FRPG Personal Code: an Alignment Alternative
by Jenni A. M. MerrifieldOn the topics of Alignments and whatnot, my gaming group more or less abandoned them in favour of a "Fantasy Role Playing Player Code" that each person usually fills in for their character before game play starts. To do so, they fill in answers to questions about the character in the broad categories of their Background & History; Ethics & Morals; Leadership & Teamwork; and Desires & Fears. It also includes space for a basic Description of the character and an "Executive Summary" where the PC is effectively "summed up" in a sentence or two.
As the character goes about "life" as an adventure, they grow, change and learn and so the player can adapt the FRP Personal Code as appropriate (we usually leave the original wording but add addendum or correction notes, so you can see how the character has "matured" over time).
When we use this, it is usually possible for us to figure out what "Alignment" the person would have been in OD&D or AD&D as a result, but we feel it's much more accurate, because it allows you to define their behaviour a bit more specifically. As a result, two characters who might both be labelled as "CG" (in AD&D) or just "C" (in OD&D), can be described with vastly different tendencies in certain categories.
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FRP Player Code
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1 Description
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1.1 Character Name
1.2 Commonly Known As
1.3 Race, Sex, Birthday
1.4 General Physical Appearance
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2 Summary
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2.1 Please characterise this PC in one or two sentences.
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3 Background & History
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3.1 Place of Birth
3.2 How does this character deal with his/her history?: (i.e., does he/she Talk about it? Exaggerate it? Ignore it? Etc.)
3.3 Please describe the character's childhood and youth up to and including the time when he/she first starts adventuring. This information should include details of their family, emotional upbringing, their economic and social status, any significant events of their earlier years. Please give the names (and ages) of any important individuals in the character's life, such as relatives, teachers, love interests, etc.
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4 Ethics & Morals
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4.1 Under what circumstances would this character lie to his/her comrades?
4.2 Under what circumstances would this character lie to other people?
4.3 Under what circumstances would this character desert his/her associates?
4.4 Under what circumstances would this character put his/her own welfare ahead of that of the group?
4.5 Under what circumstances would this character kill?
4.6 Under what circumstances would this character commit torture?
4.7 Under what circumstances would this character help a stranger who was requesting his/her protection?
4.8 Would this character grant mercy if an opponent in battle surrendered and asked for it? If so, why? If not, why not?
4.9 Would this character obey a law even if he/she thought it was wrong? If so, under what circumstances? if not, why not?
4.10 Would this character ever feel that the ends justify the means? If so, under what circumstances? if not, why not?
4.11 Would this character share his/her possessions/wealth with a friend who needed it? Give details if necessary.
4.12 Would this character share his/her possessions/wealth with a stranger who needed it? Give details if necessary.
4.13 Does this character regularly donate money to any charities? Please describe and/or name if necessary
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5 Leadership & Teamwork
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5.1 Does this character feel comfortable working as part of a team to accomplish a goal? If so, why? If not, why not?
5.2 Does this character feel comfortable working alone to accomplish a goal? If so, why? If not, why not?
5.3 Does this character feel comfortable being in charge of a group? If so, why? If not, why not?
5.4 Does this character feel comfortable when someone else is in charge? If so, why? If not, why not?
5.5 Does this character prefer to work as part of a team? If not, when would this character willingly work as part of a team?
5.6 Does this character prefer to work alone? If not, when would this character willingly work alone?
5.7 Does this character prefer to be in charge? If not, when would this character willingly assume leadership?
5.8 Does this character prefer to have someone else be in charge? If not, when would this character would willingly hand over leadership?
5.9 Describe how this character tries to get his/her way: (i.e., by bullying others into what he/she wants, by discussing the situation, through the use of subtle manipulation, etc.)
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6 Desires & Fears
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6.1 Does this character desire wealth? If so, why? If not, why not?:
6.2 Does this character desire magical items? If so, why? If not, why not?
6.3 Does this character desire fame? If so, why? If not, why not?
6.4 Does this character desire power? If so, why? If not, why not?
6.5 Is there any amount of wealth for which this character would risk his/her own life? If so, describe.
6.6 Is there any magic spell or magic item for which this character would risk his/her own life? If so, describe.
6.7 Is there any non-monetary, non-magical item or information for which this character would risk his/her own life? If so, describe.
6.8 Of the previous three questions, would any of these cause this character to risk the lives of his/her companions, without their knowledge and consent? If so, describe.
6.9 Does this character have other, important personal desires or needs, such as gaining love, obtaining true friendship, finding a lost relative, etc.? If so, describe.
6.10 Does this character have any unusual or overpowering fears or concerns? If so, describe.
6.11 Describe any strong feelings
(positive or negative) that this character has towards the members
of any specific races, species or groups.