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From: ttorgers@udenva.UUCP (Troy Torgerson)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Alignments
Message-ID: <675@udenva.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 19-May-85 20:04:48 EDT
Article-I.D.: udenva.675
Posted: Sun May 19 20:04:48 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 24-May-85 04:26:58 EDT
References: <>
Reply-To: ttorgers@udenva.UUCP (Troy Torgerson)
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Denver
Lines: 51

In article <> ncg@ukc.UUCP (Nige Gale) writes:
>
>There were a couple of articles pasting the Alignments concept.
>The thing is about role-playing games is that they are *role*-playing.
>Alignments is a clumsy way of imposing a personality upon the
>character.

NO, NO, NO.  Why must Alignments have to "impose" a personality
upon a character??  I think that many of you have the wrong idea
(maybe it's me :-)) about them.  First of all, your giving too much 
importance to them.  They weren't designed (as so many of you have said)
to make the entire personality of a character.  Instead, they give a starting
base for characters (read that players) to begin with.  A character should
develop his/her own personality for a character depending on how they want
their character to be.  That wasn't real clear, (and didn't get my point
across!) so let me try and give an example.  (I said try, ok?)
If a PC is CE, that doesn't mean he can't help little old ladies across
the street if he wants to get into their daughters pants.  This same PC
could also have a weakness for flowers, and likes to pick daisys.  Clearly,
this isn't what most of you would think of when some PC (or NPC) is CE!
And yet, helping the little old lady was still a nice thing to do (even if
he had other reasons for doing it) and liking flowers is even stranger!
I have a dwarf (high-level) who happens to be a transvestite.  This makes
for interesting interaction between him and others.  He is often
given gifts of earrings or goes shopping for a new dress.  BTW, he is
No Good alignment.  Wearing a dress is chaotic, yet he isn't living
a strict NG, because that just defines some of his beliefs, not his personality!Key words there. . .  Beliefs, not personality.
>
>Without alignments, the party becomes a profit-making unit, and
>characters are good or evil as it suits the players at the time,
>and will inevitably fall victim to munchkinism.
>
true.  Thats why they need beliefs (there's that word again!)

>My own preference is for a system that includes personality disorders,
>phobias, etc.

Yeah team!  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>It gives a player an excuse for behaving like a pillock -
>
>"I'm only playing my alignment"
>
Don't let 'em do this!  It's just a bunch of bullshit.  They can do whatever
they like so long as it fits in somewhere close with their alignment
(read that beliefs) Of course, there are fits of rage, etc. where you might
forget your beliefs. . .  then you might be filled with remorse after it
is all over and you did something that goes against your beliefs. . etc...


			Troy Torgerson
			udenva!ttorgers