Character alignment is a quick way to describe a character's moral compass on two scales: lawful to chaotic (how they feel about rules) and good to evil (how they treat other people). The nine combinations give partners a shorthand for who your character is.
The system comes from Dungeons & Dragons, but roleplayers everywhere use it. On RPL, every character has an Alignment field on their profile. This guide explains each option and how to choose one.
The two scales
- Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic: how your character relates to rules, tradition, promises and authority. Lawful characters follow a code, whether it's the law, a religion or their own. Chaotic characters trust their own judgement over any rulebook.
- Good, Neutral, Evil: how your character treats others. Good characters put other people first, at least sometimes. Evil characters are willing to hurt people to get what they want. Neutral characters look after themselves and their own.
The nine alignments
| Good | Neutral | Evil | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawful | Lawful Good Does the right thing, the right way. A judge who refuses every bribe; a knight who keeps her word to an enemy. |
Lawful Neutral The rules matter more than the outcome. A soldier who follows orders; a librarian who won't bend the late-fee policy for anyone. |
Lawful Evil Uses the system to get what they want. A tyrant who rules by the letter of the law; a crime boss with a strict code. |
| Neutral | Neutral Good Helps people, by whatever means work. A doctor who treats outlaws; a neighbour who quietly pays someone's rent. |
True Neutral Balance, or simple self-interest. A merchant who sells to both sides; a druid who protects nature over people. |
Neutral Evil Pure self-interest, no matter who gets hurt. A mercenary with no loyalty; a con artist who works alone. |
| Chaotic | Chaotic Good Does good, and ignores the rules to do it. A rebel freeing prisoners; a thief who robs the rich. |
Chaotic Neutral Freedom above everything. A wanderer who goes where they please; a trickster who does things for the fun of it. |
Chaotic Evil Destruction and cruelty with no code. A raider who burns villages; a killer who enjoys it. |
RPL's two extra options
- Variable: your character's alignment changes with their mood, situation or form. Good for shapeshifters, characters with split personalities, or someone in the middle of a big change.
- Other/None: the grid doesn't fit. Animals, forces of nature, alien minds, or characters whose morality you'd rather show than label.
Choosing an alignment
- Look at what they do, not what they believe. A character who thinks of themselves as good but lies to everyone may be Chaotic Neutral.
- Think about pressure. How does your character act when they're scared, tired or cornered? That's their real alignment.
- Pick the one that's true most of the time. Every character steps out of their alignment now and then. That's what makes the moment interesting.
- Let it change. A Lawful Good soldier who discovers her orders are evil might become Chaotic Good. That's a whole character arc.
Common mistakes
- Chaotic Neutral as an excuse. "My character is Chaotic Neutral" shouldn't mean "my character can wreck everyone's scenes". Chaotic characters still need reasons for what they do.
- Evil without depth. Evil characters work best when they want something understandable. See Evil or Just an Asshole?
- Lawful Good as boring. The most interesting Lawful Good characters are tested: what happens when the law and the right thing point in different directions?
Alignment and your partners
Alignment is a quick signal for partners deciding whether your characters would clash or get along. A Lawful Good detective and a Chaotic Neutral thief have built-in conflict. Two Neutral Evil schemers might make a great alliance until one double-crosses the other.
It's a starting point, not a cage. Show your character's morality through their choices in your writing, and use the alignment field as a hint. For more on what drives your character, see Character Motivation. Need a new character to try this on? 50 Character Concept Ideas has plenty of morally interesting ones.