What Alignment is Most-Often Played Incorrectly?

[Phantom Lamb]

Any D&D player worth his salt has had some form of alignment debate. There are many ways to interpret good, evil, neutrality, law, and chaos. While the PHB has some firm concepts on these alignment traits, players are often confused or ignorant of the D&D meanings.

So, what do you think? In your time playing Sundren, NWN, or even P&P, what alignment is most-often played incorrectly? Where do you see people making the most mistakes, and what are they?

[Doubtful]

No 'All of the above' button?

[Kaeldorn]

I voted Neutral Good. People too easily fall into condoning the presence of clear threats with the excuse that they themselves are lenient, and they won't believe the wrongs of anyone's methods until they literally see that person eat a baby right in front of them. Even then they wonder if someone cast an illusion to trick them into seeing the horrible things people are capable of

Being ignorant and open minded is fine, but neutral good guys do not avoid making enemies if it serves the greater good to do so.

[TheBlankStare]

I've got to agree with Doubtful. There is very little consistency in general with how anyone plays any specific alignment. It seems like most of the PC characters around are True Neutral these days.

[Sonja BloodRayne]

Personally most ppl don't play the evil's correctly. If your chaotic evil....then you should play it that way. Or if your character is supposed to be more evil and you pick neutral or chaotic neutral...no no no...I need an all of the above button LOL

[prismaticcrow]

To be honest, I don't think it's as bad as some might make it out to be. I believe that alignment is just a set of guidelines and does not stricty determine how you must act, only how you basically tend to act. Every person has tendancies, and situational exceptions to their alignment, and it does not mean that they suddenly change alignments because of them.

Two characters of the same alignment do not have to act like each other. I think the only real confusion is when people compare Lawful Good to the Paladin. Only the Paladin must act a certain way (as dictated by his chosen path and God). A Lawful Good fighter does not have to act like a Paladin.

Right from the D&D core handbook itself: "Alignment is not a straightjacket."

So yeah. My vote is Lawful Good. But that's just my opinion.

[Phantom Lamb]

Now that many have weighed in, I will tell you the correct answer. (*snort!*)

I picked chaotic neutral. This is the alignment that breeds "chaotic stupid" more often than not--the character who bases his action on nothing but whim, basically. Or, those who get hung up on the word "chaos" as a term for blowing things up, rather than "anti-order." In fact, I think a lot of misconceptions could be cleared up if they just changed law / chaos to different terms.

[ZubMessiah]

Agreeing with Mr. Prismaticcrow here, though I voted CE becuase a lot of people play their characters WAY too clandestine to be chaotic evil; alignment is really just a way for the game system to judge you based on your actions. Detect, protection versus, damage resistance are affected while a person's acting may or may not be.
A guy who tortures infants and then runs a soup kitchen (withut infant meat) for the homeless would be some sort of evil, but would it be noticable?

Really, there's no real 100% way to say what alignment a person is unless they're a paladin, or unless you ask out of character... Except for detecting good and evil..

[gbbishop]

I've got to agree with Doubtful. There is very little consistency in general with how anyone plays any specific alignment. It seems like most of the PC characters around are True Neutral these days.

I would say this reflects the human condition fairly well. least with adventuring types. It also give you the most flexibility when deciding your toon's ethics.

I think that anyone who has logged on during off peak times has found them selves opting to be more accepting of others for the simple fact that if they do they have someone to play with.

Sure you can stick to your guns but chances are you come off as a prick, I guess that is okay too, maybe a bit of PVP comes from it. Hells maybe even a long standing feud begins. I dunno.

I also can't say which alignment is miss played cuz nobody walks around with a big ol' I'M LAWFUL EVIL stamped on their forhead.

I also thing that the alignment system is pretty flawed because what one sees as and act of good slaying veritas for example... could be seen by another as inexplicably evil.

The only way alignment could be figured as one value is if it is a personal perspective. Well that just boils down to what you are willing to justify.

I tend to be too good natured when I play, but I don't think I "missplay" my toons. they are my toons after all... not yours! who are you to judge me? STOP JUDGING ME!!!! ......

I honestly don't know what to vote for.

as with all big decisions in life I will consult the D20.

[BedlamX]

I completely HATE the D&D alignment system. Hate it. With a passion.

I play mostly good or neutral (with good leanings) toons. I really prefer Neutral or LN. Problem is...I also play any Lawful as more of honor-bound than just following the laws. I much prefer the Palladium alignments. No true neutrals, good, selfish, and evil. They even have an evil that I base my LE toons on (Aberrant). Kinda an honorable evil.

For D&D...I'd say true neutral is the most messed up playerwise. I have never seen a charater that would push for laws in an anarchy state, then turn around and bitch about them when they get slightly oppressive. It is EXTREMELY rare for anyone to hang with the evil guys while the good guys are in power, then switch sides when evil takes over. Not many toons are happy with a completely balanced stand-off. There needs to be some sort of conflict to keep things going.

[Firechicken]

I mostly play N people or CE but thats just because with being good you have to follow laws and you cant have fun... So anything from between N to CE I play..

[Kaizen]

I mostly play N people or CE but thats just because with being good you have to follow laws and you cant have fun... So anything from between N to CE I play..

uh ...Chaotic Good?

Id have to go with True Neutral. Lots of apathetic players with good intentions there ... but they don't really do anything 'good' hearted. They'll fight the bad guy sure, but they won't give money to the adventurer that is poor, go out of their way for someone etc etc.

[Doubtful]

I'm standing by my 'All of the Above' line...

Personally I quite like the alignment structure (This is a recent development, I used to hate it) that D&D uses; however I do agree that Lawful/Chaotic could do with being renamed to prevent confusion.

I mostly play N people or CE but thats just because with being good you have to follow laws and you cant have fun... So anything from between N to CE I play..

This is one of the problems - No offence FC, but you obviously utterly fail to understand the Alignment system.

Following laws, has NOTHING AT ALL to do with the alignment system - the alignment system is supposed to be a quick guideline to a persons moral code.

Being Good, or being Lawful does not mean following laws or not having fun; hells, D&D lore shows that the most fun out there is open to CG/NG characters; the world is made for them.

Also worth saying; if a DM gives you alignment points, do not whinge like a spoilt child about it - Doing so is likely to mean you will not be included in DM events by that DM again. Discussion is fine, whining is not.

And, seeing as I'm feeling stern today; Clerics! Divine Casters! Learn your lore! If you don't learn your dogma and carry on ignoring, or worse utterly flouting it, it you stand a very large risk of loosing your ability to cast divine spells.

[Lanemeyer]

People use to believe that a lawful person must follow a city law, and I think a lawful person is a loyal guy to his own laws or code, or to his own order, band, group or whatever.

For exemple, I think a thief in Sundren who doesn't care about the city laws and break all of them can still be lawful if he is stealing to prize his leader or something like that.

Leader: "hey, go and steal some food for the band"

Guy: "yes sir"

Forgive me if I am wrong though

[Maevan2]

Forgive me if I am wrong though

If you are wrong then i am wrong too