Alignment shifting

[TorintheBadger]

So I play D&D 3.5 pretty exclusively at this point and I just read the Fiendish Codex II, Tyrants of the Nine Hells and I happened upon two wonderful alignment tools: Corrupt acts and Acts of Obeisance. These outline how to catalog a PC's shift towards Evil and Law respectively.

My question is this: are there charts for Good and Chaos, or do I have to just wing it and make up my own? If someone could let me know if/where they exist, I would be very grateful.

 

[ppaladin123]

So I play D&D 3.5 pretty exclusively at this point and I just read the Fiendish Codex II, Tyrants of the Nine Hells and I happened upon two wonderful alignment tools: Corrupt acts and Acts of Obeisance. These outline how to catalog a PC's shift towards Evil and Law respectively.

My question is this: are there charts for Good and Chaos, or do I have to just wing it and make up my own? If someone could let me know if/where they exist, I would be very grateful.

I am not sure if it has charts exactly but the Book of Exalted Deeds has some material about redeeming/redeemed evil creatures. It might provide some inspiration.

 

[TorintheBadger]

I am not sure if it has charts exactly but the Book of Exalted Deeds has some material about redeeming/redeemed evil creatures. It might provide some inspiration.

Thanks a lot for the speedy response!

BoED has some information on redemption, but from what I can see it's not much more than what can be inferred from the DMG or PHB. On the other hand, it has a lot more information about being 'good' in the game, so it will probably help all the same.

 

[the Jester]

So I play D&D 3.5 pretty exclusively at this point and I just read the Fiendish Codex II, Tyrants of the Nine Hells and I happened upon two wonderful alignment tools: Corrupt acts and Acts of Obeisance. These outline how to catalog a PC's shift towards Evil and Law respectively.

My question is this: are there charts for Good and Chaos, or do I have to just wing it and make up my own? If someone could let me know if/where they exist, I would be very grateful.

I don't recall any, although IIRC there are similar rules in Heroes of Horror for gaining taint (har har).

You might look in FC1 too, but I don't remember any kind of chaotic acts chart.

 

[TorintheBadger]

I don't recall any, although IIRC there are similar rules in Heroes of Horror for gaining taint (har har).

You might look in FC1 too, but I don't remember any kind of chaotic acts chart.

I looked into FC1, but you are right, there are no such charts.

 

[hamishspence]

I think that's intentional- since if you are Lawful and have a Corruption of 9 or higher, you (if not repentant) go to Baator regardless of your actual alignment and other deeds in life.

If there was a counterpart for Good (maybe for Celestia?) then a LN person might "go to Baator regardless of their alignment and deeds" and "go to Celestia regardless of their alignment and deeds"

Which would be problematic.

The Obesiance system isn't so clear-

but I'd say it could be extrapolated as "If you are Evil and have an Obesiance of 9 or higher, you go to Baator regardless of your alignment and how much Chaos you did in life"

If you combine the two, you could have "if you have both a Corruption and Obesiance score of 9 or higher, and you are not repentant, you go to Baator regardless of you alignment and other deeds"

(Hellbred are what beings which would normally go to Baator thanks to their deeds (Corruption rating), but are genuinely repentant, become- getting one chance to evade being condemned).

 

[TorintheBadger]

I think that's intentional- since if you are Lawful and have a Corruption of 9 or higher, you (if not repentant) go to Baator regardless of your actual alignment and other deeds in life.

If there was a counterpart for Good (maybe for Celestia?) then a LN person might "go to Baator regardless of their alignment and deeds" and "go to Celestia regardless of their alignment and deeds"

Which would be problematic.

The Obesiance system isn't so clear-

but I'd say it could be extrapolated as "If you are Evil and have an Obesiance of 9 or higher, you go to Baator regardless of your alignment and how much Chaos you did in life"

If you combine the two, you could have "if you have both a Corruption and Obesiance score of 9 or higher, and you are not repentant, you go to Baator regardless of you alignment and other deeds"

(Hellbred are what beings which would normally go to Baator thanks to their deeds (Corruption rating), but are genuinely repentant, become- getting one chance to evade being condemned).

That is very good insight! Thank you.

My only problem with thtis as a DM is that in D&D evil (or Lawful) deeds can change a player's alignment. Having the PC perform enough 'evil' deeds to get a corruption of 9 seems to me like enough acts to actually change an alignment.

I've sort of been viewing Corruption and Obeisance points as representations in a character's outlook and natural shift in alignment.

As an example: One of my PCs committed murder almost unknowingly (the man was "innocent," but the PCs didnt know this). According to the Corruption chart, this roped her 5 corruption points. In order to help her role play, I told her that her CN Elf Druid was beginning to acquire a taste for blood. This would help to represent her shift toward CE.

According to what you're saying, this corruption shouldn't actually change her alignment, just become a deed that helps Baator claim her soul?

 

[hamishspence]

I see the Corruption system as more about telling whether a person will go to Baator or become a Hellbred, than about tracking alignment.

E.G. a person who drifts from LE to LN, but is still Corruption 9+, and hasn't ever repented their past acts or tried to atone, goes to Baator.

A person who was LE, becomes LG, genuinely tries to atone, dies with Corruption 9+, becomes a Hellbred.

While I find it hard to imagine a LG Corruption 9 person that isn't truly repentant and trying to atone, I suppose such a person could exist.

The Easydamus Character Alignment site (homebrew but very detailed and draws heavily on past and present editions) has a Act Tracker that might be helpful:


Alignment Tracking

 

[TorintheBadger]

I see the Corruption system as more about telling whether a person will go to Baator or become a Hellbred, than about tracking alignment.

E.G. a person who drifts from LE to LN, but is still Corruption 9+, and hasn't ever repented their past acts or tried to atone, goes to Baator.

A person who was LE, becomes LG, genuinely tries to atone, dies with Corruption 9+, becomes a Hellbred.

While I find it hard to imagine a LG Corruption 9 person that isn't truly repentant and trying to atone, I suppose such a person could exist.

The Easydamus Character Alignment site (homebrew but very detailed and draws heavily on past and present editions) has a Act Tracker that might be helpful:


Alignment Tracking

That site is amazing! I will probably use it frequently in my campaigns from now on. Solves my biggest problem in D&D.

 

[Herobizkit]

Also, regarding mechanical effects of evil corruption:

Taint :: d20srd.org

There is also 'Vile' damage (which reduces Max HP) that could possibly be afflicted by corrupted creatures; it cannot be healed by any means outside of a sacred/hallowed area (and only using cure spells in a hallowed area will remove the vile damage).