I am resigned to the fact that the D&D alignment that best describes me is Lawful Good, nevertheless from time to time I will indulge in some Chaotic Good, as a treat
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FWIW: I homebrew swapping the order to provide a little bit more refinement and suggest priority. For example, I'd say I'm Good Lawful, not Lawful Good.
Then again, I'm also a nerd, which probably overrides the rest, lol.
I like to think I'm a lawful good person, but I do take real umbrage with abuses of the law, and I would ultimately choose to do what is morally correct, over what is legal.
One of the best things I've ever read about alignment pointed out that Lawful Good is an alignment with intense inner conflict, constantly pulled between the morality of what is 'good' and the ethics of what is legal.
I go back and forth with things like that. Was their 'good' a twisted vision, or were they Lawful Neutral with a delusion of good?
One time, I gave all my players a tagline for their characters. The one with, "The righteous answer only to God"? Hoo, buddy. Went inquisition right quick.
I'd argue lawful neutral. For Dexter, the code was the most important thing, not the good that it could bring. But it's been a long time since I read the books or watched the show
Self-interested principles moves it closer to lawful evil in my view - good being defined as implying "altruism, respect for life, and a concern for the dignity of sentient beings" (at least in 3.5, haven't really played since then)
Well, there’s a reason 3rd edition is considered terrible by both new AND old players. If it wasn’t for the kickass artwork…
Anyway, there’s a strong philosophical argument that ALL principles are self-interested. Even the golden rule is about oneself, so I don’t think that is a strong counter
I haven't encountered anyone who thought that 3rd was *terrible*, personally - I was under the impression that it was 4th that got almost universal derision. Though I'll admit that it's not a fantastic system, and there's a reason I've mostly moved away from D&D
"People who are neutral with respect to good and evil have compunctions against killing the innocent but lack the commitment to make sacrifices to protect or help others. Neutral people are committed to others by personal relationships." is why I feel he'd be neutral rather than good
It's not that I'm lawful good so much as organized good with spikes of random happiness spreading. Chaos is too haphazard to be properly effective as a strategy.
I always end up True Neutral. Which is great if you want someone to pick your insurance but not so great when you need a small choice made quickly. But the flip side is if someone is very bad it flips my Apply Extreme Justice switch and if they're too good then Mischief is activated. I like balance.
I got lawful good on my first online test. Didn't feel like the best fit. Inquiried of a teen daughter who eye rolled and pointed me to the test "everyone knows" is more accurate. Came out with chaotic neutral. My daughter nodded her approval.
I’ll say that neutral good can get you in some real shit at jobs where the boss thinks you should just jump when they say to. Especially if they are not in any category of good.
I've always interpreted Lawful not to mean "bureaucratic and robotic", but more like: you think long-term; you stick to your promises even when (especially when) they're inconvenient because there are more important things. Bits of whimsy are not incompatible with that: indeed, can be part of it.
A Chaotic comedian goes for the random joke that gets a big laugh then moves on. A Lawful comedian weaves a touch of humor into everything, "charging the field" for it, setting things up to make callbacks later that make for satisfying punchlines. Takes time but pays off. I like that way better.
I’ve been struggling to deal with being Chaotic Good and not Chaotic Neutral like my favorite badass rebel MCs… now you’re telling me I might have to accept being Lawful Good? It’s too much, man. Not with everything else happening. Nope.
Sober alcoholics like me are frequently chaotic good, (although if they don't work a program the "good" part can slip.) We have trouble with the lawful good part, but we try.
Ten years of Girl Scouting made me permanently Lawful Good. There’s only so long that one can affirm that one is honest, fair, & will protect the world, before it starts becoming true.
I would be Lawful Good probably. Always want the good for the rest of the world, willing to protect my friends, always aligning my moral compass to due north. But... I don't mind getting my hands dirty if I have to, so... Chaos can be a friend and not a foe.
Chaotic Good, always. Whenever I watch Knight Rider I want there to be a CG counterpart to the Foundation for Law and Government called the Chaos and Freedom Collective.
You are among the few. I may have lost another friend this morning, because he was upset that I tried to stand up for him in a conflict with another friend. No time to mourn, just had to get back to work.
I was Chaotic Good when I was a kid. As an adult, I'm neutral good.
When I was a kid, Lawful Good just didn't appeal much. Then I read the Dragonlance books, and holy SHIT did THAT depiction of "Lawful Good" ever resonate. Screw that. Neutral Good it is. Keep the important thing centered.
Interesting. I just looked up the descriptions in the 2024 Players Handbook to refresh my memory & I am apparently Chaotic Good, to quote; "Chaotic Good creatures act as their conscience directs with little regard for what others expect." Whereas Lawful Good does good as society expects.
There's nothing wrong with being Lawful Good. After all, it is the alignment we would most wish the people around us to have, isn't it? So it stands to reason that other people think the same way.
True, Chaotic Good may be more fun at parties, but I am too old for those parties anyway.
Chaotic Evil Orc, though without the +4 strength modifier ( -2 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma).... Though I don't really want to insult Chaotic Evil Orcs like that.
As much as it pains me to say it, the charisma modifier does not seem to apply.
He's indeed an evil moron, but somehow he's good at selling bullshit to morons like him. It may not be what we call charisma, but it works on the masses.
Maybe a +2 on Charisma rolls on targets with INT+WIS below 12?
Paladins are peculiar. They combine their alignment with an inflated ego and a pathological urge to impose their self-styled alignment on everyone else.
Kind of like a sanctimonious neighbor who won't ssto preaching. I wouldn't really call that "Good"
Yes, but they actually want what's best for everyone. They're just insufferable about it. The fact that they're actually trying to do good makes them even more annoying. 😄
I think I would most wish the people around me to be Neutral Good. I’d love a world with a balance of order and chaos where everyone wants the best for their neighbors. I mean, that’s the Muppet Universe, right?
I like to think I’m Neutral Good (which I believe to be the best alignment, since it focuses on doing Good above all else). But I find that I am such a stickler for rules and how things SHOULD be done, that I’m probably Lawful Good.
One thing I appreciate: I grew up in a evangelical church and my grandpa died in the line of duty. In my family, lawful and good were synonyms. Props to DND and my friends for helping me disentangle the two.
...Still lawful good, but very aware of lawful evil.
I never know how to track alignment to real life. I mean, if I am law abiding, but occasionally speed, does that make me chaotic? If I'm a serial killer, but also pay my taxes in full, am I lawful?
My younger days were chaotic neutral. When I rejoined society I was lawful good thinking that was a good idea but it just leaves you vulnerable to lawful evil. Now that I am done with society again I think I'm going to be neutral evil but my beef isn't with good, it is against lawful.
And here I am chaotic good masking as lawful good at work resulting chaotic neutral at home once I’ve exhausted my ability to pretend to be a human person at the end of the day.
Lawful people follow laws, because that is the law.
A group of people got together and said let’s make this idea a law and punish those who don’t do it. On par with memes sometimes.
I'm convinced that most autistics are at Chaotic Good or at least Chaotic Neutral.
Of course, as evidenced by our new first gentleman, it can clearly also go other ways.
My autism somehow made me a confusing lawful rebel from an early age. I'm very selective and intentional about the rules I defy... and I'm a lawyer and a veteran. It doesn't really all make sense to anyone but me.
Basically I believe in the concept of law but love to fight bad laws.
but i'm not neutral. I do love "the law" and have chosen to center my life around it.
But law is only really valid when it is "good law." I realize this is absurd. After years of philosophy, I concluded that sometimes you just need a few arbitrary principles and "justice" is as good as any other.
went to bed with it last night... yes, that's a very good articulation of my moral framework. He also kind of covers the arbitrariness of it as well. It's interesting how it connects with some of my other reading on moral philosophy lately.
I have no interest in D&D alignments purely for the use of "lawful" as a descriptor. Fuck the law, the law is a bureaucratic wizard system of bullshit to legitimize power. Chaotic good is a far more effective force for good than lawful good.
I'd say that only states can define laws, as only states have the power to enforce their rules as laws. And nothing inherent in a state makes a law good. I'll always chose to be ethical and moral instead of lawful.
I’m lawful neutral by nature. I often have to remind myself that I should tend towards the good, and not grump at people simply because they haven’t got all their paperwork in order.
"Lawful good" and "chaotic good" are defined by the relationship of the character to outside structures of "law, tradition, and morality". Since those structures can change independent of the character, both overall and situationally, there's room to be both in different times and environments.
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Then again, I'm also a nerd, which probably overrides the rest, lol.
One time, I gave all my players a tagline for their characters. The one with, "The righteous answer only to God"? Hoo, buddy. Went inquisition right quick.
https://easydamus.com/alignmentreal.html
The world needs more Kenders.
Dexter was lawful good.
Lawful Neutral cares about the letter of the law, more than the result. Lawful Good cares about the principle behind the law, its result.
Dexter was definitely in the latter camp. Self-interested principles yes, but still
Anyway, there’s a strong philosophical argument that ALL principles are self-interested. Even the golden rule is about oneself, so I don’t think that is a strong counter
Prompting chaos generally leads to less good. Traffic laws exist for a reason.
I’ve always felt they have a true neutral, but not apathetic attitude.
“Yes I did, but trust me, they deserved it.”
I was turned.
Trying to keep my soul but my IDGAF check is a -17
You are without question chaotic *chaotic*.
You are the reason the party went out to kill a dragon six months ago and is currently managing a unionized brothel in the Underdark.
You are the reason the LAST party is still on a scavenger hunt in Waterdeep!
under pressure. Typically just a single square but maybe two
Just saying
opposition to them is life.
Too many such events and the alignments swap permanently.
The problem is keeping them secret once changed.
When I was a kid, Lawful Good just didn't appeal much. Then I read the Dragonlance books, and holy SHIT did THAT depiction of "Lawful Good" ever resonate. Screw that. Neutral Good it is. Keep the important thing centered.
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True, Chaotic Good may be more fun at parties, but I am too old for those parties anyway.
It's not like people's attitudes only come in 9 separate discreet classes.
And a Lawful Good would probably refuse to uphold or follow unjust law, in any case. They wouldn't ally themselves with a tyrant.
He's indeed an evil moron, but somehow he's good at selling bullshit to morons like him. It may not be what we call charisma, but it works on the masses.
Maybe a +2 on Charisma rolls on targets with INT+WIS below 12?
Have you met a lawful good paladin? One per party is enough 🤭
Kind of like a sanctimonious neighbor who won't ssto preaching. I wouldn't really call that "Good"
...Still lawful good, but very aware of lawful evil.
I can try to be Lawful Good, but the chaos will have its way, every time.
Whether they are Good, Neutral or Evil is a matter for debate.
A group of people got together and said let’s make this idea a law and punish those who don’t do it. On par with memes sometimes.
Interesting times for alignment discussions.
Of course, as evidenced by our new first gentleman, it can clearly also go other ways.
Basically I believe in the concept of law but love to fight bad laws.
But law is only really valid when it is "good law." I realize this is absurd. After years of philosophy, I concluded that sometimes you just need a few arbitrary principles and "justice" is as good as any other.
Too much "Fuck the Police" as a teen, I guess.
If that means you side with chaos then let chaos reign
Jesus is now seen as Lawful Good, but even his followers thought he was chaotic at times.
It all depends on who defines the laws.
Good luck to you, good luck to every US citizen, good luck to all of us on or above this here planet.