holding papers at some point.  Is up for some things.  At some point they have to ask who someone is or where someone is.  They work the system to protect someone.

True Neutral: Starts out as ambiguously ‘bad’ but we know they’re going to end up with the good guys by the end of the story.  Wears leather on their feet.  Has a narratively important debt.  Knows People.  Is up for anything (Terms and Conditions will apply).  Holds cups by the rim.

Chaotic Neutral: Will kill for you.  Says it’s for the money but it’s really cause they just feel like it.  An older family member pats their head and calls them sweet while seeming mostly normal.  Is actually up for anything.  Comedic relief.  You have now unlocked their tragic backstory.

Lawful Evil: A smile that makes you call your therapist.  Doesn’t want to start drama, just thinks you should know.  Prepare to be crushed by the wheels of the System.  Never gets in trouble for anything.  Talks in a baby voice at least once.  Likes to wear something with their favorite color.  Not so secret racist.

Neutral Evil:  They’re just doing a job until they’re not.  Blank face, something wild happening behind them.  They have had enough and now they’re going to do a violence.  Petty revenge and easy offense.  Just wants to see what will happen (they know what will happen).  Has an accent clothing piece.

Chaotic Evil: Has a Theme.  Destroys something to make a point.  Says they don’t care but puts too much time into their appearance.  An amoeba that learned how to be inconvenient.  Thinks they’re a philosopher king, speaks nonsense.  Won’t take responsibility for their actions. 

[horrordirtbag]

have this i guess

[sidebyside-withafriend]

I made a chart

for example: (I could have done this for other fandoms but I do have other stuff to do rn lol) 

I also put my OCs on this because that’s where I thought it up in the first place 

feel free to use this for other fandoms or your own OCs :) 

(I know badass and soft are not technically mutually exclusive but no character fits perfectly in a box so whatever)

[blood-ology]

I made a thing