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Overview
This is actually a modification and expansion on some rules that
crossed one of the mailing lists I'm on some time ago. The original
rules were constructed by Midnght, so some credit needs to go to
him. This is simply a different way to look at alignments that gives
players and GMs much more flexibility when creating villains and/or
characters/NPCs. By answering the following questions, it will allow
you to create a character who has some good traits and some bad
traits, but will allow the character's actions to define the alignment,
as opposed to the other way around.
To "make your own alignment", answer the questions below relating
to a character's morals and general attitudes. This will not only
define the character's general alignment, but also help in developing
the personality of the character.
Questions
1. Do you:
(A) Always keep your word of honor?
(B) Keep your word of honor to other
good people, but not necessarily bad people?
(C) Keep your word of honor and
have a high regard for life and freedom?
(D) May or may not keep your word
of honor?
(E) Not necessarily keep your word
of honor to anyone?
(F) Rarely keep your word of honor
(or you have no honor at all)?
2. Do you:
(A) Avoid lying?
(B) Lie only to selfish or evil
people?
(C) Lie and cheat if necessary (especially
to evil people)?
(D) Lie and cheat if you feel it's
necessary?
(E) Lie and cheat to anyone, good
or evil?
(F) Lie to and cheat those not worthy
of your respect?
(G) Lie and cheat to anyone?
3. Will you:
(A) Never kill or attack unarmed
foes?
(B) Not kill unarmed foes (but you
will take advantage of one)?
(C) Not likely kill an unarmed foe,
but certainly knockout, attack or beat one?
(D) Most definitely attack and unarmed
foe (those are the best kind)?
(E) May or may not kill an unarmed
foe?
(F) Most certainly attack and kill
an unarmed foe?
4. Do you:
(A) Never harm innocents?
(B) Never kill innocents (but may
harm or kidnap)?
(C) Use or harm innocents?
(D) Not kill innocents, particularly
children (but may harm, kidnap others)?
(E) Use, hurt, and kill an innocent
without a second thought?
(F) Kill for pleasure?
5. Do you:
(A) Never torture for any reason?
(B) Never torture for pleasure,
but will extract information forcefully if the situation requires?
(C) Not use torture unless absolutely
necessary?
(D) Use torture to extract information
(but not for pleasure)?
(E) Use torture to extract information
and also for pleasure?
(F) Never torture for pleasure,
nor resort to inhumane treatment of prisoners, but as a necessary
means of extracting information?
6. Will you:
(A) Never kill for pleasure?
(B) Never kill for pleasure (but
always attempt to bring the villain to justice)?
(C) Seldom kill for pleasure, but
in revenge is ok?
(D) Possibly kill just for the hell
of it?
(E) Kill for sheer pleasure?
7. Will you:
(A) Always help others?
(B) Help those in need most of the
time?
(C) Help those in need as, but only
with some ulterior motive (even it's only showing off)?
(D) Help those in need only if there
is some kind of material reward?
(E) May or may not help those in
need?
(F) Most likely help someone only
to kill or rob them yourself?
8. Do you:
(A) Work well in a group?
(B) Work with groups, but dislike
bureaucratic red tape and confining laws?
(C) Work with groups, especially
if it's profitable?
(D) Not work well in groups (you're
a bit loud-mouthed and do as you please)?
(E) Work with others if it will
help you obtain personal goals, otherwise screw it?
(F) Not work well in groups because
you always ignore orders?
9. Do you:
(A) Never break the law unless you
are desperate?
(B) Attempt to work within the law
if possible, but you are willing to bend the rules and manipulate
the law to work for you?
(C) Dislike authority?
(D) Have little respect for self-discipline
or authority?
(E) Have no deference to laws or
authority, but will work within the law if it serves your purpose?
(F) Respect and honor self-discipline?
(G) Despise honor, authority, and
self-discipline?
10. Will you:
(A) Never betray a friend?
(B) Possibly betray a friend?
(C) Betray a friend if it serves
your needs or keeps you alive?
(D) Betray a friend at the drop
of a hat?
By answering these questions in a sentence or two, you have not
only defined your character's morals, but also his/her personality,
in part. Keep to these rules and your character's behavior is much
more flexible (and you get more in depth).
Article Written By: Thoth
Based on a work by Midnght
2 April 2000
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