Evil on Athas - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Evil on Athas

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Dec 19, 2003 17:56:21 Athas seems different from other D&D worlds in the metaphysics of good and evil. In your typical fantasy game, one can think of good and evil as metaphysical forces pervading the world, and characters share in this force based on their actions and opinions.
Athas seems different. Survival seems a more important story element than morality.

I was toying with this simple variant.
The evil type is applied to any creature who is a Defiler, Life Bender, or closely linked with them (demons, or Rajaats twisted creations). Maybe some of the Paraelementals also.
The good type will be applied to Druids, Preservers, Fey, (maybe elementals) and others linked with them.

Any spell which affects alignment would be altered. Spells affecting evil would only effect targets with the evil type. Good spells similarly. Spells affecting neutral targets (if there are any) would target anyone w/o one of these.

Thus, Holy Smite would affect a Neutral Defiler, but not a Chaotic Evil Gladiator.

This seem right to me. Such a spell targets the vile corruption the Defiler (or whoever) brings upon himself (the same corruption to be found beneath the Jagged Cliffs). Powers no longer target some one based on what he/she thinks is moral.

If this is adopted as an optional rule, there is an issue of balance to address. Such spells become weaker, since they are less applicable.

Opinions? Suggestions?
#2
dawnstealer
Dec 19, 2003 18:37:22 It's interesting, I'll give you that. I don't think I'd apply it to my own campaign, but it is a good idea and does fit in with the whole Athasian theme.
#3
zombiegleemax
Dec 20, 2003 16:54:22 I think that, although it does make use of some spells and abilities that would otherwise not be relevant on Athas, that it still injects those aspects of morality that stray away from my personal views of DS. One is still polarizing the inhabitants by splitting them into niche-like catagories, whereas the original seemed to try hard to skew the lines of good and evil, right and wrong. If anything, I'd rather get rid of as many aspects of that inborn D&D concept of 'catagorized mentality' (i.e. alignments) for DS. But then again, that's just me.
#4
zombiegleemax
Dec 21, 2003 13:17:22 The idea wasn't to split character's into niches. The idea was that we have all these great good vs evil powers, they don't fit into DS like they do normal D&D.

It would be great to use them.

But maybe you guys have a point. Maybe DS would be better w/o alignment? Or maybe without game effects based on alignment?
#5
zombiegleemax
Dec 22, 2003 13:19:54 The concepts of good and evil differ on Athas. Doing good is no longer saving the city from an evil wizard. The only real good is survival. The only real evil is death.

If you save a city-state from another evil wizard, the SK will most likely kill you and take credit for it. That was foolish of you to think that the SK would do as he promised.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Dec 19, 2003 17:56:21	Athas seems different from other D&D worlds in the metaphysics of good and evil. In your typical fantasy game, one can think of good and evil as metaphysical forces pervading the world, and characters share in this force based on their actions and opinions. Athas seems different. Survival seems a more important story element than morality. I was toying with this simple variant. The evil type is applied to any creature who is a Defiler, Life Bender, or closely linked with them (demons, or Rajaats twisted creations). Maybe some of the Paraelementals also. The good type will be applied to Druids, Preservers, Fey, (maybe elementals) and others linked with them. Any spell which affects alignment would be altered. Spells affecting evil would only effect targets with the evil type. Good spells similarly. Spells affecting neutral targets (if there are any) would target anyone w/o one of these. Thus, Holy Smite would affect a Neutral Defiler, but not a Chaotic Evil Gladiator. This seem right to me. Such a spell targets the vile corruption the Defiler (or whoever) brings upon himself (the same corruption to be found beneath the Jagged Cliffs). Powers no longer target some one based on what he/she thinks is moral. If this is adopted as an optional rule, there is an issue of balance to address. Such spells become weaker, since they are less applicable. Opinions? Suggestions?
#2 dawnstealer Dec 19, 2003 18:37:22	It's interesting, I'll give you that. I don't think I'd apply it to my own campaign, but it is a good idea and does fit in with the whole Athasian theme.
#3 zombiegleemax Dec 20, 2003 16:54:22	I think that, although it does make use of some spells and abilities that would otherwise not be relevant on Athas, that it still injects those aspects of morality that stray away from my personal views of DS. One is still polarizing the inhabitants by splitting them into niche-like catagories, whereas the original seemed to try hard to skew the lines of good and evil, right and wrong. If anything, I'd rather get rid of as many aspects of that inborn D&D concept of 'catagorized mentality' (i.e. alignments) for DS. But then again, that's just me.
#4 zombiegleemax Dec 21, 2003 13:17:22	The idea wasn't to split character's into niches. The idea was that we have all these great good vs evil powers, they don't fit into DS like they do normal D&D. It would be great to use them. But maybe you guys have a point. Maybe DS would be better w/o alignment? Or maybe without game effects based on alignment?
#5 zombiegleemax Dec 22, 2003 13:19:54	The concepts of good and evil differ on Athas. Doing good is no longer saving the city from an evil wizard. The only real good is survival. The only real evil is death. If you save a city-state from another evil wizard, the SK will most likely kill you and take credit for it. That was foolish of you to think that the SK would do as he promised.