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DnD morality chart

ADigitalArtist

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
These tests are always more interesting in how they fit the questions to the alignment than the results.

There's longstanding debates in D&D about what lawful means. Whether it's societal laws or rigid personal codes or order/disorder dichotony more generally. In which case an evil criminal can still be lawful if they have a rigid personal code (see: Magneto) but could also be evil because the law is unjust (see: Javert.)

Meanwhile someone could have a personal code but believe that society will never meet that expectation so obeying societal order is self-destructive (see: Punisher.)
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
These tests are always more interesting in how they fit the questions to the alignment than the results.

There's longstanding debates in D&D about what lawful means. Whether it's societal laws or rigid personal codes or order/disorder dichotony more generally. In which case an evil criminal can still be lawful if they have a rigid personal code (see: Magneto) but could also be evil because the law is unjust (see: Javert.)

Meanwhile someone could have a personal code but believe that society will never meet that expectation so obeying societal order is self-destructive (see: Punisher.)

Can't be trusting D&D geeks with nuanced discussions, even if it's about D&D. Because they are basically discussions about rules and boxes.

The first point is that people don't fit well in those, and they're just an affectation to support gameplay, but that might not play well with some D&D players.

Anywhoos...my take is to look at it from the characters point of view, and not the Dungeon Masters. Somebody who ignores the laws of the land could be lawful (a paladin answering to a higher power, or a displaced person following the laws of their people) or chaotic (a paladin who places no value on the laws of the land and openly courts rebellion, or a displaced person following the laws of their people...but without the societal checks and balances and controls that would normally entail)

Point is, a person can be both at the same time, purely depending on perspective, can transition in and out much more fluidly than D&D rules support, and might be different in different contexts.

If you can justify and explain your characters justifications for actions in a coherent and realistic way, you're a much better role player than many.
 
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