#How to play chaotic neutral better?

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

vivid pebble
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My character, Lyric, has this alignment. From my understanding, it's about doing whatever in the moment that doesn't really lean into good or evil. Focused on one's own enjoyment or interest in doing something. Is there something that newbies like me may have trouble seeing when playing this role? Or things that can help stay in the Alignment?

blissful vessel
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Chaotic Neutral essentially means your character values their own goals and interests over everything else, including the law, however not to such an extent that you would commit an evil act to achieve it i.e murder innocents, steal from the poor, exploit the law maliciously
But you would also not do things out of the kindness unless it furthered your goals or interests

The pitfalls in trying to follow this alignment or alignment in general

  1. Chaotic Neutral is typically used by players to essentially do whatever they want, often called Chaotic Stupid, Chaotic characters aren't to be mistaken for unaligned characters that do stuff on instinct

  2. Alignment is more of a guideline than a compass for your characters decision
    Perhaps Lyric has a soft spot in their heart for people that share similar circumstances and helps them out of goodness
    Or perhaps Lyrics really hates goblins and will commit heinous acts of evil
    Which is out of alignment for Chaotic Neutral, but not out of character

vivid pebble
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Ah okay that makes more sense, thank you. It can be confusing and I just choice it a rush when creating her. But I'll keep these notes in mind!

blissful vessel
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In more anecdotal experience, alignment has never been a huge factor in any game I've played or seen
"Breaking" alignment in fact typically is necessary for making a complex character
It's such a small factor I wouldn't stress about it

vivid pebble
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That's fair. I just wanted to know at least. Though with how the current campaign I'm in, Lyric has done a lot so far lol. She's a hexblood wood elf, and so far she's: created a forest fire in an attempt to kill enemies, had trick fans that she was their idol, and killed other racers so she can make Bob win the race.

blissful vessel
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Did Bob win this race?
Wait I'm getting distracted,
At the end of the day, all that really matters is that the party likes and trusts each other

vivid pebble
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lol yeee, and yes, Bob did win and i got money for it

vital trench
prisma abyss
tropic bough
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I always explain the alignments like this.
Lawful: following rules, some sort of code or godly guidance
Neutral: sometimes a bit of lawful sometimes a bit of chaotic
Chaotic: not following rules but doing whatever is necessary to reach their goals within their spectrum.
Good neutral and evil spectrum
Good: putting a focus on the community and party. Basically putting others before yourself
Neutral: bit of good bit of evil
Evil: self-centred behaviour doesn't care what happens to others aslong as itself and the party thrives

sharp sparrow
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Chaotic generally refers to the idea that you do not ascribe to societal law.

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Look to Rosseau for philosophy regarding how people are best living life free, away from obtuse, arbitrary ideals that they never chose for themselves to begin with.

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Neutral in morality is just that; you're not interested in being good or evil, whether your actions are selfish or selfless.

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In other words, you are a free spirit, and that free spirit has no concern for ramifications.

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The best explanation of it is a tornado

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Tornadoes will go where they like, damn anything that happens to be in the path.

vivid pebble
slate arrow
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think someone like start of 1st movie shrek. they don't care about rules and are pretty self interested or care about one thing, but aren't super evil. shrek wants to be left alone, han solo wants money, they don't care about rules, but in the end, they arent evil.

vivid pebble
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An extra question thing, since I don't wanna make a new post/don't want to spam(?).

I wanna create a backup character to be an orc but it doesn't seems I can pick it as an option on dnd beyond. So, would I have to homebrew the species/race? If yes, how do I properly do that? Since I've only seen my DM do it for me so we can had the hexblood race for Lyric.

tropic bough