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Laerrigan
Learned Scribe
USA
195 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 02:16:43
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The Alignment thread spawned this curiosity in me, but people don't generally go into much depth there and I think it might go a little OT if they did, since the OP didn't ask "Why?"
I've read at least a couple of scribes saying they play chaotic to get a break from the law and order of their real life. If you use a certain alignment to "get away," is it simply for a challenge and something different? Or is it because you yourself are inherently more chaotic/rebellious than you're forced to behave in real life?
As for me, I tend toward law in my PCs. They aren't painfully lawful, and I hate Lawful Stupid, but my PCs do tend a bit more toward law than chaos. This is because in real life I lean in that direction, myself, and thus I find decisionmaking from that perspective to be more natural, quick, and enjoyable in real-time RP (writing is another matter).
Like me, my lawful PCs follow their desires as much as any sane chaotic does; it's just that their desires, like mine, (generally) uphold law and order because they (usually) believe that to be best (for whatever reason, depending on individual and circumstance). A person can have conflicting desires, one to break a certain law and one to uphold the structure of the law and the order, safety, and community it enables; and that person can choose what (s)he considers to be better, not necessarily more immediately and personally pleasurable. Or one may choose to follow the dictates of a higher authority because one knows and fully trusts that authority, and one knows it to have a better perspective and understanding as well as to care. And, of course, there is internal law as well as external.
I tend away from evil for the same basic reasons stated above: allowing something of myself to come through in the way most enjoyable for me. The vast majority of the time, I don't enjoy desiring harm, destruction, pain, grief, etc. for others, so I don't bother forcing myself into it for my passtime. I can write evil, but I'm horrible at RPing it in real time for very long.
What alignment (on either axis) do you most tend toward in RP, but more importantly, why? What does it mean to you or do for you? Are you escaping your environment? Your self? What has playing an outlook vastly different from what you originally saw in yourself shown you about yourself? How about one that fits you very well (because that can be just as self-revealing)?
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"Your 'reality,' sir, is lies and balderdash, and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever." (Baron Munchausen)
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was not made for this world." (C.S. Lewis, "Surprised by Joy") |
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wintermute27
Learned Scribe
USA
179 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 03:28:15
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I know for me, unless given specific limitations from the GM, I tend to come up with a character concept, and then fit an alignment to them afterwords.
Looking back through my collection of sheets for character I have played just focused on the alignments has been interesting. Every one of my characters from middle and high school was Chaotic Neutral. All of them. I'm guessing that I was using these characters as a way to go against the forced "Lawful nature" of the US public school system.
Since then, most have been Lawful Neutral with the occasional Neutral Good, Lawful Evil, True Neutral, and Neutral Evil. The LN characters make since, since that fits with my personal outlook on life. Play what you know.
The others are from a recent trend I'm on in exploring interesting characters that started when I began GMing on a regular basis. For example, the NE character that sticks out in my head right now was inspired by some thoughts I had about the motivations of the typical sadistic thug. You could almost call it a series of character studies. |
My Current Campaign: The Adventures of the Stonelanders |
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Sill Alias
Senior Scribe
Kazakhstan
588 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 06:00:58
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| As for me, alignment is chosen from my life. In evil characters I add all my negative emotions, but it is not much, so I play more good characters. I also hate anything that forbids my freedom of movement, wherever I am. |
You can hear many tales from many mouths. The most difficult is to know which of them are not lies. - Sill Alias
"May your harp be unstrung, your dreams die and all your songs be unsung." - curse of the harper, The Code of the Harpers 2 ed.
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Dinnin
Seeker
Australia
53 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 06:11:58
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Im Chaotic in my characters, more of a do what i want. my Evil isnt really evil unless you ask some of my party members who i have kill "accidently"
there is so much structure in my life that i like to get into game and just do what i want when i want to. Dont generally play good cos its always more neurtral anyway.
plus it generally turns out that my character always has something to be picked on so he gets his own back with his weapons, always a kill first ask questions later. Was a somewhat angry child so that was always my outlet
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"Use yer heads! A barnyard goose tastes better 'an a wild one cause it don't use its muscles. The same oughta hold true for a giant's brains!"
Bruenor Battlehammer |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3248 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 06:16:01
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| It really depends on the character for me. But I usually wind up with characters that are either Neutral Good or Chaotic Good. |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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MrHedgehog
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 08:01:10
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| I've only ever made a Neutral character. I prefer to judge each situation and do what is pragmatic for that situation without any particular ideology. |
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 13:27:07
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| I usually tend to play a Good or Neutral Good character as that is my general outlook on life. Sometimes I will play an evil character for the opportunity to be something vastly different (and to take out some frustrations in a constructive way). |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 13:27:57
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| I usually tend to play a Good or Neutral Good character as that is my general outlook on life. Sometimes I will play an evil character for the opportunity to be something vastly different (and to take out some frustrations in a constructive way). |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
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Cleric Generic
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
565 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 13:56:12
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I'll usually pick a character concept, etc, and then pick an alignment that vaguely fits it. I occasionally like playing fanatical characters that are fairly dogma and alignment driven because it's a pretty solid role-playing aide and base for development (also a good excuse for some good old fashioned kick-in-the-door behaviour).
EDIT: er, yeah... to actually answer the question: I don't really have any particular alignment preferences or reasons to pick one or another other than suitability to the character I've just dreamed up. |
Cedric! The Cleric Generic and Master of Disguise!
ALL HAIL LORD KARSUS!!!
Vast Realmslore Archive: Get in here and download everything! http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archfr/rl
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Edited by - Cleric Generic on 19 Apr 2010 13:58:06 |
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Thauramarth
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
732 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 17:50:05
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| I don't play certain alignments, because I happen to be lazy. I tend to go with alignments that I can see a bit of which in myself, and therefore I do not have to make big efforts to stay "in role". Which means I usually never do chaotics. |
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Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2010 : 04:33:59
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Generally, I play Lawful or Chaotic; I find Neutral Good to be too unbelievably altruistic and Neutral Evil to be just downright scary. On the rare occasions when we run an evil game (which never lasts for more than a couple of sessions, and which I haven't been a part of since before 3E), I always play fascists (LE) or psychopaths (CE). Having a minor in Psych has really helped my evil characters be scary, but I never get to use it except when I'm DMing (as I said a moment ago in other words, the last time I was in a group of evil PCs was before my degree; I graduated, and finished DMing a five-year 2E campaign, a month or two before 3E was released; we closed the storyline with Return to the Tomb of Horrors followed by The Apocalypse Stone, both relocated to the Realms; Acererak makes a nice Imaskari demilich). My good-aligned PCs are always LG or CG, usually the latter; I reserve LG for paladins and clerics, because my fave non-evil Realmsian gods are mostly NG, LG or LN (Torm, Helm, Amaunator, Lathander... and yes, both of the latter exist in my Realms, and always have; but no more about the DC here). My CG characters are usually fighters or rangers, with the occasional wizard if my DM is allowing wild mages... and those tend toward CN.  Chaotic (anything) is definitely the alignment I have the most fun playing, mostly because I'm a compulsive rules-junkie in RL... except when I'm running a game, in which case I'll play fast and loose with anything if it makes the game more interesting for the players. Rolling dice and chuckling evilly for no reason at random intervals is something I'm sure all DMs do from time to time, but my players hate me for it. I guess that makes me a Chaotic Neutral DM... but that might be a topic for a new scroll: What's your DM's alignment? 
Edit: put in an important missing word; if you didn't catch it, good...  |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
Edited by - Jakk on 21 Apr 2010 06:18:07 |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2010 : 05:19:01
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LOL, funny, Jakk. This is an interesting topic. Overall, I'd have to say (And I think I said it before over in the other thread) that I normally play CG, with CN fairly close behind. I have palyed LG and CE before, but those were experimental characters. The only evil pc I've ever played is my half-drow be-otch Morganna, whom I've described elsewhere as my "inner witch-with-a-b" coming out. (My "healthy" way of taking out RL frustrartions in-game :D ) I'd have to say I'm probably CG IRL, so it just feels natural for me to play that alignment. Not that I'm all "down with authority", just have a healthy mis-trust for it, and a little cynicism thrown in for good measure. So my pc's tend to go for the greater good, and screw the law if it's wrong. (As a side note to that, I would have been anti-Registration in Marvel's Civil War arc, natch!) As a DM, however, I am most definitely CE- just ask any of my players!!!
Edited to register post cause of that frickin script-time message.... |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
Edited by - Alystra Illianniis on 21 Apr 2010 20:41:54 |
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Tren of Twilight Tower
Seeker
51 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2010 : 01:49:02
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By default I am playing CG* - unless experimenting with a class that asks for different alignment.
*C - for it gives me freedom that I do not have in real life. For example, law does not always spell justice. Truth be told, neither does my wand, yet I trust it more.
*G - for no matter how hard I try to be an evil boyo, it just does not feel right. I guess my mother did too good job on that account...
Tren |
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Laerrigan
Learned Scribe
USA
195 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 02:09:58
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| Hmm....It's been more than half a year and we have quite a few new members poking around the shelves now. I'm interested to see what more people might say on this topic. Reading all of the above has been intriguing. *BUMP* back to the front of the shelf.... |
"Your 'reality,' sir, is lies and balderdash, and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever." (Baron Munchausen)
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was not made for this world." (C.S. Lewis, "Surprised by Joy") |
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MalariaMoon
Learned Scribe
324 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 04:00:16
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Duly noted Laerigan. I for one tend towards player with some level of neutrality, be it good or evil. However, I find it interesting observe that many role players seem to take alignments to their absolute extremes. Whereas I would interpret most chaotic characters as whimsical, disorganised, free thinking people, many players seem to interpret it as unpredictability to an almost psychotic level. Likewise, as mentioned before, there is a lot of Lawful Stupid, where characters seem to act closer to machines than humans, rigidly following a path of utter lawfulness irrespective of the consequences to them, their comrades and the world around them.
Although the more extreme interpretations are certainly valid enough, it doesn't seem to ring true when every chaotic character is an adventuring party is CRAZY to the core! |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36877 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 04:30:45
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| I personally consider myself NG, so that's the alignment I favor. That said, I'd have PCs that had other alignments, simply because it was appropriate to the character. So it all depends on the character concept. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 04:53:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I personally consider myself NG, so that's the alignment I favor. That said, I'd have PCs that had other alignments, simply because it was appropriate to the character. So it all depends on the character concept.
I've been told that I'm mostly likely to be represented as CG, and that's largely the kind of alignment mindset I've followed in my games anyway. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 05:11:58
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lol, I'd perceived ye as being most L(G), Sage. And Wooly NG, but professing C(G) tendencies, LG job, and (L)E aspirations.
[Yeah, I cheated and read about five earlier scrolls about this exact topic.] |
[/Ayrik] |
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Brynweir
Senior Scribe
USA
436 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 08:08:16
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I typically play CN because that is the closest to my gut reactions and therefore the easiest to play. I'm a mediator, middle of the rode kind of person, thinking more with my heart than my head. CG would be next because I am basically a good person, and that concept is close to how I would act after thinking. LG is just too much like me when I was younger, and I don't like feeling that naive again. Not saying it is naive, just that it makes me feel that way.
I love playing NE, though. My NE characters are just... fun. When I play NE... most people never know until it's too late... I don't play CE because that evil without real thought is just too crazy for me, and it typically results in a bad game because they don't get on well with other characters. There is only so much you can do to lessen the damage.
I think I find LN the most difficult to play. All the L alignments are difficult for me, really, but that one is the worst and I'm not sure why.
I do have one NG character I absolutely adore. She's a blast to play, and so sweet without making you puke...  |
Anyone who likes to read something that's really dark and gritty and completely awesome ought to read The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks. You can check out a little taste at www.BrentWeeks.com I should probably warn you, though, that it is definitely not PG-13 :-D
He also started a new Trilogy with Black Prism, which may even surpass the Night Angel Trilogy in its awesomeness.
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Laerrigan
Learned Scribe
USA
195 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 15:57:47
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| Arik---I just did a search and came across several scrolls asking what your real-life alignment is and what you prefer to play, in various wordings, but nothing asking the things I'm asking here. Not all replies here may be entirely answering what I'm asking, but I suppose that just means communication between humanish types isn't always perfect. |
"Your 'reality,' sir, is lies and balderdash, and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever." (Baron Munchausen)
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was not made for this world." (C.S. Lewis, "Surprised by Joy") |
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Rhewtani
Senior Scribe
USA
508 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 16:11:03
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I was blessed with the opportunity to play under a single GM who was running multiple campaigns at once. Based on who could make it on game night, we'd play different groups. In addition, one other member had a game running, that would occasionally get run, as well.
So, I had a LG paladin, a NGish Wizard, a NE Elven Archer (EV), and a NE Wizard in the other world. I find I cannot run "evil" for a consistently long time and both of my "evil" characters made exceptions to their code of being evil for "loyalty and friendship."
The NE Elven Archer was not particularly aware that he was evil - he just had hatred issues involving filthy elven-grave-robbing humans, which he was pretty sure was all humans. He rejoiced when an individual human party member died, but was overall dedicated to keeping the group intact and alive.
The NE Wizard was "corrupted" by the shadow of a long dead wizard that had partially possessed him. The only remaining streak of good in him was his love for his companions and he would kill infants to protect them. This was mostly built around the DM's somewhat competitive style, his love for wizards and thus frequent rewards to wizard characters and the frequent problems that arose between the leader of the group and this dm. I found I could get us out of any situation since I was fueld with gross amounts of power by playing the DM's favorite class and I was not bound by "morality" as a character. Kind of like hardcore munchkining/power gaming in order to keep everyone else's characters alive and free to roleplay heroes.
Playing the LG Paladin let me run strong with the "by life or death i will see this through" motto and was a lot of fun. I kept my diplomacy up and made a decent character set up, but for the most part it was just the roleplay. I made a few mistakes early on which resulted in the guidance from an NPC of "You must resign yourself to drawing your blade last." So, throw in being bound to incapability of lying and I always had running in the back of my head - "Oh this is going to screw me over, bad, but ... here we go." Much in the same way, I'd imagine Aragorn's player would have thought to himself before setting off for the gates of Mordor.
And the NG Wizard? Well, that's just me.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 18:01:16
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quote:
Laerrigan
Arik---I just did a search and came across several scrolls asking what your real-life alignment is and what you prefer to play, in various wordings, but nothing asking the things I'm asking here. Not all replies here may be entirely answering what I'm asking, but I suppose that just means communication between humanish types isn't always perfect.
Sorry, I should've been more specific; when I searched those same scrolls a few weeks ago, it was to quickly gather alignment data to flesh out my bumbling (yet amazingly dangerous) Candlekeep expedition in Phlan.
I would perceive myself as being, in D&D terms, aligned towards Lawful Neutral. I approach things methodically, I seek to discover or impose organization and structure in all details, I choose my words and actions with careful precision. My vocation and avocations require logical, ordered thinking processes. Yet I despise senseless order, useless rules, bureaucracy, and inefficiency; and (with a little effort) I can be as sloppy and haphazard as required to just get things done in a quick'n'dirty manner. In my (much) younger days I was predisposed towards Good, though I'm perhaps a bit too cynical and self-reliant today - my life lessons underscored that Good is good, but definitions of Good vary (and get manipulated by non-Good) far too often for the distinction to be meaningful in any social context. I am now (as I have always been) only as Good as as my personal definitions allow, I am far more of an ethical person than a moral one [Edit: this does not mean I'm claiming to be immoral]. Popular Good is largely a humanitarian deontology, whereas I'm a pragmatic utilitarian.
The D&D alignment system is a grandly inaccurate oversimplification. I've demonstrated plenty of capacity for creativity, spontaneity, eccentric and impulsive behaviour, and a stubbornly an indomitably fierce independent streak (groups suck, they're restrictive, and they often accomplish less than capable individuals can) - these are all hallmarks of D&D's Chaotic alignment, though I doubt anyone who knows me (as a reliably neurotic ESTJ/ISTJ machine) would ever describe me as a chaotic individual. Even chaos can be measured in ordered terms, the mathematics and logic of entropy are more complex, yet can still always accurately predict emergent hierarchies and patterns.
Sage - you are the only scribe in the aforementioned scrolls who cleverly avoided asserting any definite claim to alignment. And ye have (so far) foiled my vaguely cunning attempt to bait it out of you in this scroll, ye sly dog. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 31 Dec 2010 21:57:37 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12020 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2011 : 16:55:17
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| When I PLAY I tend to play a lawful good (mostly) character. Why? Because I DM so much that I get more than enough of being an evil character. So, when I'm playing, I'm also subtly trying to show my players that some people DO worry about what the authorities will think, want to work for the greater good, don't want to break their contracts, etc.... |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2011 : 22:47:25
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Almost always I play neutral good, with chaotic good a close second (and either humans or elves, also). I think they tend to fit my personality better, so games flow more smoothly.
I did play an evil character once, in an evil-aligned group for a very cool game in the Underdark, and it was a fun sideways experiment for all of us. But without a really good character concept and a truly creative dark campaign, playing evil is really pretty hard for me. But that one game, with our selfishness and lies and backstabbing, that was darn good fun. |
Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2011 : 00:01:02
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Y'know, for being the (basically) decent person that I am, I've NEVER had a problem playing evil. Maybe it's just my creatively devious streak, or my occasionally dark and twisted sense of humor, but I find playing evil characters (whether as a player or DM) to be refreshingly fun and cathartic. Given some of my rather nasty RL daydreams regarding certain people in my life, I suppose it's just a way to let off steam and keep myself sane.
Otherwise, my independent and good-naturedly rebellious temperament seems to run more toward CG characters. Probably has to do with my own natural inclinations to believe in "the greater good" as opposed to the strictly lawful definition of good. NG might come close, but is too often altruistic without real purpose behind it to suit me. In other words, I love being the good guy, but I GOTTA have a cause, even if it's one that goes against the grain! Doing good for it's own sake without strong beliefs one way or another is simply not my style. I am more than willing to help out those who need it, but my ideas of "who needs it" tend to place me more on the chaotic end of things. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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WHY do you play (or not) certain alignments?
