How to Choose an Alignment in Dungeons and Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons, like many role-playing games, requires players to choose an alignment. The basic meaning of the alignment is whether the character is good, evil, or somewhere in between. In D&D, the alignment also indicates whether the character is likely to follow the law or behave in a chaotic manner. There is no real advantage to choosing one alignment over another, as long as you understand the options and are prepared to play the character that you create.

Instructions

1. Think about the types of character that you would like to play. You may receive experience points based on how well you role-play after you choose an alignment, so, for example, don't choose a good character if you know you will want to attack anything that moves as soon as the game starts.

2. Consider the rest of your party. It can be fun to have a party that is made up of similar characters, but it is generally more interesting to choose an alignment that is different, especially if the party is very uniform. Playing characters with very different worldviews against each other adds to the fun of role-playing.

3. Choose an alignment: good, neutral, or evil. This basically boils down to whether the character cares about helping friends and strangers, doesn't care much except maybe about close friends, or would really just as soon see other people suffer.

4. Decide whether your character is lawful, neutral, or chaotic. Lawful characters will always follow the letter of the law, although (if evil) they may look for every loophole to take advantage of others. Chaotic characters may have a heart of gold, but (if good) are not above a little mischief, petty crime, or roughhousing. Neutral characters, again, are somewhere in between.

5. Combine Steps 3 and 4. Your final character alignment should be lawful good, neutral good, chaotic good, lawful neutral, true neutral, chaotic neutral, lawful evil, neutral evil, or chaotic evil.

Tips & Warnings

• While it can be more difficult to play a character who is different from you (or from the type of character you usually play), it can also be more interesting. Don't be afraid to branch out, just remember to try to role-play according to how you choose an alignment.

• If you must change your alignment after choosing one, creating your character, and starting a campaign, it is possible. You may lose experience points for doing so, but it may be worth it, especially if you role-play a compelling story for why this change occurs.