Cameron Miranda
The alignment system is a framework used to describe the moral and ethical perspectives of characters, particularly in fantasy settings. Lawful, Neutral, and Evil are three core components of this system, each with distinct variations. Lawful Evil characters are defined by their strict adherence to a code of conduct, be it self-imposed or codified as law, and their willingness to cause harm to achieve their objectives. Neutral Evil characters, on the other hand, are driven by pure self-interest and are unbound by laws, traditions, or codes, making them supremely flexible. They are willing to do whatever it takes to advance their own goals, regardless of the consequences for others. Lawful Neutral characters, in contrast, value law and order above all else, believing that these concepts are desirable ends in themselves, regardless of whether they lead to good or evil outcomes. They are willing to enforce laws and commit actions that are deemed good, evil, or neutral, as long as they believe it benefits their society.
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What You'll Learn
- Lawful Evil characters believe in a strict code of conduct, tradition, loyalty, and order
- Neutral Evil characters are selfish, flexible, and do whatever they can get away with
- Lawful Neutral characters value order and stability, and believe in a strong, well-ordered government
- Lawful Evil vs Neutral Evil: Lawful Evil characters are loyal to their allies, while Neutral Evil characters are only loyal to themselves
- Lawful Neutral characters can be wild cards, enforcing laws and committing actions deemed evil, good, or neutral
Lawful Evil characters believe in a strict code of conduct, tradition, loyalty, and order
Lawful Evil characters are driven by a strict code of conduct, tradition, loyalty, and order. They believe in a hierarchical society and are comfortable serving under a ruler, but they also aspire to rule themselves. They are ruthless and cruel, willing to commit evil acts to enforce their idea of order.
When it comes to making moral decisions, Lawful Evil characters refer to their code of conduct, whether it is self-imposed or based on external laws and hierarchies. They are reluctant to break laws or go against their code, as they depend on order to protect themselves from those who oppose them on moral grounds. This does not mean they are incapable of evil acts—they simply prefer to work within the system, using legal means to achieve their dark desires. For example, they may pay someone else to carry out their dirty work or use underlings to do their bidding, ensuring their own hands stay clean.
Loyalty is an important aspect of Lawful Evil characters. They recognize the need for allies and are willing to help those they consider comrades, even if it comes at a personal cost. Betrayal is not taken lightly, and they will seek revenge on those who go against them. This differentiates them from Neutral Evil characters, who are primarily loyal to themselves and those who aid them. Neutral Evil characters are more willing to betray their allies for personal gain, whereas Lawful Evil characters value the stability and order that loyalty to a group provides.
In contrast to Chaotic Evil characters, who are ruled by their strength and often hate those stronger than them, Lawful Evil characters believe in a structured society. They may even be sincerely loyal to a society or group, but their loyalty does not prevent them from committing evil acts to further their goals. They are disciplined and strategic, using finely-tuned legal arguments to justify their brand of evil or create loopholes to evade punishment.
While Lawful Evil characters are driven by a strict code of conduct, they lack compassion and mercy. They do not value freedom, dignity, or life, and they are willing to hurt others to get what they want, as long as they can do so within the confines of their code. They are comfortable with hierarchy and order, and their actions are driven by a desire for power, wealth, and superiority over others.
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Neutral Evil characters are selfish, flexible, and do whatever they can get away with
Neutral Evil characters view law and chaos as unnecessary, believing that pure evil is the ultimate goal. They do not seek conflict like Chaotic Evil characters, but they also have no love for order or tradition. They are willing to break laws or use laws to weaken their opponents if it suits their purposes. They are primarily concerned with their own advancement and will trample over others to get what they want. They are often willing to commit evil acts for the sake of it, serving evil deities or secret societies.
Characters of this alignment are flexible and adaptable, willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. They are not bound by a strict code of conduct like Lawful Evil characters and are more focused on their personal gain than any particular ideology. They are selfish and greedy, exploiting and abusing others for their own benefit. For example, Thénardier from Les Misérables abuses the main female characters, steals from the dead, and backstabs his acquaintances for personal gain.
Neutral Evil characters are often portrayed as villains or antagonists in stories. They are dangerous because they represent pure evil without honour or variation. They are willing to harm or kill innocents, use torture, and kill for pleasure. They do not feel compelled to keep their word and will betray allies if it suits their interests. They are flexible in their alliances and will work with others or go it alone, whichever helps them achieve their goals.
In games like Munchkin, a Neutral Evil character is often the most successful as they are willing to forge and betray alliances, backstab their buddies, and sacrifice hirelings to get ahead. They are flexible and adaptable, making them challenging opponents and effective villains in stories and games.
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Lawful Neutral characters value order and stability, and believe in a strong, well-ordered government
Lawful Neutral characters value order and stability above all else. They believe in a strong, well-ordered government, regardless of whether it is a tyranny or a benevolent democracy. For Lawful Neutrals, the benefits of organisation and regimentation outweigh any moral questions raised by their actions. They see law and order as desirable ends in themselves and believe that the ultimate harmony of the world rests upon them. Evil and good are immaterial to them, as long as their actions bring order and meaning.
To Lawful Neutral characters, laws exist to provide order and stability for society. They will uphold the law regardless of whether it is considered just or not. If the majority of the population disagrees with the government's practices, Lawful Neutrals believe that the proper legal channels should be used to change those laws. Rebellion is a crime, regardless of the purpose behind the revolt. In their day-to-day lives, they will adhere to the laws of the area they are in and maintain their own sense of honour. They are respectful to their leaders and peers, and they treat subordinates as is due their station within society.
Lawful Neutral characters are similar in morality to True Neutral characters. Both types tend to return the treatment they receive from others. However, they differ in their outlook on legitimate authority and the structure of society. True Neutral characters believe that laws should be followed as long as they benefit themselves. They will also follow laws out of fear of punishment and will break them if they can get away with it and it serves their self-interest.
Lawful Neutral characters can be dangerous when they seek to eliminate all freedom, choice, and diversity in society. They view regulation as all-important, taking a middle ground between good and evil. They believe that the sole hope for the world and the universe rests upon law and order. Lawful Neutral characters are rational and realistic, and they see so-called "good" as naive and idealistic. Their philosophy is one of pure equitistic collectivism, which holds that the best way for all beings to pursue their rational self-interest is within the framework of a strong social order. By putting the needs of the state or social order ahead of individual desires, each being can advance the self-interest of the collective as a whole.
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Lawful Evil vs Neutral Evil: Lawful Evil characters are loyal to their allies, while Neutral Evil characters are only loyal to themselves
The alignment system in the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game categorizes characters based on their ethical and moral perspectives. The two axes, "law" versus "chaos" and "good" versus "evil", with "neutral" in the middle, allow for nine alignments in combination.
Lawful evil characters are loyal to their allies and recognize the need for comrades. They will help those they consider allies, even at some personal risk and cost. Whoever a lawful evil character calls an ally can expect loyalty and aid, unless they fail to support the aims of the group or organization. Lawful evil characters will support laws that further their own cause, which is usually gaining wealth and power. They will want laws that ensure their regime gains the upper hand in society.
Neutral evil characters, on the other hand, are only loyal to themselves and those who aid them. They will not go out of their way to help another unless they need that individual's help in the future. They are typically selfish and have no qualms about turning on allies. They usually make allies primarily to further their own goals and have no compunctions about harming others to get what they want.
While lawful evil characters are often in charge, they also make good henchmen. They respond well to concepts like "loyalty", "duty", and "honour". They are also the most "reasonable" in their actions compared to other evil alignments. They are comfortable in a hierarchy and would like to rule but are willing to serve.
Neutral evil beings consider their alignment to be the best because they can advance themselves without regard for others. They are opposed to any social order that allows goodness to flourish and are the most dangerous alignment because they represent pure evil without honor and without variation. They view law and chaos as unnecessary considerations.
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Lawful Neutral characters can be wild cards, enforcing laws and committing actions deemed evil, good, or neutral
Lawful Neutral characters view regulation as all-important, taking a middle ground between good and evil. They believe that the harmony of the world and the universe rests upon law and order, and that without regimentation and strict definition, there would be no purpose in the cosmos. They are willing to tolerate corruption as long as it does not threaten the strength of the state, and they will enjoy the perks of their position without abusing their authority.
Lawful Neutral characters differ from True Neutral characters in their outlook on legitimate authority and the structure of society. True Neutral characters believe that laws should be followed as long as they benefit themselves, and they will also follow laws out of fear of punishment. Lawful Neutral characters, on the other hand, believe in the importance of authority and social order, and they will obey figures of authority without question. They may even go so far as to believe that their superiors have the right to interpret or define the rules as they see fit.
Lawful Neutral characters also differ from Lawful Evil characters in their motivation for following the law. Lawful Evil characters use the law to gain power over others and to elevate themselves and the strong and cunning, while Lawful Neutral characters view laws as a means to provide order and stability for society. Lawful Neutral characters are also less likely to abuse their authority or tolerate corruption that threatens the state.
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Frequently asked questions
Lawful Evil characters believe in a strict code of conduct, tradition, loyalty, and order, and will work within a system to achieve their goals. They are comfortable in a hierarchy and will follow the rules, but without compassion. Neutral Evil characters, on the other hand, are flexible and do not follow a specific code. They are selfish and will do whatever they can get away with to achieve their goals, with no regard for others.
Lawful Neutral characters value law and order above all else, believing that it brings purpose and meaning to everything. They believe in a strong, well-ordered government, regardless of whether it is a tyranny or a democracy. Lawful Evil characters, however, use the law to gain power over others and to further their own agenda. They will follow the law as long as it benefits them and will not hesitate to break it if it stands in their way.
Lawful Evil characters have a sense of order and follow a code of conduct, tradition, or loyalty. They are comfortable working within a system and will use legal means to achieve their goals. Chaotic Evil characters, on the other hand, act with arbitrary violence, driven by their greed, hatred, or bloodlust. They are unpredictable and will break the law or act ruthlessly to get what they want.
