Alternate Alignment Tracking  
                                                        by  Sean Gernant

For: All editions

Player’s keep track of their alignment using the following chart. Each player declares chosen alignment at first level, but starts at the center square regardless of declaration. Whenever the character does something that would influence the current position of the character on the alignment chart the DM lets the player know. If the player is ok with the movement it happens automatically, if the player is not happy with the movement the character gets a WILL save to resist the movement, DC of save is decided by DM depending on severity of action.

Example 1: An evil character picks a pocket. This is both chaotic (unlawful) and evil (albeit relatively mildly evil). The player is fine with the chaotic influence and accepts the move one step towards chaos, but unhappy with the evil movement and decides to try for the save. The DM sets the save to 12, but the player rolls a 1, and the character takes a step toward evil.

Example 2: A character with a declared alignment of LG kills a halfling peasant because he wants her necklace. This is an evil action, the character must make a will save, DC 23.

Example 3: A character with a declared alignment of NE helps an old woman cross the street, and refuses a tip. This is a good action, the character must make a will save, DC 15.

This system doesn’t avoid the problems of gray areas. If an evil character helps an old woman cross the street, and refuses a tip, but when she invites him to her home for tea and he ties her to a chair, kills her dog, and steals all the valuables from her home, should he still make the save vs goodness? In my opinion, yes, but the resulting evil actions will even things out.

If by 3rd level the character’s alignment is not in the area required by his class, he must change class, or stop level advancement until the alignment is back where it should be.







Class alignment requirements: