JNAProductions
2015-01-26, 11:27 PM
The concept is simple-instead of the Law/Chaos axis (or in addition to), there is an axis that runs Devoted-Neutral-Ruthless. (Devoted could use a better name.) All descriptions based on perfect alignments, actual characters shouldn't really be that extreme.
Devoted-Your morals, good or bad, come before all else. If you are good, you are good in all ways. You will never strike a surrendering foe, you will never lie, you will act good not only in your ends but also in your means. If you are evil, you are evil in all ways. You delight in small cruelties and seek power above all else, especially power over others. Helping another without betrayal in mind or some massive reward is anathema to your nature.
Devoted is about being your Good/Evil alignment to the extreme, never wavering the smallest circumstance. Superman or Michael Carpenter are Devoted Good. The Joker is Devoted Evil.
Neutral-You're in the middle.
Neutral is where most characters will fall. They aren't obsessive about their alignment, but have limits on how far they'll go. Good characters might be willing to lie their way into a ball or assassinate a truly corrupt noble, but won't torture a simple (if nasty) guard even if he has information they need.
Ruthless-Your morals, good or bad, matter only for the end result. Anything can be done for your goal, no matter how questionable. If you are good, you are willing to lie, maim, torture, kill, enslave, anything so long as the end result is more good than the total of your actions. If you are evil, you are willing to do good if it helps yourself, and never commit any cruelty that does not help you. While never flinching from a needed death or other evil, you never seek any more harm than is needed for your own ends.
Ruthless characters do not care about their alignment in their means. The end matters above all. The Punisher or Taylor Hebert are Ruthless Good. Lex Luthor or John Marcone are Ruthless Evil.
Devoted-Your morals, good or bad, come before all else. If you are good, you are good in all ways. You will never strike a surrendering foe, you will never lie, you will act good not only in your ends but also in your means. If you are evil, you are evil in all ways. You delight in small cruelties and seek power above all else, especially power over others. Helping another without betrayal in mind or some massive reward is anathema to your nature.
Devoted is about being your Good/Evil alignment to the extreme, never wavering the smallest circumstance. Superman or Michael Carpenter are Devoted Good. The Joker is Devoted Evil.
Neutral-You're in the middle.
Neutral is where most characters will fall. They aren't obsessive about their alignment, but have limits on how far they'll go. Good characters might be willing to lie their way into a ball or assassinate a truly corrupt noble, but won't torture a simple (if nasty) guard even if he has information they need.
Ruthless-Your morals, good or bad, matter only for the end result. Anything can be done for your goal, no matter how questionable. If you are good, you are willing to lie, maim, torture, kill, enslave, anything so long as the end result is more good than the total of your actions. If you are evil, you are willing to do good if it helps yourself, and never commit any cruelty that does not help you. While never flinching from a needed death or other evil, you never seek any more harm than is needed for your own ends.
Ruthless characters do not care about their alignment in their means. The end matters above all. The Punisher or Taylor Hebert are Ruthless Good. Lex Luthor or John Marcone are Ruthless Evil.