NationStates Jolt Archive


What's your alignment?

Zexaland
01-03-2007, 12:21
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_%28role-playing_games%29

Topic.

I'd say I'm a Lawful Neutral.
Similization
01-03-2007, 12:30
I'm Chaotic Good (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_%28Dungeons_%26_Dragons%29#Chaotic_Good)
Armacor
01-03-2007, 12:39
CG-CN about half way between :-D
Cameroi
01-03-2007, 12:39
neutral good.

keeping a low profile and maintaining a vaneer of lawfulness, at least up to a reasonable point. and doing a hell of a lot better of a job of it, if i say so myself, then certain powers that be (who are neither lawful nor good anyway, however loudly they try to pretend to be. well the're not trying very hard to look lawful cause they don't really feel that they have to, but the're damd sure not good in game alignment terms by any streatch of it. not that anything available to the public would rationaly indicate at any rate) in the mundane world.

it's not about being a saint; it's about the kind of world we all have to live in!

=^^=
.../\...
Compulsive Depression
01-03-2007, 12:43
Somewhere between Chaotic Good and Neutral Evil, depending on mood.
Kanabia
01-03-2007, 12:48
Chaotic good? But then, I don't believe in a universal "good", so probably closer to neutral?
Bokkiwokki
01-03-2007, 12:51
My alignment?
Generally vertical when walking, and horizontal when lying down. :D
Delator
01-03-2007, 12:52
cHAOTIC nEUTRAL.


:p
Bolol
01-03-2007, 12:53
I usually play plain 'ol Neutral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_%28Dungeons_%26_Dragons%29#Neutral), nothing to tie me down.
Similization
01-03-2007, 13:14
CG-CN about half way between :-DHehe, same here, but I strive to be on the good side.Chaotic good? But then, I don't believe in a universal "good", so probably closer to neutral?Depends on how you define universal. If you're talking about a universal human (or similar) perspective, then I think you're wrong. If you're talking about the existence of some sort of morality disconnected from humans (or similar beings), then it would appear you're right. But this particular system isn't disconnected from the human (or similar) point of view.
Compulsive Depression
01-03-2007, 13:18
Depends on how you define universal. If you're talking about a universal human (or similar) perspective, then I think you're wrong. If you're talking about the existence of some sort of morality disconnected from humans (or similar beings), then it would appear you're right. But this particular system isn't disconnected from the human (or similar) point of view.

It was actually Kanabia that said that, not me :)
Although I'm of the opinion that good and evil are subjective too, but the D&D system assumes there is an objective good-neutral-evil, and it's your job to decide where you fit in it.
Infinite Revolution
01-03-2007, 13:30
how would i know?
East Nhovistrana
01-03-2007, 13:31
Chaotic Neutral.
Rambhutan
01-03-2007, 13:35
Towards the sunrise at the winter solstice.
Kanabia
01-03-2007, 13:39
Depends on how you define universal. If you're talking about a universal human (or similar) perspective, then I think you're wrong. If you're talking about the existence of some sort of morality disconnected from humans (or similar beings), then it would appear you're right. But this particular system isn't disconnected from the human (or similar) point of view.

No, even within a human context, I don't think in most situations that there's an objective "good". There are too many grey areas in life and one can come up with innumerable examples to prove it - an oft quoted one being "is it fine to kill one person to save 10 others?" My personal morality would dictate "no", particularly if the person is an innocent, but then the utilitarian within me is saying it's correct. In such a situation, which is the "good" path? One of them, both, or neither?

To come up with one closer to the D&D context, suppose you're living in a society in which slavery is perfectly sanctioned by the legal system - this is abhorrent to the personal moralities of most people (including, obviously, myself). Suppose that you have the opportunity to assist a group of slaves, however (and we'll assume that you don't have any idea of the conditions that their master keeps them in). Setting them free in a brazen fashion would perhaps have grave repercussions for yourself (and perhaps your family), and a bare fraction of the slaves might eventually make it to freedom, the others being executed for their "crime". It's possible that their lives would be longer (perhaps better) if you stayed away, instead. I imagine that the Chaotic Good character would opt for releasing them, whilst the Lawful Good might stay away, perhaps helping them in a lesser fashion instead. But there's no clear "good" path in this situation. Releasing them could, conversely, even be an evil action, if one did so with the full knowledge that they have no chance of freedom. In the end, the considerations of morality come a distant second to the practicalities of the matter.
Kryozerkia
01-03-2007, 14:09
I'm Chaotic Neutral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_%28Dungeons_%26_Dragons%29#Chaotic_Neutral).
Deus Malum
01-03-2007, 14:15
Chaotic Evil. Gonna melt some faces, baby.
Armacor
01-03-2007, 14:30
if you are a paladin you HAVE to be LG... its the rules... also if you stray from LG in any way you lose you status as a paladin :-) letter not spirit of the law too.
Kyronea
01-03-2007, 14:31
Probably Neutral Good. I'd have said Lawful Good but after looking at it on Wiki I see that I'm more neutral than lawful. Good, of course, because I care about everyone. You'd probably see me as a Paladin and/or just plain neato Wizard.
Kanabia
01-03-2007, 14:50
Well screw that then. What kind of class has the best balance between physical fighting abilities and magical abilities(perhaps, if possible, including the ability to use curative magics) that could be played by a Neutral Good character?

Dual class fighter/cleric, or a ranger (although their magical abilities are limited).
Kyronea
01-03-2007, 14:52
if you are a paladin you HAVE to be LG... its the rules... also if you stray from LG in any way you lose you status as a paladin :-) letter not spirit of the law too.

Well screw that then. What kind of class has the best balance between physical fighting abilities and magical abilities(perhaps, if possible, including the ability to use curative magics) that could be played by a Neutral Good character?
Armacor
01-03-2007, 14:53
ah cleric...

probably of one of those combat orientated gods tho :-)
Kord or St Cuthbert comes to mind first :-)

also please dont confuse cleric with priest... priests suck horribly... no armor, limited spells - basically useless NPCs clerics on the other hand wear heavy armor, carry big weapons and beat the living "tar?" out of people and things... :-)
Shx
01-03-2007, 14:57
Probably Neutral-Evil
Kyronea
01-03-2007, 15:01
Dual class fighter/cleric, or a ranger (although their magical abilities are limited).

Looks like I'd be dual-classing it, then. I suck at archery.
Wagdog
01-03-2007, 15:11
Although I haven't played D&D, I usually range widely between either Lawful Good or Lawful Evil (This is what Lenin is usually quoted as, despite me disagreeing with the assessment...:headbang:) depending on my mood. Lawful Neutral/"Cynical" is my norm I guess.
Note that I use "Lawful" in all cases since I generally believe people in power have the simple ability to establish whatever morality they choose, regardless of what philosophers might have to say about "rights." What's right over here in the US literally is wrong in (for example) North Korea, as a simple matter of common sense and courtesy (unless you somehow like going about searching for monsters to destroy...:rolleyes:), and equally so vice-versa (which makes North Korean spies quite punishable if caught trying to visit their laws on defectors or critics abroad, say...) if the argument is to hold at all.
Raksgaard
01-03-2007, 15:12
It's all about true-neutral. Gotta zen out on life, man. Everything in balance..... :D
Northern Borders
01-03-2007, 15:46
Chaotic Neutral.
Smunkeeville
01-03-2007, 16:00
I tend to play chaotic evil, because it's fun.

I have been told that IRL I tend to float between lawful good and neutral good, but I think you have to be one or the other, and that if I were lawful I couldn't be neutral and if I were neutral I wouldn't be purely lawful, but hey what do I know?



D&D Online Alignment Test


Your Character’s Alignment

Based on your answers to the quiz, your character’s most likely alignment is Lawful Good.
Exomnia
01-03-2007, 16:01
Lawful Stupid.
Szanth
01-03-2007, 16:05
Chaotic Good.

I tend to break the rules ("laws") and go a Robin-hooded approach. Where the law may frown on certain procedure to get things done, I'm fine with bitchslapping my friend as hard as I can after he tells me he euthanized his dog for peeing on the carpet. He's a moron, so I slapped him. The law wouldn't allow me to do so, but again, chaotic.
Daistallia 2104
01-03-2007, 16:09
how would i know?

You could always take the tes provided at the end of the wiki....

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20001222b

It gave me:

Chaotic Neutral

A chaotic neutral character follows his whims. He is an individualist first and last. He values his own liberty but doesn’t strive to protect others’ freedom. He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. The chaotic neutral character does not intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, he would have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others) or evil (and a desire to make those different from himself suffer). The common phrase for chaotic neutral is "true chaotic." Remember that the chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is not totally random. He is not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it. Chaotic neutral is the best alignment you can be because it represents true freedom both from society’s restrictions and from a do-gooder’s zeal.

The wiki further defines this as:

Chaotic Neutral

Chaotic Neutral is freedom from both society's restrictions and a do-gooder's zeal.

Chaotic neutral characters follow their whims. They are individualists first and last. They value their own liberty but do not strive to protect the freedom of others. They avoid authority, resent restrictions, and challenge traditions. Chaotic neutral characters don't intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, they would have to be motivated either by good (a desire to help people) or by evil (a desire to hurt people).

Chaotic neutral characters may be unpredictable, but their behavior is not totally random - they are not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it. However, they do act on momentary whims, and are known to be unreliable. As some would say, "the only reliable thing about them is that they cannot be relied upon!"

A wandering rogue who lives both by work for hire and petty theft, an eccentric mage who experiments with dangerous magic just to view the results, and a con-artist or hustler who plays all sides against the middle to further his own aims are all examples of chaotic neutral characters.

Chaotic Neutral is sometimes considered the "purest" form of chaos, without bias in favor of good or evil.

Strongly Chaotic Neutral

There are some Chaotic Neutral characters, such as the Xaositects, who choose to act in a manner that is as random as possible. Such people will regularly change their appearance, their attitudes, even the way they speak . These characters see chaos as the most important force in the universe (similar to how Lawful Neutral characters may see Law as a force upheld regardless of consequences). As a result, these characters might intentionally disrupt organizations on the simple basis that organizations are lawful entities which oppose the chaos. Such characters may appear insane to those not similarly inclined towards chaos.
Exomnia
01-03-2007, 16:19
Truly speaking, the Good/Evil Law/Chaos alignment system is far oversimplified.
Now I know it's a fantasy game, but morality is far too complex to be pigeonholed into 9 (sometimes 10 or even 11) convenient boxes.
Different books, and even different parts in the same book, have interpreted law and chaos to mean different things. Among its different interpretations are a person's feelings on government and laws, a person's sense of honour, how orderly and logical a person's mind works, how flexible a person's mind is, whether a person prefers cities or countryside, and even how orderly a person likes to keep his or her house.
Too true, this always bothered me. It seemed to change with each book what it meant to be chaotic. Anyways, I could go on for paragraphs.
Szanth
01-03-2007, 16:27
Truly speaking, the Good/Evil Law/Chaos alignment system is far oversimplified.
Now I know it's a fantasy game, but morality is far too complex to be pigeonholed into 9 (sometimes 10 or even 11) convenient boxes.

Too true, this always bothered me. It seemed to change with each book what it meant to be chaotic. Anyways, I could go on for paragraphs.

True, reality is far more complex than this moral scale gives it credit for, but it's not a bad start. It's usable, it works in most situations.

Also, games with alignment scales tend to have a curve - almost an AI - with it normally giving correct credit where correct credit is due. In Fallout 2, I go into New Reno and kill every pimp and drug dealer (that's not important to the story) I can find. After I finish all the quests for the town's mob families, I kill all but one of them, leaving the smallest, least corrupt, and most beneficial to the city, the Wright family. This destroys the population count of the town - I wipe out a good 3/4 of its inhabitants, but the ones that are left have me listed as "Idolized" and my karma goes through the friggin' roof.

KOTOR, I use whatever personal means I feel I need to take to get things done correctly, regardless of law or order or the Jedi code - and I have yet to get even a single darkside point, ever.

Same thing with Fable.

Same thing with NWN 1 and 2.
Exomnia
01-03-2007, 16:34
I think the allegiance system in d20 modern is more accurate. It seems that people identify themselves morally with one or more concepts.
Risottia
01-03-2007, 16:34
I would describe myself as...
In Dnd system, something between lawful neutral and neutral good, but definitely not lawful good or true neutral. Schizophrenical good, maybe?
In Palladium, I feel I would be Scrupolous (good).
Heikoku
01-03-2007, 16:36
Chaotic Neutral.
Exomnia
01-03-2007, 16:39
Chaotic Neutral.

You didn't spell it all funky.
Neo Bretonnia
01-03-2007, 16:40
NG. I believe in the value of laws but I have no illusions about their sources or motivations.
Heikoku
01-03-2007, 16:41
You didn't spell it all funky.

That's because I didn't feel like it. See? CN. ;)
Exomnia
01-03-2007, 16:46
That's because I didn't feel like it. See? CN. ;)

You know what the most random thing a CN person could do is? Become LG.
Mythotic Kelkia
01-03-2007, 16:47
I think I'm somewhat a mixture of the most extreme parts of chaotic neutral and lawful neutral. I believe in the importance of laws and cultural customs, but that they do not exist in absolute terms; and should be broken if necessary for immediate survival. Tbh the alignment system is one of the things I detest the most about DnD, and if I were ever to play I would insist on replacing it with a system based on philosophy/worldviews. Each character would have a stated worldview that guides their actions; one based on or inspired by a real world philosophical school.
The Galirandi
01-03-2007, 16:48
According to the test, I'm neutral evil. I'd place myself somewhere between pure neutral and neutral evil, however.
Heikoku
01-03-2007, 16:49
You know what the most random thing a CN person could do is? Become LG.

I was LG once.
Risottia
01-03-2007, 16:53
Based on your answers to the quiz, your character’s most likely alignment is Lawful Good.

Lawful Good

A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. She combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. She tells the truth, keeps her word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion.

Damn.
Mythotic Kelkia
01-03-2007, 16:55
You're True Neutral.

yeh, I considered that, but I don't think it's accurate. I'm totally commited to both extremes, law and chaos, and nothing imbetween.
Heikoku
01-03-2007, 16:56
I think I'm somewhat a mixture of the most extreme parts of chaotic neutral and lawful neutral. I believe in the importance of laws and cultural customs, but that they do not exist in absolute terms; and should be broken if necessary for immediate survival. Tbh the alignment system is one of the things I detest the most about DnD, and if I were ever to play I would insist on replacing it with a system based on philosophy/worldviews. Each character would have a stated worldview that guides their actions; one based on or inspired by a real world philosophical school.

You're True Neutral.
Vetalia
01-03-2007, 17:40
Probably neutral good. I support both the rule of law and individual action when it comes to doing the right thing, but neither extreme.
Compulsive Depression
01-03-2007, 17:49
According to the test, today I'm Chaotic Neutral.
Gauthier
01-03-2007, 17:52
Alignments are like body shapes and genital sizes: Everyone lies about theirs online.
Llewdor
01-03-2007, 19:14
Under RPG rules, amoral behaviour is evil, so that makes me Lawful Evil.
MrMopar
01-03-2007, 19:49
Neutral Good.
HotRodia
01-03-2007, 20:24
I consistently get Neutral Good when my alignment is tested. I'm just a hopeless do-gooder, I guess.
Soheran
01-03-2007, 20:41
Philosophically, chaotic good. Behaviorally, neutral with a tinge of chaotic good.
The blessed Chris
01-03-2007, 20:45
Chaotic neutral.
Greill
01-03-2007, 20:55
I'd say I'm chaotic good, seeing as how I'm anarchistic for the good of everybody.
Soyut
01-03-2007, 21:11
Chaotic neutral.

I think thats the most popular. This should be a poll.
Siph
02-03-2007, 02:57
Neutral Evil on the quiz. Repeatedly. And it's more true than I'm proud to admit.
Harlesburg
05-03-2007, 11:16
I'll get back to this...
Cyrian space
05-03-2007, 11:30
neutral good, preferring a nice mix of law and chaos. Too much of either, and everything just gets screwed up. Have to have freedoms and boundaries, otherwise nothing works.

Of course, I love playing Paladins for some reason, though they usually are more good than lawful by a long shot.
Hamilay
05-03-2007, 11:36
Lawful Neutral, apparently...