Once more I'm joined by Scott, a.k.a. Optional Rule! This time we discuss the hot topic of alignment in Dungeons & Dragons. Scott takes us through the history of alignment, and how it impacted and shaped the earliest editions of the game - I'm willing to bet you never knew how the cold war affects your player character! Despite all the (arguably justified) negativity around alignment, it still provides value in the utility of a consistent experience, the same reason USB is so ubiquitous! However, with all things involving humans, there is always the risk of misalignment (pun intended). Often there is the implicit ideal that the player characters are "heroes", that is to say, "good". How this impacts the design of 5e and the DM/Player interaction is a subtle but noticeable effect of alignment.

01:15 - History of Alignment
16:40 - Scorched Earth Solution
21:34 - Does Alignment Stifle Role Play?
30:04 - The Alignment Police
43:46 - Reconciling the Heroic Trope

Find Scott (@optionalrule) on:

Website: https://optionalrule.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/optionalrule
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optionalrule/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi7AoQ6KbaZQqhdO7heKPqw

Find me on:

Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThinkCritDnD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinking_critically_dnd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkingCriticallyDnD
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH_BSgazjwyshzo1jazHeaQ
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thinkingcritically
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thinkingcritically

References:

'Agency' episode of Thinking Critically

Patrons:

Matthew Perkins @mperkinsDM: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Alignment