[Raven Bloodmoon]

I was reading through Monte Cook's Book of Hallowed Might on Jimp's suggestion, and I saw why he sent me to it. There is a very intriguing alignment varient on pages 18 & 19. Teh rough outline is that instead of black and white alignments, you have degrees of alignment rangign from 1 (pretty much barely noticeable tendancy) to 10 (the equivalent of vile evil or uber-lawful). While this alone doesn't seem to have much impact on the game, teh accompanying bit based on this scale would be quite profound and very interesting. The extent to which alignment-based effects affect you is based on your alignment scores. A score of 1 is treated as neutral, 2-3 takes half damage or half duration, 4-8 is normal, and 9-10 takes double damage/duration. Personally, I'd make 9-10 or just 10 as the exalted / vile range.

Has anyone else seen this or tried it? It looks interesting, but I wonder how it would actually play...

[Ssri-Tel-Quessir Hitokiri]

I have looked at the system and at the alignment varient. My only problem with actually implementing the system was rooted in my players. It would be yet another thing that they would have to keep track of in addition to all the other things that they needed. Also, the DM would have to keep track of the number too and make sure that the character changes the number if it became necessary because of the in-game implications of the alignment. In my opinion, it looks like an interesting add but is too much trouble for its worth.

[Axel]

It sounds similar to the alignment chart in appendix of the first edition PHB, the graph showed the four alignments as the axies of a cartesian graph with true neutral as the origin. A gray curve along each axis showed neutral in relation to that axis. If I can find it, the graph itself is a far better explanation.

[Raven Bloodmoon]

Axel, you are a mindreader. I was considering using a spreadsheet to track the PCs' alignment and plot it over time and in relation to the other characters on a cartesian graph.

Incidentally, I can see where it would require more work on the DM's part, but I would leave it up to the players whether they would even want to know what their actaul numbers were. It could just be used by the DM and he describes the effects to the players. I usually try to use as little meta-game terminology as possible, but that's a lot easier in Internet gaming. The concept I particularly like is the graduated spell effect dependant on the extent of one's position on the alignment graph. I just can't decide if it would screw up the game too much, not that I've ever been scared of that...

[Axel]

I tried uploading the chart in question, but the attatchment option is screwy. Anyway, I like the idea of keeping track of alignment progression behind the scenes. That'd deffinitely make alignment based spells more interesting, and gives you another way to map the progress of a character. The only thing I don't like is that is would add another thing the DM has to keep track of, you'd have to track experience and alignment points for every session.

[ladyofdragons]

Axel, on Jun 26 2006, 11:46 PM, said:

I tried uploading the chart in question, but the attatchment option is screwy. Anyway, I like the idea of keeping track of alignment progression behind the scenes. That'd deffinitely make alignment based spells more interesting, and gives you another way to map the progress of a character. The only thing I don't like is that is would add another thing the DM has to keep track of, you'd have to track experience and alignment points for every session.

Could you describe how it was screwy? just trying to make sure there isn't an issue that needs to be fixed since the rebuild...

[Raven Bloodmoon]

Perhaps so, but I'd really only add/subtract alignment points when a player acts otu of alignment. Otherwise there is no real reason. It'd just be a way to track teir shift in alignment. And thanks to the wonders of modern computing, it's really just one click.

[Jimp]

Anothing thing to note with this system is how you can have different alignment requirements for different classes. It suggests it in a small paragraph near the end of this variant.
So if you want paladins to truely be servants of good you could change the paladin alignment to a minumum of Good 5 Law 3 or something along those lines. You could also have different degrees of good/evil when it comes to prestige classes. For example, you Assassins may need a minimum of Evil 3 but your Blackguards may need a minimum of Evil 5.

[Raven Bloodmoon]

That's true, but then the players might need to know their alignement scores. One option would be to either shift their alignment to the required score as they show more and more interest in joining the PrC, as just wanting to be a blackguard should be a sign of faltering alignment. Taking that first level could be enough for the final fall from grace and plummet into evil.

[Axel]

After selecting the file to upload and hitting the add attachment button the page takes a long time to refresh, and when it does the file hasn't been uploaded.

Another issue you might want to look at is if the character begins to break that alignment after taking the class and you move their marker back down they would no longer hold the prerequisites and couldn't advance. Which means atonement.

[Raven Bloodmoon]

Bingo! Another good point. I am actaully starting to like this idea more and more...

[Jimp]

For the Detect Evil/Good/Law/Chaos spells I think the caster should see the alignment aura's strength absed on alignment score rather than HD. For example, someone who is Good 7 would have a much stronger aura than someone who is Good 2.

[Axel]

I'd suggest that the ability to pick up an aura at all rely on a minimum alignment value. That way alignment based spells don't work on ordinary people, say within the neutral area on the axis. Maybe the minimum needed to have an aura at all should be the same as the minimum needed to take a class with that alignment requirement.