Simple but last-solution alignment system for T&T

[Nerzenjäger]

Each character belongs to one of the following three alignments
Lawful Neutral Chaotic

Lawful: Characters of this alignment abide to common social laws or those of the region they currently reside in. Certainly it could also be their cult, guild or master whose rules they follow. The strict determination to one law can be a source of conflict with another form of law. Wizards are most likely to be of a lawful nature.

Neutral: Neutral characters try to stay out of trouble with any party or fraction involved. Though they might not agree upon any of their views, they hold a passive role. A neutral character really has to be pushed for his fury to be unleashed or, if they are confronted verbally, to readily reveal his goals. Many warriors tend to be neutral.

Chaotic: Revolutionary ideas come from characters who oppose or at least question their surroundings. Characters of this alignment aren't necessarily loners but they often follow their own plan at all cost even if they are part of a fellowship. It is part of their nature to dismiss laws who stand in the way of their goals. Rogues often classify as chaotic characters.

If roleplay is not enough to justify the opinion or reaction of an opponent, there is always the possibility to make an alignment-check. This is done by making a L1SR on Charisma and adjusting the Level according to how far the opponents alignment strays away from the character's. Consult the following chart to determine the Level of the SR:

Alignm. Chaotic Neutral Lawful
Lawful +2L +1L +0L
Neutral +1L +0L +1L
Chaotic +0L +1L +2L

If you wish to add more depth to this system, the current state of the opponent can be taken in account and adjusted by following merits:

State Adjustment
Friendly -1L
Neutral +/-0L
Cautious +1L
Hostile +2L

If the Level falls below a L1SR, you can add another dice for each Level you are below L1 to your roll. These additional dice are added separately after determination if the SR was an automatic failure and of course don't generate doubles.

[unclecranky]

NO. This is NOT D&D. I object. This is TUNNELS & TROLLS. Reactions are determined by a roll on Charisma, a roll on the 'monster reaction' chart if you're playing 5th edition rules, or a 'persuasion' check, if you're playing the 7th edition or edition 7.5 rules and your character has that talent. Alignment is NOT a factor or a feature in T&T, nor should it be.

[mahrundl]

<mod hat off>

UncleCranky, Nerzenjäger is entitled to his opinion and ideas, as are you. He's proposing this as a house rule, not as law handed down from on high.

I'm not particularly inclined towards the idea of alignment in T & T either. That said, I think that this is a basically workable system, if that's what floats your boat. I'd lose the extra dice bit for less than first level SRs though, since you'd need to define what constitutes an automatic failure when rolling 3 or more dice.

<re-dons chapeau of moderation>

[ragnorakk]

The only way I really use alignment is in notes and such, for NPCs only, just to have a rough
idea of their ethics, outlooks, morals, etc - I can't bring myself to use it with actual characters.
If a player insisted, I'd probably do this (5th edition), to make some kind of in-game effect
Lawful - on level up, chose what stat to raise
Chaotic - stat gain determined randomly
Neutral - (maybe random on odd levels, choice on even)

I guess I haven't used alignment in game for a long time - haven't in T&T ever. It's
hard for me to find interest in imposing universal absolute alignments on players -
in this I am similar, I believe, to Uncle Cranky - individuals players determine their
own attitudes and ethos for their characters.

That being said, when I am trying to populate a hexmap or a world or something, I sometimes fall back on law/chaos, good/neutral/evil for creatures or NPCs - this
just to use as rough inspiration to create assumptions for what kinds of things
happen between two or more groups of NPCs. These factors are generally
determined randomly - and there is a huge bell-curve bulge in the 'neutral' area.

It is interesting as you present the ethos above though - that Law is the domain
of wizards, neutrality of warriors and chaos of rogues. I would agree that dropping
a level below level 1 should be handled differently though - continuing to reduce
the target number by 5/level seems to still work (Level 0 == 15, Level -1 == 10, etc)

[unclecranky]

Sorry Nerzenjager and all others. Not for nothing am I called Uncle Cranky. With that said, might I interject with a simpler system?
Passive/Aggressive/d**ned Cranky.
Passive creatures never attack.
Aggressive critters always attack.
D*mned Cranky critters always egg others on until the others attack, then hobble off in victory, after batting the upstarts over the head with their canes.

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Thats A very workable system good job.

However, I must say I'm kind of not a big fan of the alignment system.

Except in games like "Stormbringer" where it's more of an allegiance system.

However I can see the worth for starting players looking for some direction for their characters.

[Nerzenjäger]

Thanks for the comments.
It is not intended as an alternative to roleplay, it should be used as an element of randomness for NPCs that aren't blessed with a deeper background. Sure it can be tough, especially since most players tend to forget that even charisma is an attribute you better should keep an eye on.

mahrundl
The additional dice are added afterwards, the classic SR has to be done first to determine - just like you said - if it was an automatic failure.

[koraq]

I think alignment rots your brain, but that was a neat system.

[quoghmyre]

While I understand the moderation, I also agree with uncle on this. The player characters are what their actions make them.

The Southern Most Realm is all about consequences, the players trick a storekeeper and they find that the prices go up. They fail to pay a toll then they are in double danger on the way back. They wipe out all the Goblin men from a village and they are harried by the females of the village. So everywhere the party goes the orcs and gobblins have been stirred up ahead of their arrival. Again they find a cool Deluxe Staff and the wizard who's been searching for it all his life begins tracking them.

So I say no to alignment and yes to consequences.

[djacknh]

Remember that negative CHA defines you as a bad guy. The larger your negative CHA is the more you are appreciated and admired by the vile ones. I'm also a fan of having actions define the character, and if someone sells out, give him a negative CHA.

[quoghmyre]

Yes, putting minus in front was a recommendation for a while. I found it created confusion with some spells. I now just say that number is for a Kindred, 50 CHA for an Orc. So the CHA effects only apply to the same Kindred.

If any of you read the comic 2000AD, there was a story named The Ballad of Halo Jones, one segment had a character with 0 CHA and explored what that would mean.