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What’s alignment worth anyways
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this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023
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I've always viewed the Lawful-Chaotic spectra as "following the rules vs. following your heart".
A lawful good character follows the rules because they believe rules serve a greater good
A chaotic good character follows their heart because they believe rules aren't always just. They'll obey the rules only when they agree with them.
Lawful evil follows the rules because it's the least troublesome way of getting/doing what they want, in some cases even the most satisfying - because it's harder to fight back when the law is on your side.
Chaotic evil efficiently follows their impulse. They take and do whatever they want to do, whether they're allowed to or not, because they don't believe in the rules. If the rules allow them to do what they want, that's just a convenient coincidence.
Neutrals are a huge spectra in between. They could a character with their own moral code, I.e. an evil character who refuses to kill kids, or a good character who will always bends the rules to screw over ruch people.
The problem is both chaotic and neutral characters follow their hearts.
Which is why I view chaotic characters as being willing to do blatantly self-destructive or uncomfortable things just for the sake of thumbing their nose at authority. The chaotic evil character doesn't kill people because she wants to, she does it because you don't want her to.
Your interpretation is your own, but I as I eluded to before, I view neutrals as a half and half of lawful and chaotic.
In my mind, neutrals don't follow the law to the tee, but they aren't entirely swayed by the impulse of their heart either.
They could be the type with informal rules they won't break, like an evil character that refuses to kill children, but doesn't care what happens otherwise.
They could be a rule bender, like a good character who generally see rules as a good thing, but turn a blind eye to the rules they deem against the people, or bend them to breaking point to help others.
Could even be a true neutral character who goes with the flow. They do what is needed to complete the mission - they will use the rules to their advantage, but aren't above breaking them when that fails.
Sure you could say these sway towards lawful and chaotic, but that's the point. Neutral is a mix of the two, not necessarily its own thing. That's why I don't see neutrals as a problem here.
It's all up to personal interpretation, of course!
I think neutrals only listen to their heart, whereas chaotic characters actually specifically hate the law. Demons are chaotic, not because they're passionate, but because they oppose order and morals and rules.
A neutral character only considers the law when thinking about consequences. A chaotic character always considers the law because fuck the police I won't do what you tell me!
I agree, everybody is entitled to their own opinions on this - plus at the end of the day, as long as the table you're on is on the same page, you're good no matter what anyone else thinks.
So how would your interpretation cover chaotic good?
Chaotic evil in your mind is basically a murderhobo that kills and destroy because fuck society and fuck the rules, but a good person wouldn't want to kill and destroy just to spite the rules no?
I think the epitome of chaotic good would basically be a radical that wants to dethrone all gods and all kings. While they certainly hate rules and laws they wouldn't want to necessarily kill and destroy just to spite them, because they're still good. Good and evil alignment still matters in that case. They'd still definitely enjoy whenever they get the chance to break the law for a good cause.