Of the following two alignments which one is "worse" that is... which is a greater problem?

[billiglarper@rollenspiel.social]

@futurebird @mhoye @darius

I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of the alignment system due to how unintuitive it is.

The basic axis - good/evil - is so straightforward altruistic/egoistic, that you hardly need a system for it.

Everything else seems to overcomplicate things.

To me, the distinction between chaotic and neutral doen't seem well defined. Both ignore social rules and expectations? ... ok.

And this "neutral" between good and evil seems this "I don't care about anything" aspect

[hanszauner@ecoevo.social]

@futurebird
haha, brilliant! Thanks.

[aerynv2@tenforward.social]

@mhoye @futurebird @darius I played around with some ideas for a three-axis alignment chart a couple years back on my previous account: https://tenforward.social/@bruceiv/111088653550048791

[ghosttie@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@futurebird @mhoye @darius I'm curious about what would go in true neutral

[foolishowl@social.coop]

@futurebird One of the scary things about conservative Evangelicals is that more than one has told me that the worst thing about D&D is that they believe "Lawful Evil" is a contradiction in terms.

[futurebird@sauropods.win]

@foolishowl

oh dear

[foolishowl@social.coop]

@futurebird @mhoye @darius As I understand it, the alignment system was invented by Dave Arneson trying to deal with a problem player at his table.

I used to say that every D&D player I knew would argue that the alignment system doesn't make sense, but it would almost make sense if... And this would lead to a heated argument.

Computer RPGs used to insist on some version of the game rating your actions as good or evil. I remember people condemning Elder Scrolls: Morrowind as "postmodernist" because it doesn't do that.

I can't think of a TTRPG other than D&D (and its retroclones) with anything like a formal alignment system.

[kanamauna@sauropods.win]

@futurebird depends. With the right type of structure, lawful evil individuals can be restrained. But once you get too many of them and they organize, watch out.

[cy@fedicy.us.to]

Still, I love those D&D alignment memes.

[merms@mastodon.social]

@futurebird @mhoye @darius I think there is a theory somewhere that most players in a CRPG (and other video games, too) can be characterised as being Neutral Evil. For instance, the LG paladin player with maximum reputation points who still breaks into people's houses to steal their valuables. It's fascinating to think about.

And having the best reputation gives the best store prices. So there's selfish motivation to reach that. Etc.

[apophis@yourwalls.today]

@mhoye @futurebird @darius it's my favourite alignment chart ever and it's on the strength of it that i'm choosing CE in the poll

[apophis@yourwalls.today]

@futurebird @kkarhan @mhoye @darius it could also be the character versus the player

(i don't think there's a bright line between these two framings)

the range between "CG"(LE) and "LE"(TN) is basically the underlying morality of all the stuff i write that's worth posting...

[apophis@yourwalls.today]

@foolishowl @futurebird https://cosocial.ca/users/mhoye/statuses/116623832198275572
"Lawful Good" (Lawful Evil)

[llewelly@sauropods.win]

@futurebird it's the CE I fear. It's the CEO. But of couruse the LEO is worse.

[llewelly@sauropods.win]

@futurebird CE occurs on the backside of many a technical object. Try turning over a keyboard, phone, laptop, network switch, wifi router, etc, etc. Says something, perhaps.

[grrrr_shark@supervolcano.angryshark.eu]

@futurebird I feel like Lawful Evil just uses Chaotic Evil for its own purposes and hides behind it. Lawful Evil folks are like... the architects of destruction, herding the chaotic evil minions around until they aren't useful anymore and then saying "hey, it wasn't me..."