Simple Alignment Summary
Below, are more alignment specifics and clarifications.“Evil” implies hurting, oppressing, and killing others.
...
“Good” implies altruism, respect for life, and a concern for the
dignity of sentient beings.
...
“Law” implies honor, trustworthiness, obedience to authority, and
reliability.
...
“Chaos” implies freedom, adaptability, and flexibility.
(PHB 3.5 Page 104)
I have had a mulitude of conversations with people who argue what each alignment is and what it means.Maecius wrote:The best website I have ever seen dedicated to D&D alignment is:
http://easydamus.com/alignment.html
It is a good source to utilize for anyone with questions about their alignment.
Arguments that Lawful stands for Law, it does, not it stands for a belief in structure.
As Chaos is more anti-structural a belief that Chaos or Anarchy is preferred rather than the constraints of laws and structures.
This does not mean that a player of whatever alignment has to always do as their alignments says, but it is the basis of Your Deities beliefs and in turn is a guide for you to follow. A chaotic evil may do something to help someone, it is not unheard of, however it would usually have a motivation. Though it does not mean, a CE person would see a companion dead and laugh and walk away, but it also does not mean they won't.
Anyhow here they are, hope this clear up alignments for those who are not sure what their alignment means.
A lawful good character upholds society and its laws, believing that these laws are created to work for the good and prosperity of all. He is both honest and benevolent. He will work within the established system to change it for the better, and strives to bring order to goodness that other good-aligned characters might pool their resources to better the world. A lawful good character combines a commitment to oppose evil with discipline. Most lawful good characters live by a strict code of honor, or by the rules of conduct set down by their deity. They will generally selflessly act by these codes even at the cost of their own life.
It must however be stressed that blind obedience to local laws is not required by the lawful good alignment. A paladin is not in violation of his alignment if he decides to take up arms against a usurper on behalf of the rightful king, for example, even if that means going against the sedition laws instated by the usurper.
It should be noted that a lawful good character does not actually have to obey laws, as intimated above. Lawful alignment means that the character prefers a structured life to any other; this typically means that a set of codified laws are followed.
An incorruptible enforcer, a ruler or politician who acts for the good of his people, and a heroic soldier who strictly obeys the laws of battle are all examples of lawful good characters.
Neutral good characters desire good without bias for or against order. In 4th edition mechanics for Dungeons & Dragons neutral good is found under the umbrella of the "good" alignment.
A neutral good character does good for goodness' sake, not because he is directed to by law or by whim. Such a character will obey the law, or break it when he sees that it will serve a greater good. He isn't bound strongly to a social system or order. His need to help others and reduce suffering may take precedence over all else.
A doctor who treats both sides in a fight and somebody who feeds the starving in a war zone are both examples of neutral good characters.
Chaotic good combines a good heart with a free spirit. In 4th edition mechanics for Dungeons & Dragons chaotic good is found under the umbrella of the "good" alignment.
A chaotic good character acts as his conscience directs him with little regard for what others expect of him. He is kind and benevolent, a strong individualist hostile to the claims of rules, regulations, and social order. He hates it when people try to intimidate others and tell them what to do. He will actively work to bring down unjust rulers and organizations and to liberate the oppressed. He finds lawful societies distasteful and will avoid them, often living as a nomad or hermit.
Noble rebel leaders fighting corrupt or venal regimes, vigilantes acting for what they see as the greater good, mercenaries who only work for the "good guys" and anyone who "robs from the rich to give to the poor" are all examples of chaotic good characters.
A lawful neutral character is directed by law, logic, tradition, or a personal code. Order and organization are paramount to him. He may believe in personal order and live by a code or standard, or he may believe in order for all and favor a strong, organized government. In 4th edition mechanics for Dungeons & Dragons lawful neutral is found under the umbrella of the "unaligned" alignment.
Lawful neutral combines reliability and honor without moral bias. Note that this does not mean that a lawful neutral character is amoral or immoral, or does not have a moral compass, but that moral considerations--the good or evil of the action--come a distant second to what the character's code, tradition, law, or logic dictate.
A functionary, soldier, or employee who follows orders without question regardless of the result, an arms dealer who sells his wares to the highest bidder, whatever that bidder may do with them, and an impartial jurist who sticks rigidly to the rule book are all examples of lawful neutral characters.
The neutral alignment (sometimes known as true neutral) is without prejudice or compulsion. In 4th edition mechanics for Dungeons & Dragons neutral is found under the umbrella of the "unaligned" alignment.
A neutral character does what seems to be a good idea. He doesn't feel strongly one way or the other when it comes to good vs. evil or order vs. chaos. He thinks of good as better than evil--after all, he would rather have good neighbors and rulers than evil ones. Still, he isn't personally committed to upholding good in any abstract or universal way.
This is the most common alignment of sentient creatures in the Forgotten Realms and the alignment of almost all animals and other creatures of very low intelligence.
Chaotic neutral is freedom from both society's restrictions and a do-gooder's zeal. In 4th edition mechanics for Dungeons & Dragons chaotic neutral is found under the umbrella of the "unaligned" alignment.
A chaotic neutral character follows his whims. He is an individualist first and last. He values his own liberty but does not strive to protect the freedom of others. He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. A chaotic neutral character doesn't intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, he would have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others) or by evil (and a desire to make others suffer). A chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is not totally random. He is not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it.
A wandering rogue who lives both by work for hire and petty theft is an example of a chaotic neutral character.
Lawful evil is the methodical, intentional, and frequently successful devotion to a cruel organized system. In 4th edition mechanics for Dungeons & Dragons lawful evil is found under the umbrella of the "evil" alignment.
A lawful evil character methodically takes what he wants within the limits of his personal code of conduct without regard for whom it hurts. He cares about tradition, loyalty, and order but not about freedom, dignity, or life. He plays by the rules but without mercy or compassion. He's comfortable in a hierarchy and would like to rule, but is willing to serve. He is loath to break promises, and he is therefore very cautious about giving his word unless a bargain is clearly in his favour.
This reluctance comes partly from his nature and partly because he depends on order to protect himself from those who oppose him on moral grounds. Some lawful evil villains have particular taboos, such as not killing in cold blood (but having underlings do it) or not letting children come to harm (if it can be helped). They feel these personal morals put them above unprincipled villains.
Many lawful evil characters use society and its laws for selfish advantages, exploiting the letter of the law over its spirit whenever it best suits their interests.
Some lawful evil people and creatures commit themselves to evil with a zeal like that of a crusader committed to good. Beyond being willing to hurt others for their own ends, they take pleasure in spreading evil as an end unto itself. They may also see doing evil as part of a duty to an evil deity or master.
Lawful evil is sometimes called "diabolical", because devils are the personification of lawful evil.
A tyrannical ruler who drafts the rules to suit himself, a corrupt lawyer or judge who uses the law to mask his own misdeeds, and the ruthless bosses and minions of organized crime are all examples of lawful evil characters.
Neutral evil is pure pragmatism without honor and without variation—survival of the ruthless. In 4th edition mechanics for Dungeons & Dragons neutral evil is found under the umbrella of the "evil" alignment.
A neutral evil character does whatever he can get away with. He is out for himself, pure and simple. He shows no remorse for those he kills, whether for profit, sport or convenience, and he has no love of order and holds no illusion that following laws, traditions, or codes would make him any better or more noble. On the other hand, he does not have the restless nature or love of conflict that a chaotic evil villain has.
Some neutral evil villains hold up evil as an ideal, committing evil for its own sake. Most often, such villains are devoted to evil deities or secret societies.
Career criminals, particularly those who harm others for money, such as hitmen, are the most obvious example of neutral evil.
Chaotic evil is power without control, selfishness unfettered by any law.
A chaotic evil character does whatever his greed, hatred, and lust for destruction drive him to do. If he is simply out for whatever he can get, he is ruthless and brutal. If he is committed to the spread of evil and chaos, he is even worse. His plans are haphazard and any groups he joins or forms are poorly organized. Typically, chaotic evil people can be made to work together only by force, and their leader lasts only as long as he can thwart attempts to topple or assassinate him.
These characters will commit any act to further their own ends. Chaotic evil is sometimes called "demonic" because demons are the embodiment of chaotic evil.
Many serial killers would fit this description, as would indeed most of the more violent and reckless criminals found in the worst sorts of places.
guess im'a cold bastard. *sobs*