The Alignment Problem.

I will admit here:  When it comes to D&D alignments, I have never used them or worried about them.  There was a brief time back in the days of 1e/2e when it was decided that a Paladin wouldn’t cut down a fleeing enemy, or stab them in the back because they were lawful good, but other than that I have never actually used alignment in any of my games, outside of alignments being a triggering effect or target for a power, such as the ‘Protection from Evil’ spell.

I realize I’m the odd man out here.  In fact, there was a monolithic debate about why in the fourth edition that the nine alignments were condensed.  It was odd to me that this could be such a contentious thing.  Considering all of the other sacred cows that were sacrificed for better or worse (Vancian spell system, I happily dance on your grave), you would think that alignment would be pretty minor.

But thinking about it, I can see why it was a big deal to a lot of gamers.  Its human nature to categorize things.  To have things set neatly and evenly in a set of quantifiable boundaries.  Its easier to simply say “Orcus is Chaotic Evil” than to say “Well.. He’s acting more out of rage, something in his past is affecting him”.  When people think of a leader who would actively crush every other nation under their boot while maintaining draconian law in their own lands, they think “Lawful Evil”.  But what if that leader didn’t have the alignment tag on him?  You might be forced to consider that said leader was actually acting out of a wish to do good for his own people.  Perhaps he’s looking for a way to create a lawful society of peace within his borders, and tired of chaotic elements from everywhere else pushing into his territory to create havoc?  He sees adventurers as a threat because.. well, they are.  To him, the PC’s are *gasp* evil!

Before I go on, I realize the above analogy might be construed as some kind of political point.  It isn’t.  I just used a random analogy, its not a diatribe on forgiving or blaming any real world power.

I think that’s why I’ve always ignored alignments.  Not because they are bad, but because I’ve always liked the way things get more complex when you don’t have the option to place things into neat perspective.  I feel more restricted when I have alignments forced on my characters, or villains, or what have you.  I tend to leave it up to the players as to figuring out the motives of enemies.  Yes, its a given that undead are evil and we don’t need a tag to tell people that, but what of their ruler?  The king driven mad by watching his city razed and whom after escaping his imprisonment returned to his charred homeland and ritually raised all of his citizens in an effort to reset history, as warped and cruel as it may be?  Is he hopelessly evil?  Or is he tragic?  Or is there something else behind what he’s doing.

I could use Cinders as an example.  She’d actually be considered a shade of chaotic evil (Maybe more Chaotic neutral) if I used the strict alignment systems.  For example:  She’s stolen crops from farmer’s fields without remorse or understanding why its wrong to do so.  She’s invoked a very black, very primordial curse on the first Prior that she and her friends ended up defeating, ensuring that the Prior (actually an evil entity itself) would writhe in the nine hells for eternity in the afterlife.  She would be considered a heathen in many cultures, her bloodline is feared and in some cases deeply loathed.  She has (along with her party) awoken something terrible in the once quiet darkness of a forgotten Amantiri tomb.  She’s even laughed maniacally while bringing down frost-laden destruction on hopelessly wounded and quaking enemies (Mind you, they brought it on themselves).

On the other hand, she could be considered Chatoic good for:  Helping rebuild a failing church.  Helping a dwarven cleric who’s mind was warped by unknown magics navigate his way to safety.  Helped a town rid themselves of the Priory of Orthane (A group dedicated to the control of the Lorrnath peoples, and who have been into some extremely shady dealings as of late).  She’s practically brought light and joy to Berrand.  Despite all of the terrible things she’s been through from a very young age, she still wouldn’t bring down random or willful destruction on innocent people.  And most of all, despite all of the tortures she’s gone through, she still finds joy and wonder in the world.

So really, Alignment couldn’t really fit in her case.  As is the case with almost all of the characters (mine or otherwise) that I’ve come across.  Its a matter of outside perspective as to what alignment a person might have, and thusly I happily wave goodbye to a system I’ve always found bloated and unneccesary, at least in my games.