Cecily Zamora
The alignment system in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) categorizes characters based on their views on law versus chaos and good versus evil. Lawful neutral characters value law, tradition, or personal codes above all else, prioritizing order, organization, and stability in society. They believe that laws should be applied equally to everyone, regardless of the outcome, and may enforce rules without considering whether their actions are good or evil. For example, a lawful neutral character might be primarily concerned with the legality of slave ownership rather than the treatment of slaves. This alignment can be dangerous when it seeks to eliminate freedom, choice, and diversity, as it views regulation as paramount. Lawful neutral characters can be flexible in their decision-making, as long as it aligns with their code, and may include monks, bureaucrats, or mafia bosses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Adherence to a defined code | Order and organisation |
| Desire to preserve or create order | Law and order |
| Unquestioning devotion to a written code | Regulation |
| Honesty | Stability |
| Respect for life | Self-interest |
| Selflessness | Altruism |
| Pragmatism | Selflessness |
| Lack of empathy | Sacrifice |
| Honour | Reliability |
| Lawful without being a zealot | Honour |
| Dangerous alignment | Respect |
| Abuse of authority | Power |
| Wealth | Justice |
| Punishment | Freedom |
| Choice | Diversity |
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What You'll Learn
- Lawful neutral characters value law and order above good and evil
- They will enforce laws and commit actions deemed evil, good, or neutral
- They are predictable and reliable, upholding a defined code
- They may be viewed as realistic, with good being naive
- They are not zealots, but they can be dangerous by limiting freedom and choice
Lawful neutral characters value law and order above good and evil
Lawful neutral is a philosophy that values law and order above good and evil. Lawful neutral characters believe that laws exist to provide order and stability for society, and they want all laws to apply equally to everyone, regardless of whether the outcome is good or ill. This philosophy can be dangerous when taken to the extreme, as it may seek to eliminate freedom, choice, and diversity in society.
A lawful neutral character will follow a defined code or set of rules first and foremost, and their personal moral issues come second. This can be a written code, such as a religious text, or a personal code of conduct. For example, a mafia boss may be lawful neutral as long as they adhere to the code of the mafia and do not murder people needlessly. Their actions are not driven by good or evil but by their code.
In the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), a character's alignment can be used to define their role and outlook on life. A lawful neutral character in this context is not bound by a strict moral code of good or evil but instead focuses on maintaining order and structure in their society. They may be willing to enforce laws or rules that are deemed evil or good by others, as long as they believe it is for the best of their society.
Lawful neutral characters can be seen as realistic and pragmatic, as they prioritize the needs of the state or social order above individual desires. This philosophy is often associated with ethical equitism, which holds that harm to others should be minimized when advancing the self, and vice versa. Lawful neutral characters may also be creatures of habit, valuing routine and predictability in their lives.
In summary, lawful neutral characters value law and order above good and evil, believing that a strong social order is the best way for all beings to pursue their interests. They are reliable and honorable, following their chosen code without letting good or evil drive their decision-making.
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They will enforce laws and commit actions deemed evil, good, or neutral
A lawful neutral character is devoted to a code, law, or tradition, and their first impulse when making a moral decision is to refer back to this code. They believe that law and order are desirable ends in themselves and that the ultimate harmony of the universe rests upon law and order. They will enforce laws and commit actions deemed evil, good, or neutral, but they tend to regulate themselves while doing so, for the betterment of their society.
For example, a mafia boss can be lawful neutral as long as they adhere to the code of the mafia and do not murder people needlessly. They may justify their actions by believing that a power vacuum is worse than a criminal enterprise being in charge. The extortion they participate in helps maintain an orderly and fair society.
In the 1976 article "The Meaning of Law and Chaos in Dungeons and Dragons and Their Relationships to Good and Evil", Gary Gygax introduced a two-axis system of alignment, with "'law' vs 'chaos'" and "'good' vs 'evil'". Lawful neutral characters fall in the middle of the "good" vs "evil" axis, and they can be contrasted with lawful good and lawful evil characters. A lawful good character will selflessly serve their fellow citizens and work to increase well-being throughout society, while a lawful evil character will use their position of power to pursue their own agenda and increase their own wealth and power at the expense of the population.
Lawful neutral characters want all laws to apply equally to everyone, for good or ill. They will enforce these laws, even if it means supporting evil regimes, because they believe that laws exist to provide order and stability for society. They will not abuse their authority and will not let good or evil drive their decision-making.
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They are predictable and reliable, upholding a defined code
Lawful neutral characters are predictable and reliable, upholding a defined code. They are not driven by good or evil but by a desire to preserve order and stability in society. This philosophy holds that the best way for all beings to pursue their rational self-interest is within the framework of a strong social order.
For a lawful neutral character, the law is paramount, and they will adhere to it regardless of whether it is "good" or "bad". They will not abuse their authority and will not let their personal moral issues get in the way of their devotion to the code. They will refuse to break this code even if good could come from doing so. They are predictable because they consistently put the law first.
A lawful neutral character may be a bureaucrat or a politician in a modern setting. They may also be a monk or martial artist devoted to their art. In a fantasy setting, they could be a member of a lawful evil city's resistance, opposing a dictatorial regime.
A lawful neutral character can be played in many ways. For example, a mafia boss could be lawful neutral as long as they adhere to the code of the mafia and do not murder needlessly. They might justify their actions by believing that a power vacuum resulting from a lack of criminal leadership would be worse for society than the existence of a criminal enterprise.
Lawful neutral characters are often honest and decent people who contribute to society and act according to plans and structure. They are reliable and honourable without being zealots.
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They may be viewed as realistic, with good being naive
Those who are morally neutral tend to see themselves as realistic, while viewing "good" as an idealistic and naive philosophy. Moral neutrality is often associated with the belief that "good" is naive because it is idealistic and driven by altruism. In contrast, moral neutrality is more pragmatic and grounded in the belief that the best way to pursue rational self-interest is within a structured and ordered society.
This perspective is reflected in the alignment system commonly used in role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). In D&D, "lawful neutral" characters prioritize law, tradition, or personal codes over good or evil. They believe that laws exist to provide order and stability, and they will follow the rules even if it means supporting evil regimes. This alignment can be seen as realistic because it acknowledges the complexity of moral choices and the potential conflict between law and goodness.
For example, a "lawful good" character might prioritize freeing slaves, regardless of whether they were acquired legally or not. On the other hand, a "lawful neutral" character would likely be indifferent as long as the owner had the proper paperwork. They might even justify a criminal enterprise, like the mafia, as maintaining order and stability, which is preferable to a power vacuum.
The alignment system in D&D has evolved over time, and later editions have shifted away from rigidly defining a character's alignment. Instead, alignment is now seen as a flexible role-playing guide that can change based on a character's actions. This evolution acknowledges the complexity of morality and the potential for characters to make concessions between law and goodness.
Ultimately, the perception of "good" as naive by those who are morally neutral highlights a fundamental difference in values and beliefs. Moral neutrality prioritizes order, stability, and rational self-interest, while "good" is associated with idealism, altruism, and self-sacrifice.
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They are not zealots, but they can be dangerous by limiting freedom and choice
Lawful neutral is a philosophy that upholds law and order as desirable ends in themselves. It is a form of pure equitistic collectivism, where the needs of the state or social order are placed above individual desires. This philosophy holds that the best way for all beings to pursue their rational self-interest is within the framework of a strong social order.
Those who adhere to lawful neutrality believe that laws exist to provide order and stability for society. They want all laws to apply equally to everyone, regardless of the outcome. They will work within the system, even if it means refusing to break the law when doing so could bring about a positive outcome. They are not zealots, but they can be dangerous by limiting freedom and choice.
Lawful neutral characters are not driven by good or evil but by a devotion to a code or set of laws. They may be creatures of habit, monks or martial artists devoted to their art, or bureaucrats. They may also be mafia members who justify their actions as maintaining order and stability, even if it means participating in mild extortion or other criminal activities.
The danger of lawful neutrality lies in its potential to restrict freedom and choice. Those who adhere to this philosophy may seek to eliminate all freedom, choice, and diversity in society, prioritizing regulation and predictability above all else. They may become overly restrictive and predictable, limiting individual freedoms and choices in the name of maintaining order.
It is important to note that lawful neutral characters are not inherently evil or malicious. They simply prioritize law and order above all else, which can sometimes lead to limiting the freedom and choices of others.
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Frequently asked questions
A lawful neutral character acts as the law, tradition, or a personal code directs them. Order and organisation are paramount to them. They may believe in personal order and live by a code or standard, or they may believe in order for all and favour a strong, organised government. Lawful neutral characters want all laws to apply equally to everyone, for good or ill.
A lawful good character is bound by a code or law that they have to follow, sometimes to the extent that it may defy their morality. They are concerned with the well-being of others and will selflessly serve their fellow citizens. A lawful neutral character, on the other hand, believes that law trumps good and evil, and will side with the law even if it means supporting evil regimes.
True neutral characters are indifferent to order versus chaos. Their only interest is in living their own lives, and they have no particular objective. They believe that laws should be followed as long as it benefits them, and they will also follow laws out of fear of punishment. Lawful neutral characters, on the other hand, are driven to protect the interests of the group above the individual and will strive to be honest and obey just and fair laws.
Yes, a criminal can be lawful neutral if they believe that their actions help maintain an orderly and fair society. For example, in a mafia context, a mafia boss may be lawful neutral if they adhere to the code of the mafia and do not murder people needlessly.
