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Arion Elenim
Senior Scribe
933 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Apr 2004 : 15:02:09
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Well, my feeble brain interprets this problem to be a matter of definition.
If one defines "stealing" as being a sufficient condition for "thief-hood", then alignment has yet to be established. Separating rogue from thief is not a matter of attitude or alignment...it is a matter of profession.
Stealing is a neutral profession as far as D&D defines it. I happen to feel that honest intention is the only indicator of alignment (in other words, a paladin being forcibly controlled and made to murder an innocent is STILL of good alignment). That said, stealing can take many forms.
Here is my argument with the good Magic Matt's points...
1) Thieves- deliberately prey on other human beings. The issue that I have with this argument is that the deliberate "preying" upon other humans sounds very vile indeed, however, taking advantage of others is not necessarily evil - it is survivalistic.
2) Thieves- knowingly cause harm to other people, emotionally, financially, and sometimes physically. Other classes do this is well. Does this make a sorcerer evil if he harms another? Any other being at all? Fighters do the exact same thing. In truth, I will agree with Matt if we define "other people" to mean "innocent people". However, a thief who harms a tyrant....?
3) Thieves- who commit burglaries while armed (as she does), always risk that they will kill their victim or another innocent person if discovered in the act.
Again, the act is not important. What is important is who the deed is done against and the intention behind the action.
4) Thieves- know that they harm society, know that if caught it will harm their families, yet they are selfish enough to still be thieves. Every adventurer takes this risk everyday. Singling out thieves is a fallacy of definition. One could argue that the Lords of Waterdeep do the EXACT same thing, as "if caught it will harm their families, yet they are selfish enough to still be Lords of Waterdeep", yet the Lords are undeniably good.
So...that's all I got. Thanks!
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My latest Realms-based short story, about a bard, a paladin of Lathander and the letter of the law, Debts Repaid. It takes place before the "shattering" and gives the bard Arion a last gasp before he plunges into the present.http://candlekeep.com/campaign/logs/log-debts.htm |
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Thieves can not be good!
