Comments on: An Unneccessary Evil? – Focussing On Alignment, Part 3 of 5 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/an-unneccessary-evil-3-of-5/ Expert tips and how-to's on every aspect of creating and running exceptional campaigns. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:19:39 -0500 hourly 1 By: Mike http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/an-unneccessary-evil-3-of-5/comment-page-1/#comment-1717 Mike Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:58:39 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1176#comment-1717 All five parts have been published, Garry, and I look forward to reading anything else you have to contribute to the subject. Perhaps the greatest strength of the system I propose in this part is that it is absolutely compatable with the existing system - the differences are all in interpretation and implication. The result is that alignment becomes as subtle and nuanced as you want or need it to be. I think perhaps you and I are working to a different definition when it comes to children. From about 10 years old and up, I absolutely agree with you; but for those aged 4-8, some simplification may be necessary. In any event, I wasn't stating that this should be the approach used, just that this is an adequate justification for the inclusion of a relatively simple alignment system, and certainly was so at the time AD&D was published. Children today are far more sophisticated in their education and life experience than was the case 30-40 years ago. My neice was studying subjects in 6th class (also known as year 6) of primary school that were not part of my official curriculum until year 12 - college, in American terms. As with everything else, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. All five parts have been published, Garry, and I look forward to reading anything else you have to contribute to the subject. Perhaps the greatest strength of the system I propose in this part is that it is absolutely compatable with the existing system – the differences are all in interpretation and implication. The result is that alignment becomes as subtle and nuanced as you want or need it to be.

I think perhaps you and I are working to a different definition when it comes to children. From about 10 years old and up, I absolutely agree with you; but for those aged 4-8, some simplification may be necessary. In any event, I wasn’t stating that this should be the approach used, just that this is an adequate justification for the inclusion of a relatively simple alignment system, and certainly was so at the time AD&D was published. Children today are far more sophisticated in their education and life experience than was the case 30-40 years ago. My neice was studying subjects in 6th class (also known as year 6) of primary school that were not part of my official curriculum until year 12 – college, in American terms. As with everything else, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution.

]]> By: Garry Stahl http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/an-unneccessary-evil-3-of-5/comment-page-1/#comment-1709 Garry Stahl Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:39:17 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1176#comment-1709 An interesting take to be sure. I'll reserve my total reply for when you finish the series, but on the short you have basically eliminated alignment, but in a different way. By adding an infinite possible axis and ditching the "loaded" terms you effectively toss the system and replace it with a different one with finer graduations. Based perhaps on the raw idea but a much more refined, and most importantly, unrestrictive view. Far from 3 dimensional you have created a system by which as many dimensions as the game master can keep track of can be added. I still see this as a thinking tool and character development tool, and not something that should have in game effects. As to the historical examples, it was less I think a simpler time as it has always been in the interest of authority to define the dichotomy as the zero sum of "Us vs. Them". And being that history is written by the winners, we do not see the conflict as it was, but rather as the writer wished to present it. Talk to the vanishing veterans of those wars, on any side, and you find a more complex situation, both on the ground and in their minds. Propaganda should never be mistaken for the reality of the situation. And as to RPGs for children. I have found the best results come from not dumbing down the concept. Children know when they are being patronized and usually resent it. Only the very young actually enjoy the moral shallowness of say "Power Rangers". But the time a kid is ready for D&D they are ready to face the more complex world, and in my experience both as a parent and a DM, should. Yes, I keep themes age appropriate, but actions and consequences of those actions are always age appropriate. My son is a second generation Game Master and runs a good game. I think I did well. An interesting take to be sure. I’ll reserve my total reply for when you finish the series, but on the short you have basically eliminated alignment, but in a different way. By adding an infinite possible axis and ditching the “loaded” terms you effectively toss the system and replace it with a different one with finer graduations. Based perhaps on the raw idea but a much more refined, and most importantly, unrestrictive view. Far from 3 dimensional you have created a system by which as many dimensions as the game master can keep track of can be added. I still see this as a thinking tool and character development tool, and not something that should have in game effects.

As to the historical examples, it was less I think a simpler time as it has always been in the interest of authority to define the dichotomy as the zero sum of “Us vs. Them”. And being that history is written by the winners, we do not see the conflict as it was, but rather as the writer wished to present it. Talk to the vanishing veterans of those wars, on any side, and you find a more complex situation, both on the ground and in their minds. Propaganda should never be mistaken for the reality of the situation.

And as to RPGs for children. I have found the best results come from not dumbing down the concept. Children know when they are being patronized and usually resent it. Only the very young actually enjoy the moral shallowness of say “Power Rangers”. But the time a kid is ready for D&D they are ready to face the more complex world, and in my experience both as a parent and a DM, should. Yes, I keep themes age appropriate, but actions and consequences of those actions are always age appropriate.

My son is a second generation Game Master and runs a good game. I think I did well.

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