The alignment system, and why I don't use it. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

The alignment system, and why I don't use it.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
May 17, 2004 12:43:09 I find that alignments create a silly world of black and white morality that doesn't work too well in my campaigns, as well as making my players stretch to try and fit the alignment archetype of their character. I find the basic idea of alignments to be goofy and cartoonish.

Instead of this system, I use the karma and reputation system from Fallout (yes, its a video game, but it has some good ideas) where a character's moral standing is based on their actions, not their beliefs. The reputation system measures how others will react. Good reputation isn't necessarily a great thing, as many in Darksun do not take kindly to do-gooders.(not that my players are ever non greedy selfserving bastards;) )

What do you think?
#2
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
May 17, 2004 12:49:26 I use alignments (howeer, have been thinking of moving to the d20 modern allegiences), primarily, because it helps define the character - much as the personality archetypes in a world of Darkness game does. It's not perfect, and can be a bit limiting, but is something I find that is helpful. I also weigh different things in the system with alignment adjustments in mind. I also have a reputation system in my campaigns, and a corruption system (very similar to the Unearthed Arcana Taint system, but something I've been developing for years) that is hidden from the players, that is a closer look into how they are roleplaying their character. Powergaming players find their characters get more corruption (power corrupts), and thus their alignment begins to slip to reflect this - eventually. It's far easier in my games to gain Corruption points than to lose them. and since no player knows what their characters' corruption points are, they have to rely on the reactions of NPCs to gauge it a bit.
#3
zombiegleemax
May 17, 2004 13:14:51 I use alignment, but not as a straight-jacket like it was in 2E. Alignment is chosen by the players, by how they want to play their character. If they're actions are consistantly different than that, their alignment shifts.

It's not a huge deal in my campaigns, really, although I typically don't allow Evil characters unless there's good reason for it. I guess really the only reason to actually have the alignment written down is for aligned weapons and powers.
#4
dawnstealer
May 17, 2004 13:39:58 I use alignments, but make them a bit more arbitrary. If I feel a player is, say, more evil than good, I'll let them know they're walking the line. I use it as a general guideline for role-playing for the players (and the NPCs, for that matter).
#5
zombiegleemax
May 22, 2004 6:33:47 If you've got a manageable system of 'Karma and Reputation' I'd like to hear more about it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax May 17, 2004 12:43:09	I find that alignments create a silly world of black and white morality that doesn't work too well in my campaigns, as well as making my players stretch to try and fit the alignment archetype of their character. I find the basic idea of alignments to be goofy and cartoonish. Instead of this system, I use the karma and reputation system from Fallout (yes, its a video game, but it has some good ideas) where a character's moral standing is based on their actions, not their beliefs. The reputation system measures how others will react. Good reputation isn't necessarily a great thing, as many in Darksun do not take kindly to do-gooders.(not that my players are ever non greedy selfserving bastards;) ) What do you think?
#2 xlorepdarkhelm_dup May 17, 2004 12:49:26	I use alignments (howeer, have been thinking of moving to the d20 modern allegiences), primarily, because it helps define the character - much as the personality archetypes in a world of Darkness game does. It's not perfect, and can be a bit limiting, but is something I find that is helpful. I also weigh different things in the system with alignment adjustments in mind. I also have a reputation system in my campaigns, and a corruption system (very similar to the Unearthed Arcana Taint system, but something I've been developing for years) that is hidden from the players, that is a closer look into how they are roleplaying their character. Powergaming players find their characters get more corruption (power corrupts), and thus their alignment begins to slip to reflect this - eventually. It's far easier in my games to gain Corruption points than to lose them. and since no player knows what their characters' corruption points are, they have to rely on the reactions of NPCs to gauge it a bit.
#3 zombiegleemax May 17, 2004 13:14:51	I use alignment, but not as a straight-jacket like it was in 2E. Alignment is chosen by the players, by how they want to play their character. If they're actions are consistantly different than that, their alignment shifts. It's not a huge deal in my campaigns, really, although I typically don't allow Evil characters unless there's good reason for it. I guess really the only reason to actually have the alignment written down is for aligned weapons and powers.
#4 dawnstealer May 17, 2004 13:39:58	I use alignments, but make them a bit more arbitrary. If I feel a player is, say, more evil than good, I'll let them know they're walking the line. I use it as a general guideline for role-playing for the players (and the NPCs, for that matter).
#5 zombiegleemax May 22, 2004 6:33:47	If you've got a manageable system of 'Karma and Reputation' I'd like to hear more about it.