3. A note on alignment points awarded by DMs

A note on alignment points awarded by DMs


  • So you've been wandering about Narfell, slaying critters, RPing with other folks, and if you're fortunate, been involved in some DM events… and then BAM! Suddenly you get whacked with evil points.

    Does this mean one or more DMs doesn't like you? No.

    What it does mean, is that a DM looked at something you did (or contemplated doing in an emote) and determined it was evil in an objective sense, enough so to warrant evil points.

    There are a few things you should know with regard to alignment points:

    1. It is always easier to get alignment points towards neutral than away from it. This means it is easier for good PCs to get evil points (and for evil PCs to get good points). Likewise, law and chaos. It also means it is harder for strongly aligned PCs to get more points in the direction they are already in. So for example, a PC at 97 good will have to do something remarkable to get good points - while they might get evil points simply for suggesting an evil act.

    2. Getting alignment points does not happen automatically. There are currently no scripted acts in Narfell that will net you alignment points. As such, that means a DM has to either see you doing something alignment-point worthy, or be made aware of it. If you've done something special that you think warrants alignment points (either good or bad for you), and didn't receive alignment points for it, you can contact a DM - and if they agree with you, they'll award the points. In one case, I contacted a DM to get my (good) PC evil points for having contracted an assassin to kill the leader of an enemy army.

    3. Getting alignment points away from your chosen alignment does not mean you are RPing badly. It -can- mean that - as a paladin who murders a farmer's cow and steals things from the barn would be... however, a paladin faced with a choice of saving someone they were sworn to protect or allowing evil to succeed might get evil or chaos points for making one choice or the other - or law and good points for coming up with a unique solution that allows them to achieve both goals. In this second case, none of the choices are necessarily bad RP - they are character development.

    4. Alignment points are not a punishment. While alignment points towards the ideal of your chosen alignment can be a reward from the higher powers, for a job well done, alignment points in the opposite direction can be a warning that you are not acting according to your alignment. For neutrals, alignment points in any non-neutral direction are a signal that their actions are moving them there.

    5. There is no such thing as relative morality in NWN. NWN is based on D&D - which was built around the concept of absolute morality. Things are good or evil, lawful or chaotic - or sometimes none of the above - but they are always that in an absolute sense. While someone may have been brought up to believe that slavery and murder are good things, their support or practice of such would make them evil in an objective sense, regardless of their personal beliefs. This concept of absolute morality is what makes spells like protection from evil, hammer of the gods, detect evil, and a paladin's smite evil ability, for example, work. While your PC may believe that their acts are good - those acts will be viewed in an objective sense, and alignment points awarded accordingly.

    6. Mistakes. Mistakes happen, and everyone makes them - even DMs once in a while. Sometimes you'll be partied with someone who gets alignment points - when that happens, you get them too (though a lesser amount, usually). If this happens, immediately send a message to the DM channel and let them know what happened (and how many alignment points you got), so it can be corrected.

    7. Disputes. Sometimes you will get alignment points, and don't think you should have. If this happens, politely discuss it with the DM who awarded them - and explain why you don't think you should have gotten them. They may agree and rescind the award. ...or they may not, and let it stand. Either way, it is an opportunity to build on the PC's personality and history.


  • Bump. It's a good post and well worth a look.

  • V

    Nice post, I'm sure this will be helpful for new players such as myself.