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Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:36 pm
by Kerr
Here are the definitions of the terms.
Spoiler:
Lawful Good, "Crusader"

A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished.

Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion.

Lawful good can be a dangerous alignment when it restricts freedom and criminalizes self-interest.

Neutral Good, "Benefactor"

A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them.

Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order.

Neutral good can be a dangerous alignment when it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.

Chaotic Good, "Rebel"

A chaotic good character acts as his conscience directs him with little regard for what others expect of him. He makes his own way, but he's kind and benevolent. He believes in goodness and right but has little use for laws and regulations. He hates it when people try to intimidate others and tell them what to do. He follows his own moral compass, which, although good, may not agree with that of society.

Chaotic good is the best alignment you can be because it combines a good heart with a free spirit.

Chaotic good can be a dangerous alignment when it disrupts the order of society and punishes those who do well for themselves.

Lawful Neutral, "Judge"

A lawful neutral character acts as law, tradition, or a personal code directs her. Order and organization are paramount to her. She may believe in personal order and live by a code or standard, or she may believe in order for all and favor a strong, organized government.

Lawful neutral is the best alignment you can be because it means you are reliable and honorable without being a zealot.

Lawful neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it seeks to eliminate all freedom, choice, and diversity in society.

Neutral, "Undecided"

A neutral character does what seems to be a good idea. She doesn't feel strongly one way or the other when it comes to good vs. evil or law vs. chaos. Most neutral characters exhibit a lack of conviction or bias rather than a commitment to neutrality. Such a character thinks of good as better than evil-after all, she would rather have good neighbors and rulers than evil ones. Still, she's not personally committed to upholding good in any abstract or universal way.

Some neutral characters, on the other hand, commit themselves philosophically to neutrality. They see good, evil, law, and chaos as prejudices and dangerous extremes. They advocate the middle way of neutrality as the best, most balanced road in the long run.

Neutral is the best alignment you can be because it means you act naturally, without prejudice or compulsion.

Neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it represents apathy, indifference, and a lack of conviction.

Chaotic Neutral, "Free Spirit"

A chaotic neutral character follows his whims. He is an individualist first and last. He values his own liberty but doesn't strive to protect others' freedom. He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. A chaotic neutral character does not intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, he would have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others) or evil (and a desire to make those different from himself suffer). A chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is not totally random. He is not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it.

Chaotic neutral is the best alignment you can be because it represents true freedom from both society's restrictions and a do-gooder's zeal.

Chaotic neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it seeks to eliminate all authority, harmony, and order in society.

Lawful Evil, "Dominator"

A lawful evil villain methodically takes what he wants within the limits of his code of conduct without regard for whom it hurts. He cares about tradition, loyalty, and order but not about freedom, dignity, or life. He plays by the rules but without mercy or compassion. He is comfortable in a hierarchy and would like to rule, but is willing to serve. He condemns others not according to their actions but according to race, religion, homeland, or social rank. He is loath to break laws or promises.

This reluctance comes partly from his nature and partly because he depends on order to protect himself from those who oppose him on moral grounds. Some lawful evil villains have particular taboos, such as not killing in cold blood (but having underlings do it) or not letting children come to harm (if it can be helped). They imagine that these compunctions put them above unprincipled villains.

Some lawful evil people and creatures commit themselves to evil with a zeal like that of a crusader committed to good. Beyond being willing to hurt others for their own ends, they take pleasure in spreading evil as an end unto itself. They may also see doing evil as part of a duty to an evil deity or master.

Lawful evil is sometimes called "diabolical," because devils are the epitome of lawful evil.

Lawful evil creatures consider their alignment to be the best because it combines honor with a dedicated self-interest.

Lawful evil is the most dangerous alignment because it represents methodical, intentional, and frequently successful evil.

Neutral Evil, "Malefactor"

A neutral evil villain does whatever she can get away with. She is out for herself, pure and simple. She sheds no tears for those she kills, whether for profit, sport, or convenience. She has no love of order and holds no illusion that following laws, traditions, or codes would make her any better or more noble. On the other hand, she doesn't have the restless nature or love of conflict that a chaotic evil villain has.

Some neutral evil villains hold up evil as an ideal, committing evil for its own sake. Most often, such villains are devoted to evil deities or secret societies.

Neutral evil beings consider their alignment to be the best because they can advance themselves without regard for others.

Neutral evil is the most dangerous alignment because it represents pure evil without honor and without variation.

Chaotic Evil, "Destroyer"

A chaotic evil character does whatever his greed, hatred, and lust for destruction drive him to do. He is hot-tempered, vicious, arbitrarily violent, and unpredictable. If he is simply out for whatever he can get, he is ruthless and brutal. If he is committed to the spread of evil and chaos, he is even worse. Thankfully, his plans are haphazard, and any groups he joins or forms are poorly organized. Typically, chaotic evil people can be made to work together only by force, and their leader lasts only as long as he can thwart attempts to topple or assassinate him.

Chaotic evil is sometimes called "demonic" because demons are the epitome of chaotic evil.

Chaotic evil beings believe their alignment is the best because it combines self-interest and pure freedom.

Chaotic evil is the most dangerous alignment because it represents the destruction not only of beauty and life but also of the order on which beauty and life depend.
So i'm wondering what kinds of characters do you tend to make in TES games when it comes to character alignment. I tend to make Neutral Good characters because I do what I feel is right but I also make Chaotic Neutral characters (the kind that are out only for themselves and their own benifit) sometimes to see what the life of thief and/or assassin is like.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 1:28 am
by Akiraka
Always chaotic good :D

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 3:57 am
by Chaos the N'wah
Always Chaotic...good or neutral, really depends on the character, not much of an evil guy in TES
And feeling like societal hurricane is always a plus

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:48 am
by Crepe the Ashlander
My character is literally always chaotic good, I can't seem to escape from it.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 12:12 pm
by Dark Spark
My Imperial is Neutral Evil. My Breton is Neutral Good. My Redguard is Lawful Good. My Orc is Chaotic Good. My Dunmer is Lawful Neutral.

I— well, I am insane.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 12:37 pm
by Dean
I can't stand playing 'goody-goody' characters if I'm going down a non-evil road, so I tend to trend towards the Chaotic neutral/good path instead. This means not everything is so... restricted, in my gameplay. I would rather trade with a merchant then kill them, but I'm not one to give away 'freebies' unless I'm trying to bribe my way through.

When I go for the evil route it's more the Lawful Evil type character, the reason being is there is I prefer having a motive for my 'wrong-doings' and don't go running about the streets killing every filthy lizard I come across. My Telvanni characters are always lawful evil... it's fun playing an opposite alignment to the one you actually are.

This thread makes me want to play NWN.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:13 am
by beny15
Neutral evil, cus sociopaths FTW.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:32 am
by AddictedtoMorrowind
My alignment is the alignment on 12-21-2012.

I play... a variety of the alignments, mostly chaotic good.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:09 am
by Assassin540
My character is an assassin and has no remorse when killing but only kills if he has to

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 4:10 pm
by scribbane
I almost always take the role of Crusader, sometimes leaning a bit towards Benefactor. I don't know why, but I suppose since I am making the choices I would make, I am a good guy. Its my personality and it reflects on my character.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:16 pm
by Iaius Amaius Heron
"Alignment" is a vile and detestable thing that ought be expunged from existence.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:43 pm
by calicocidd
I'm pretty much neutral good, I only steal things or murder people that are quest related. Hostile NPCs don't count, of course. Al I do is hunt for treasure and explore. Doing quest when I feel like it.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:51 am
by Narzul
Chaotic neutral. My character's actions are dictated entirely by my whims. Even when roleplaying I find it hard to stick to a specific personality and I just can't help myself when I need to push that cart into a guard to see if I can kill him with it.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:32 am
by I EAT pain
Chaotic Neutral.

If it meand killing an orphan to get 30 extra coins, I'm your man.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:43 am
by I EAT pain
Chaotic Neutral

If it means killing an orphan to get 30 extra coins, I'm your man.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:28 am
by JoeyDestructo
chaotic evil.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:58 am
by Incarnal
I've got a few different characters, but I'd say they fall mostly into Neutral Good, Chaotic Neutral, and Lawful Evil.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:10 pm
by MARS
Chaotic Neutral is definitely my favourite choice. It allows you to do just about anything and I generally dislike many of the factions' and characters' ideals. Chaotic neutrality allows me to defy them.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:18 pm
by Samaelthedestroyer
I guess if I had to pick an alignment, it would be chaotic neutral. I never liked the idea of "good" and "evil" characters, as almost no one in real life could be labeled like that. Chaotic neutral or any neutral alignment is where most people fit in. I prefer it because it's a lot more open and free than the others.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:57 pm
by Kerr
I rahter not having any kind of moral meter too , makes the games better that way. That may sound odd coming from the person who made this thread

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:23 pm
by Akiraka
Knight Captain Kerr wrote:I rahter not having any kind of moral meter too , makes the games better that way. That may sound odd coming from the person who made this thread
Maybe a little :P

I love it, personally. All the way back to Baldur's Gate. People tend to look at it as constrictive (but, let's face it - most people range from the Neutrals to Lawful Evil lol). I use it, as I think it was intended, as another way of describing your character at-a-glance, since, to my understanding, when this particular alignment set was developed, RPGs were still being played on paper :lol:

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:09 am
by DarkEastwood
Examples from popular culture of each that I can name. Most are from LOTR, Star Wars, and Mass Effect (Ive only played 1 and 2 so no spoilers please!):

Lawful Good: Yoda, Gandalf

Chaotic Good: Cerberus (Mass Effect), The Master (Fallout 1), President Eden (Fallout 3)

Neutral Good: Luke Skywalker, Frodo Baggins

Lawful Neutral: King Theoden, Lando Calrissian, The Alliance (Mass Effect)

Neutral: Han Solo (sort of?), Denethor

Chaotic Neutral: Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother), Jack (Mass Effect 2), Saruman

Lawful Evil: Darth Vader, Dark Brotherhood (Oblivion. Ahem 5 Tenets)

Neutral Evil: Palpatine, Sauron, Mankar Camaron

Chaotic Evil: Your Standard Internet Troll, Melkor, Mehrunes Dagon

EDIT: Oh yes mine? Normally Neutral Good since I can't stand doing bad things but I don't go out of my way to bring justice to every bandit in Tamriel.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:08 pm
by Daroska
I don't tend to design a complete character for their to be a single, true alignment for them.
However, I'm sure I'd naturally roleplay to the alignment of chaos: Chaotic Neutral / Good / Evil.

Re: Your character alignment in TES

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:36 pm
by AKB
I play everything but Chaotic Neutral. Mostly because Chaotic Neutral is just a cop-out.