Editing Alignment (section)

== Alignment and Society ==
Let's say you're an adventurer and you arrive at a citystate ruled by a count and his personal cronies, who extort the local populace for money and resources, drafts anyone who can't pay their fines into the army and has a secret police that roots out dissenters. The remaining low nobles and merchant class play to his vain nature and do their best to claim political and economic power in the absence of the old ruling family. How do you react? Well, depending on your Alignment, you may feel like...

* '''Lawful Good:''' This city is corrupted by greed and ambition! The common people are being preyed on by the powerful and society crumbles from fear and self-preservation.  I could support to the poor and help with any issues they may have, or maybe go on a quest to find the real heir to the city. As tempting as it may be to wage open war on them, such chaos will undoubtedly result in many dying, so that's a last resort.  Whatever the case, the system must be reformed.

* '''Neutral Good:''' This is just not right... These poor people can't live on like this forever. I have no relation to anyone here, so maybe I can help the resistance movement, or make life difficult for the bureaucrats and nobles on a case-to-case situation. Even if I can't make a change now, I won't submit to their cruel system.

* '''Chaotic Good:''' Oppression of the worst sort! These tyrants gotta get what's coming to them... I could ruin their parties, sabotage their movements and maybe even assassinate the count himself! I need to support the people who dare stand against him... And if his cronies and goons come, I'll treat them like the traitors they are! Freedom has a cost after all...

* '''Lawful Neutral:''' Not the nicest city, this... I better listen to the city guard and keep my business to myself, so I can avoid problems.  I shouldn't get involved; I can't know if all these harsh measures have a point. How would I like it if someone came and made a ruckus in my hometown, after all?  But if they're breaking their own laws, they're going down!

* '''True Neutral:''' Another city. I've seen so many by now, it's difficult to tell them apart. Someone on the top, some at the bottom and walls and guards to keep it that way. I better just finish my work and move on, not my problem. (''someone gets in their way'') '''Now''' it's my problem, bring it on!

* '''Chaotic Neutral:''' How come there's so many of these wretched hives around? Who cares, there's opportunities here that others may miss... But not me! I'm sure there's someone who needs something smuggled, someone beaten up, something moved out of sight... I'm sure there's loads of options for the enterprising man, such as myself.  But first, I've got to get what I came for. I'm sure those indentured workers are hungry and may part with the information I need for my quest in exchange for a bit of bread. Poor sods... But hey, they could just go do something about it all.

* '''Lawful Evil:''' It's always a wonder to see an efficient state like this. Sure, it could be prettier, maybe a little less... Direct, but hey, beggars can't be choosers, and they get things done. The Orcs are gone from the forest, the corruption of the old dynasties gone, it's amazing what one can do with a coherent society! Maybe I should see if I can't move up the ladder here... There's got to be some options for an ambitious, loyal and efficient supporter of the realm.

* '''Neutral Evil:''' You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs, and eggs sure are broken here... But why stop there? This prissy "My-First-Government" should just throw out the pretense and march their army on the countryside to crush all who object! Now that the people are following the count, why not promote him through propaganda, make public executions mandatory and reward loyal citizens? The sky is the limit!  I'll sign up and work my way up the ladder, one way or another.  I might even become the next count.

* '''Chaotic Evil:''' Oh, oh my, this all looks so wonderfully... ''flammable''.  Let's see if the government has anything I like before I come after them too.

All that is to say, Alignments make sense when seen through the lens of what is normal in society - and in most games, what is considered to be normal comes from our precognition. We expect freedom as good, cooperation to be normal and exploitation as evil, so that's what we call Alignments. That isn't bad; it's just important to understand that it isn't a system that allows for the sort of "Well from my experience, the Orcs are good!" discussions because, from our view, they're clearly evil. In fact, you could replace "Good" and "Evil" with "Normative" and "Divergent" - do you consider sapient rights, morality and general decency, or do you follow your own conceptions of what is right or wrong?