» Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:18 pm
That's my number one all time disliked thing about D&D back to original D&D. The alignment system is poor, oversimplified, and abused by too many DMs. How the heck would I get a penalty for stealing from a store that sells stolen goods? Especially if I'm stealing it to give back to the person it was stolen from. Because I'm "Lawful"? In this particular campaign, it was in a town much like Riften, except the guards were in any pocket. So, there was no "lawful" resolution to the plight of the old woman and her dying husband. Stealing is stealing? So said the DM. So began a downslide into argumentative play bolstered by the DMs "assertion of authority" and forcing players, based on their alignment, to react to party members differently, removing the players from some decisions. Bad DMing, yes, but bad system that led to it. Almost every rules concept argument I've ever been in while playing revolved around alignments.
Enough rant...
My wood elf dual wield/archer thief/assassin would be considered Chaotic Good. Despite being an assassin, the marks are "just business". No one faults the fisherman for killing fish or the smokehouse for slaughtering pigs. Business aside, he tries to do the right thing for people, including ignoring bandits he knows he can slaughter.
My orc warrior/mage prodigy (destruction - lightning only, some alteration, minor conjuring) would be considered true neutral. He's lost in a world that shuns him on all sides. His clan (backwoods, magic is considered bad/evil) disowned him for his magical power. Despite his magical abilities, he tries to adhere to his father's warrior ways, including sticking to orc armor/weapons, mostly axes. Because of his previous life, he sees no true value in adhering to societal strictures that may or may not be "right", but he recognizes the need for some type of order. Where the law is "just" (don't steal), he acknowledges it, but despises the system in place. As far as good/evil, not being bound by law, morality becomes iffy. He will try to help a farmer if he can and he doesn't have to go out of his way, but he would have no reservations against going into the same farmers house, stealing, or killing, if it meant he came closer to finding his "answers" (his place in the world).