OOC Thread

[Vargr1105]

Are we supposed to post on the "Prologue" thread or will there be an "Action" one?

[Jester]

Let the game begin! Oh, wait, it already has.

[Distorted Humor]

Are we supposed to post on the "Prologue" thread or will there be an "Action" one?

Indeed, The prologue is the thread until the party decides which way they wish to go, then once the adventure begins, you will have "Action" threads.

[Delazar]

I noticed you're writing in present tense, I'm supposing we should do the same?

would it be a big problem if I write in the past tense? I find it comes more naturally to me, and it also reads more like a novel...

[Distorted Humor]

I noticed you're writing in present tense, I'm supposing we should do the same?

would it be a big problem if I write in the past tense? I find it comes more naturally to me, and it also reads more like a novel...

I am sure most will not have a problem with it, so just move forward with it.

[JobaTett]

I usually don't play pre-AD&D 1e D&D, so I usually have 9 instead of 3 alignments. I don't know how to play Neutral, I can't be Lawful(I'm a Thief), and I thought Chaotic meant evil. So, is Chaotic the same as Chaotic Evil, or can it be more like Chaotic Good?

[Jester]

Chaotic does not mean you're evil it just means that you don't believe in following the normal rules of society at large. I'll let Distored_Humor answer this question depth but here is what they say about it from the Basic Rules by Frank Mentzer.

Character Alignment

Three basic ways of life guide the acts of both player characters and monsters. Each way of life is called an alignment. The three alignments are named Law, Chaos, and Neutrality. Each alignment has a language that includes hand signals and other body motions. Player characters always know how to speak their alignment language in addition to any others they may know. If a monster is able to speak, it will also be able to use its alignment language.


Players may choose the alignments they feel will best fit their characters. A player does not have to tell other players what alignment he or she has picked, but must tell the DM. Most Lawful characters will reveal their alignment if asked. When picking alignments, the characters should know that Chaotics cannot be trusted, even by other Chaotics. A Chaotic character does not work well with other player characters.


The alignments give guidelines for characters to live by. The characters will try to follow these guidelines, but may not always be successful. If a DM feels that a player is not keeping to a character’s chosen alignment, the DM may suggest a change of alignment or give the character a punishment or penalty.


Law (or Lawful) is the belief that everything should follow an order, and that obeying rules is the natural way of life. Lawful creatures will try to tell the truth, obey laws, and care about all living things. Lawful characters always try to keep their promises. They will try to obey laws as long as such laws are fair and just.

If a choice must be made between the benefit of a group or an individual, a Lawful character will usually choose the group. Sometimes individual freedoms must be given up for the good of the group. Lawful characters and monsters
often act in predictable ways. Lawful behavior is usually the same as behavior that could be called “good.”

Chaos (or Chaotic) is the opposite of Law. It is the belief that life is random, and that chance and luck rule the world. Everything happens by accident and nothing can be predicted. Laws are made to be broken, as long as a person can get away with it. It is not important to keep promises, and lying and telling the truth are both useful. To a Chaotic creature, the individual is the most important of all things. Selfishness is the normal way of life, and the group is not important. Chaotics often act on sudden desires and whims. They cannot be trusted, their behavior is hard to predict. They have strong belief in the power of luck. Chaotic behavior is usually the same as behavior that could be called “evil.”

Neutrality (or Neutral) is the belief that the world is a balance between Law and Chaos. It is important that neither side get too much power and upset this balance. The individual is important, but SO is the group; the two sides must work together.

A Neutral character is most interested in personal survival. Such characters believe in their own wits and abilities rather than luck. They tend to return the treatment they receive from others. Neutral characters will join a party if they think it is in their own best interest, but will not be overly helpful unless there is some sort of profit in it. Neutral behavior may be considered “good” or “evil” (or neither), depending on the situation.

Example of Alignment Behavior

THE SITUATION: A group of player characters is attacked by a large number of monsters. Escape is not possible unless the monsters are slowed down.

A Lawful character will fight to protect the group, whatever the danger. The character will not run away unless the whole group does.

A Neutral character will fight to protect the group as long as it is reasonably safe to do so. If the danger gets too great, the character will try to save himself (or herself), even at the expense of the party.

A Chaotic character might fight the monsters or might run away. The character will not care what happens to the rest of the party.

[Distorted Humor]

I usually don't play pre-AD&D 1e D&D, so I usually have 9 instead of 3 alignments. I don't know how to play Neutral, I can't be Lawful(I'm a Thief), and I thought Chaotic meant evil. So, is Chaotic the same as Chaotic Evil, or can it be more like Chaotic Good?

As a note, even Frank M. Said that a Thief can be Lawful if he more of a spy or then a outright robber.

Also, is the party going to see Nailor Gladiolus, or another Master of arms. Just want to confirm before we begin and the plot moves forward.

[JobaTett]

I usually don't play pre-AD&D 1e D&D, so I usually have 9 instead of 3 alignments. I don't know how to play Neutral, I can't be Lawful(I'm a Thief), and I thought Chaotic meant evil. So, is Chaotic the same as Chaotic Evil, or can it be more like Chaotic Good?

As a note, even Frank M. Said that a Thief can be Lawful if he more of a spy or then a outright robber.

Also, is the party going to see Nailor Gladiolus, or another Master of arms. Just want to confirm before we begin and the plot moves forward.

I'm fine with going to Nailor, but as the Neutral guys say "I'll just do whatever."

[JobaTett]

Chaotic does not mean you're evil it just means that you don't believe in following the normal rules of society at large. I'll let Distored_Humor answer this question depth but here is what they say about it from the Basic Rules by Frank Mentzer.

Character Alignment

Three basic ways of life guide the acts of both player characters and monsters. Each way of life is called an alignment. The three alignments are named Law, Chaos, and Neutrality. Each alignment has a language that includes hand signals and other body motions. Player characters always know how to speak their alignment language in addition to any others they may know. If a monster is able to speak, it will also be able to use its alignment language.


Players may choose the alignments they feel will best fit their characters. A player does not have to tell other players what alignment he or she has picked, but must tell the DM. Most Lawful characters will reveal their alignment if asked. When picking alignments, the characters should know that Chaotics cannot be trusted, even by other Chaotics. A Chaotic character does not work well with other player characters.


The alignments give guidelines for characters to live by. The characters will try to follow these guidelines, but may not always be successful. If a DM feels that a player is not keeping to a character’s chosen alignment, the DM may suggest a change of alignment or give the character a punishment or penalty.


Law (or Lawful) is the belief that everything should follow an order, and that obeying rules is the natural way of life. Lawful creatures will try to tell the truth, obey laws, and care about all living things. Lawful characters always try to keep their promises. They will try to obey laws as long as such laws are fair and just.

If a choice must be made between the benefit of a group or an individual, a Lawful character will usually choose the group. Sometimes individual freedoms must be given up for the good of the group. Lawful characters and monsters
often act in predictable ways. Lawful behavior is usually the same as behavior that could be called “good.”

Chaos (or Chaotic) is the opposite of Law. It is the belief that life is random, and that chance and luck rule the world. Everything happens by accident and nothing can be predicted. Laws are made to be broken, as long as a person can get away with it. It is not important to keep promises, and lying and telling the truth are both useful. To a Chaotic creature, the individual is the most important of all things. Selfishness is the normal way of life, and the group is not important. Chaotics often act on sudden desires and whims. They cannot be trusted, their behavior is hard to predict. They have strong belief in the power of luck. Chaotic behavior is usually the same as behavior that could be called “evil.”

Neutrality (or Neutral) is the belief that the world is a balance between Law and Chaos. It is important that neither side get too much power and upset this balance. The individual is important, but SO is the group; the two sides must work together.

A Neutral character is most interested in personal survival. Such characters believe in their own wits and abilities rather than luck. They tend to return the treatment they receive from others. Neutral characters will join a party if they think it is in their own best interest, but will not be overly helpful unless there is some sort of profit in it. Neutral behavior may be considered “good” or “evil” (or neither), depending on the situation.

Example of Alignment Behavior

THE SITUATION: A group of player characters is attacked by a large number of monsters. Escape is not possible unless the monsters are slowed down.

A Lawful character will fight to protect the group, whatever the danger. The character will not run away unless the whole group does.

A Neutral character will fight to protect the group as long as it is reasonably safe to do so. If the danger gets too great, the character will try to save himself (or herself), even at the expense of the party.

A Chaotic character might fight the monsters or might run away. The character will not care what happens to the rest of the party.

Thanks! I've yet to question Frank Mentzer. So Neutral could work, I suppose these 3 alignment were made so that there is nothing to specific saying that you've got to do or that. Personally, I don't like Alignments, I think players(and DMs) should just write down stuff about the character(is he good, bad, whatever) and role-play, not rule-play

[Delazar]

Also, is the party going to see Nailor Gladiolus, or another Master of arms. Just want to confirm before we begin and the plot moves forward.

I am!

[Jester]

Me too, I was just waiting till everyone posted before saying anything. I don't want to be too pushy.

[Vargr1105]

Character AlignmentTo a Chaotic creature, the individual is the most important of all things. Selfishness is the normal way of life, and the group is not important.

Such anti-collectivism! This sounds remarkably like something out of Ayn Rand. I had no idea I could play Coenbeorht as an Objectivist entrepreneur.

"Is a Halfling not entitled to the sweat from his brow?"

"I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another halfling, nor ask another halfling to live for mine."

[max_vale]

DH: I may have allready told you this; and if so my apologies for repeating it; but due to my job; there may be times when I won't be able to post for 3 or 4 days in a row....other times; I can make multiple posts per day (like today!)....if the group happens to be in a situation where Beya needs to take some timely actions; please feel free to have her make the most logical choice in your estimation and post the results of such.

Everybody: You know; I noticed that they make a serious effort in a couple of places to say that "Lawful isn't good and Chaotic isn't evil" in the BECMI books....but yet; pretty much all of the monsters/badguys/magic items line up that way.

In general; when I'm the DM; I stick to the basics of having character's be either "Good"; "Evil" or "Neutral" with the understanding that I have no time for "Evil" characters and that personality has little to do with alignment...i.e.; somebody can be "Good" and be completely unfriendly and somebody can be "Evil" and be extremely charming. Just my take; but I can live with any of the alignment scales!

[Distorted Humor]

No problem, I understand on odd time shifts and having time or not having time.

As for alignment, my thing is that I want a character to be consistent, The alignments are more guides then rules.

[max_vale]

DH: Thanks for understanding...yeah; my days at work tend to switch week to week; so I'm never too sure what my availability is going to look like...plus with a not-quite-two-years old daughter at home; sometimes even at home; I don't have much time to get online!

As for alignments; I tend to think of them as "gun to your head; what do you do?" or "when faced with EXTREME choices; what do you choose?"....as opposed to the "everyday personality guides" that many people seem to think they are. I.e. I don't think a LG type has to be a "goody two-shoes; boy living in Mayberry" kinda guy and not every NE type has to be a "EVIL WILL WIN BECAUSE GOOD IS DUMB!" type either......a LG Paladin can be a snobbish jackass who will sigh and curse the poor peasant baby's parents as he goes to save said baby from wicked human-sacrifice cultists....and a NE store-keeper could be a pillar of his community and decent parent and spouse; until one day; when faced with a life and death choice...he can't sacrifice himself for those he thought were the most important things in the world....

My two cents anyway....

[Vargr1105]

Max, that might be the best approach to the BD&D alignment scale I have ever read.

I would add D&D alignment was borrowed from Moorcock's novels, and it has more to do with how you stand in relation to the 3 cosmic forces that rules the universe: Law, Chaos and the Balance than day-to-day attitudes.

None of the 3 cosmic alignments is "good" or "evil" or even beneficial or detrimental on itself. It is the fanatics of each that cause problems and things tend to go haywire when one of the Forces is ascending over the other two, albeit in different manners.

Yes, there are Lawfuls who use torture and unjust laws, Chaotics who donate to orphanages and Neutrals who are simply ignorant people uninterested in the pressing issues of the day. I think Mentzer & Co. really failed to grasp what alignment really is and just allotted "Chaotic" to every mean creature they found.

[max_vale]

Thanks Vargr!

You know; I've heard good things about the Moorcock novels; I'll have to go track them down and give them a read. I've never really read anything that was based more on the "Law vs. Chaos" axis as opposed to "Good vs. Evil". Sounds interesting.....I also remembering reading about a boxed set based around a similiar conflict for D&D (or maybe AD&D)....Rod of seven parts, maybe? Anybody know? Thoughts?

On another note...I finally did manage to track down 2 of Howard's "Conan" stories....and while I find the action to be fast and furious fun....I'm sorry to say that my opinion hasn't changed much; Conan just doesn't interst me as he just seems like a guy who ends up doing the right thing more because the bad guys got in his way and not because he cares about doing the right thing. I don't know; he just doesn't seem very heroic....and I guess I'm old-fashioned; but while I enjoy flawed heroes....I like my heroes to be heroes. Sorry! To each thier own though!

Also....I'm SHOCKED to hear how many fellow DS9 fans out there there are! Normally; I'm the only one in the room! YAY!

[Vargr1105]

I'm curious, which 2 stories did you get a hold of?

[max_vale]

"Tower of the Elephant" and "Rogues in the House".