I find the alignment system interesting and conducive to working on your role playing. But if you don't want to be role playing in a straight jacket I would pick chaotic neutral :)
Seriously though, few role-playing games have an alignment system, especially the ones that promote themselves as being more about roleplay than levelling.
I remember one story about a guy whose group played 'evil' D&D characters, and one of them pointed out that what their characters were doing was 'naughty', but not actually 'evil'. So they tried out playing actual 'evil' characters. I can't remember all the examples he gave, but one of their plots was the kidnapping and raping of a princess. He said that campaign didn't last very long and his group found it pretty disturbing. I guess the point of this anecdote is that a lot of evil characters get played that aren't really 'evil' or close to it.
Alignment systems might help roleplaying neophytes, but if you've been around the block once or twice, they really are quite limiting. Is that noble warrior 'good' because he works tirelessly and selflessly to promote the cause of his kindred? Is he 'evil' because he knowingly and tirelessly oppresses others to do so? Is he 'neutral' because he can't be placed unequivocably in either camp? Why not just let him be a complex character on his own?
Well that's why I suggested chaotic neutral as an alignment for your requirement. I think this would work well for your goals. It can be fun & challenging to play other alignments too however. Like an alignment that least resembles yourself or your natural personal tendencies.
Have a look.
A Chaotic Neutral character is an individualist who follows his or her own heart, and generally shirks rules and traditions.[citation needed] Although Chaotic Neutral characters promote the ideals of freedom, it is their own freedom that comes first; good and evil come second to their need to be free. Chaotic Neutrals are free-spirited and do not enjoy the unnecessary suffering of others. A Chaotic Neutral character does not have to be an aimless wanderer; it may have a specific goal in mind, but its methods of achieving that goal are often disorganized, unorthodox, or entirely unpredictable.[citation needed] If a Chaotic Neutral joins a team, it is because that team's goals happen to coincide with its own at the moment, but it invariably resents taking orders and can be very selfish in its pursuit of personal goals.
A subset of Chaotic Neutral is: "strongly Chaotic Neutral", describing a character who behaves chaotically to the point of appearing insane. Characters of this type may regularly change their appearance and attitudes for the sake of change, and intentionally disrupt organizations for the sole reason of disrupting a lawful institution.[citation needed] This includes the Xaositects from the Planescape setting, and Hennet from the third edition Player's Handbook. In Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Chaotic Neutral was mistakenly assumed to refer to this subset.
vacri|11 years ago
Seriously though, few role-playing games have an alignment system, especially the ones that promote themselves as being more about roleplay than levelling.
I remember one story about a guy whose group played 'evil' D&D characters, and one of them pointed out that what their characters were doing was 'naughty', but not actually 'evil'. So they tried out playing actual 'evil' characters. I can't remember all the examples he gave, but one of their plots was the kidnapping and raping of a princess. He said that campaign didn't last very long and his group found it pretty disturbing. I guess the point of this anecdote is that a lot of evil characters get played that aren't really 'evil' or close to it.
Alignment systems might help roleplaying neophytes, but if you've been around the block once or twice, they really are quite limiting. Is that noble warrior 'good' because he works tirelessly and selflessly to promote the cause of his kindred? Is he 'evil' because he knowingly and tirelessly oppresses others to do so? Is he 'neutral' because he can't be placed unequivocably in either camp? Why not just let him be a complex character on his own?
rbf_|11 years ago
Have a look.
A Chaotic Neutral character is an individualist who follows his or her own heart, and generally shirks rules and traditions.[citation needed] Although Chaotic Neutral characters promote the ideals of freedom, it is their own freedom that comes first; good and evil come second to their need to be free. Chaotic Neutrals are free-spirited and do not enjoy the unnecessary suffering of others. A Chaotic Neutral character does not have to be an aimless wanderer; it may have a specific goal in mind, but its methods of achieving that goal are often disorganized, unorthodox, or entirely unpredictable.[citation needed] If a Chaotic Neutral joins a team, it is because that team's goals happen to coincide with its own at the moment, but it invariably resents taking orders and can be very selfish in its pursuit of personal goals.
A subset of Chaotic Neutral is: "strongly Chaotic Neutral", describing a character who behaves chaotically to the point of appearing insane. Characters of this type may regularly change their appearance and attitudes for the sake of change, and intentionally disrupt organizations for the sole reason of disrupting a lawful institution.[citation needed] This includes the Xaositects from the Planescape setting, and Hennet from the third edition Player's Handbook. In Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Chaotic Neutral was mistakenly assumed to refer to this subset.