As has been repeatedly pointed out in discussions over alignment it is descriptive, not proscriptive.
It's not one or the other, it's whichever you prefer or your DM specifies. Some players pop traits and bonds etc. on their characters then try to play to those, others have a character idea in mind and choose traits/bonds that reinforce or flesh out that idea, but likewise a DM may ask players to make sure they're filled out so they (as DM) can make use them.
The same is true of alignment, except that the big difference is that alignment can have a mechanical effect in the vanilla game; if your campaign features things like evil-only magic items, creatures that can sense alignment etc. then it's somewhat important that either the alignment is correct, or the player and DM agree what their character is when it matters. Otherwise it's just another roleplaying aid; you can either use it or not.
That said, it can also be used as a DM hook; if a player chose lawful good for session 1 and by session 20 they're kicking people to death for fun, then the DM absolutely should ask the player if they want to choose a different action, or accept an alignment change, because that can of change can be an interesting thing to happen to a character who has been changed by experience, giving in to temptations/emotion etc.
No, the same is not true for alignment and never has been ever in the history of D&D.
No, the same is not true for alignment and never has been ever in the history of D&D.
What isn't true? That you can either play to the alignment, or choose and change it based on how you play? I do not see how that is a controversial statement, that's how it has always worked. 🤔
And plenty of players do not fill it in at all until the DM asks "what is your alignment" and gets a blank stare and triple glazed look in response. You only strictly need an alignment if it's mechanically going to come up, but it's always useful as a roleplaying aid/reminder if you want that, and some DMs will make a bigger deal of it than others.
For me I prefer to have players at least think about what their characters motivations are, and alignment can be a part of that. I won't tell a player they can't do something because of their alignment, but I will question what their justification is with it in mind (as good characters sometimes need to make hard choices with terrible consequences "for the greater good") etc.
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I had to check my current character, and it is indeed filled in. For all I think about it, I wasn't sure if I had even though I generally do.
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No, the same is not true for alignment and never has been ever in the history of D&D.
What isn't true? That you can either play to the alignment, or choose and change it based on how you play? I do not see how that is a controversial statement, that's how it has always worked. 🤔
I admit I didn’t quite read your post correctly and misspoke (miswrote? mistyped? misposted? effed up, there we go). Sure, everyone should have the choice to play the way they want to. The problem is that too many people are under the impression that alignment is only proscriptive and never descriptive and impose that mindset on people who don’t know any better who then go on to resent the existence of alignment in the game altogether. WotC really needs to spell out the difference between the two approaches and definitively eliminate all ambiguity surrounding the matter so that people who actually read the damned books will know the truth, and those of us who do understand that alignment doesn’t have to act as an albatross around a character’s neck can definitively point to the rules regarding alignment whenever debates about it crop up with people who don’t actually read the damned books and insist on imposing an incorrect understanding of the system on unsuspecting players.
Awwww. Doesn't *everyone* want to go back to the days of 'Alignment Languages', where you can actually forget how to speak a language if you change alignments? ;)
No, but I want opposition schools back for wizards!
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
No, the same is not true for alignment and never has been ever in the history of D&D.
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What isn't true? That you can either play to the alignment, or choose and change it based on how you play? I do not see how that is a controversial statement, that's how it has always worked. 🤔
And plenty of players do not fill it in at all until the DM asks "what is your alignment" and gets a blank stare and triple glazed look in response. You only strictly need an alignment if it's mechanically going to come up, but it's always useful as a roleplaying aid/reminder if you want that, and some DMs will make a bigger deal of it than others.
For me I prefer to have players at least think about what their characters motivations are, and alignment can be a part of that. I won't tell a player they can't do something because of their alignment, but I will question what their justification is with it in mind (as good characters sometimes need to make hard choices with terrible consequences "for the greater good") etc.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I had to check my current character, and it is indeed filled in. For all I think about it, I wasn't sure if I had even though I generally do.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
I admit I didn’t quite read your post correctly and misspoke (miswrote? mistyped? misposted? effed up, there we go). Sure, everyone should have the choice to play the way they want to. The problem is that too many people are under the impression that alignment is only proscriptive and never descriptive and impose that mindset on people who don’t know any better who then go on to resent the existence of alignment in the game altogether. WotC really needs to spell out the difference between the two approaches and definitively eliminate all ambiguity surrounding the matter so that people who actually read the damned books will know the truth, and those of us who do understand that alignment doesn’t have to act as an albatross around a character’s neck can definitively point to the rules regarding alignment whenever debates about it crop up with people who don’t actually read the damned books and insist on imposing an incorrect understanding of the system on unsuspecting players.
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Awwww. Doesn't *everyone* want to go back to the days of 'Alignment Languages', where you can actually forget how to speak a language if you change alignments? ;)
No, but I want opposition schools back for wizards!
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Here here!
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