Character Alignments - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 14:33, 13 October 2014

2014-10-13T14:33:34Z

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	[[Category:Patterns created on the Wiki]]		[[Category:Patterns created on the Wiki]]
	[[Category:To be Published]]		[[Category:To be Published]]
	~~[[Category:Staffan's current workpage]]~~
	''A categorization system for ethical and moral stances of characters in a game''		''A categorization system for ethical and moral stances of characters in a game''

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	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
	The first [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Roleplaying]] game, [[Dungeons & Dragons]], had [[Character Alignments]] as part of character definition. In ~~it's~~ first incarnation this was a choice between lawful, neutral, and chaotic, but this was in later version of the game expanded to nine options by adding a second dimension based on good, neutral, and evil. [[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]], another [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Roleplaying]] game, uses the scale lawful-good-neutral-evil-chaotic. The fourth edition of [[Dungeons & Dragons]] introduced as very similar scale -- lawful good-good-unaligned-evil-chaotic evil -- but returned to the 2-dimensional system in its fifth edition.		The first [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Roleplaying]] game, [[Dungeons & Dragons]], had [[Character Alignments]] as part of character definition. In its first incarnation this was a choice between lawful, neutral, and chaotic, but this was in later version of the game expanded to nine options by adding a second dimension based on good, neutral, and evil. [[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]], another [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Roleplaying]] game, uses the scale lawful-good-neutral-evil-chaotic. The fourth edition of [[Dungeons & Dragons]] introduced as very similar scale -- lawful good-good-unaligned-evil-chaotic evil -- but returned to the 2-dimensional system in its fifth edition.

	Wikipedia has a page related to [[Character Alignments]]<ref name="wiki"/>.		Wikipedia has a page related to [[Character Alignments]]<ref name="wiki"/>.

Staffan Björk at 14:32, 13 October 2014

2014-10-13T14:32:23Z

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			[[Category:Mechanical Patterns]]
	[[Category:Patterns]]		[[Category:Patterns]]
	~~[[Category:Needs work]]~~
	[[Category:Needs revision]]		[[Category:Needs revision]]
	~~[[Category:Needs examples]]~~
	[[Category:Needs references]]		[[Category:Needs references]]
	[[Category:Patterns created on the Wiki]]		[[Category:Patterns created on the Wiki]]
	~~[[Category:Stub]]~~
	[[Category:To be Published]]		[[Category:To be Published]]
	[[Category:Staffan's current workpage]]		[[Category:Staffan's current workpage]]
	''~~The one-sentence "definition" that should be~~ in ~~italics.~~''		''A categorization system for ethical and moral stances of characters in a game''

	~~This pattern~~ is a ~~still a stub~~.		Some games, especially role-playing games, concern themselves with if actions are morally correct or not from the view point of the characters performing those actions. Making characters adhere to [[Character Alignments]] is a way to organize the possible stances characters can take, and potentially linking these to game mechanics in various ways.

	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
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	Wikipedia has a page related to [[Character Alignments]]<ref name="wiki"/>.		Wikipedia has a page related to [[Character Alignments]]<ref name="wiki"/>.

	~~==== Anti-Examples ====~~
	~~optional~~

	== Using the pattern ==		== Using the pattern ==

Staffan Björk at 14:26, 13 October 2014

2014-10-13T14:26:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:26, 13 October 2014
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	== Using the pattern ==		== Using the pattern ==
	The most basic design questions regarding [[Character Alignments]] is what alignments should exist, and if they should be organized in various dimensions. From these decisions, the next steps is to relate the alignments to actions and opinions in the diegesis to help players with [[Roleplaying]]. This typically takes the form of which actions one should perform (and in what circumstances) and which actions are deemed morally objectionable or worse.		The most basic design questions regarding [[Character Alignments]] is what alignments should exist, and if they should be organized in various dimensions. From these decisions, the next steps is to relate the alignments to actions and opinions in the diegesis to help players with [[Roleplaying]]. This typically takes the form of which actions one should perform (and in what circumstances) and which actions are deemed morally objectionable or worse. This typically takes the form of [[Diegetic Social Maintenance]] and [[Diegetic Social Norms]], but these may also exist independently of the alignment system.

			Unless players are completely blocked from performing actions that go against their alignment, game designers need to consider what happens when [[Characters]] break the rules of the alignments. [[Ability Losses]] is a typical penalty but allowing [[Characters]] to change alignment despite the penalty makes [[Character Defining Actions]] a possibility.

	While [[Character Alignments]] are typically most relevant to [[Player-Created Characters]], they can be useful for all [[Characters]] and [[Factions]] especially when the alignments are [[Characteristics]] that affect actions.		While [[Character Alignments]] are typically most relevant to [[Player-Created Characters]], they can be useful for all [[Characters]] and [[Factions]] especially when the alignments are [[Characteristics]] that affect actions.

	Unless players are completely blocked from performing actions that go against their alignment, game designers need to consider what happens when [[Characters]] break the rules of the alignments. [[Ability Losses]] is a typical penalty but

	~~[[Character Defining Actions]]~~

	~~[[Social Dilemmas]]~~

	~~[[Social Gatekeeper]]~~
	~~[[Diegetic Social Maintenance]]~~
	~~[[Diegetic Social Norms]]~~

	=== Diegetic Aspects ===		=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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	=== Narration Aspects ===		=== Narration Aspects ===
	Besides helping players guide how they should roleplay, the explicitness of [[Character Alignments]] can help in the design of [[Social Dilemmas]] ~~in a game~~ which belong to [[Characters]] rather than ~~player~~.		Besides helping players guide how they should roleplay, the explicitness of [[Character Alignments]] can help in the design of [[Social Dilemmas]] which belong to [[Characters]] rather than players.

	== Consequences ==		== Consequences ==
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	[[Factions]],		[[Factions]],
	[[Player-Created Characters]],		[[Player-Created Characters]],
	[[Roleplaying~~]],~~		[[Roleplaying]]
	~~[[Social Gatekeeper~~]]

	=== Can Be Instantiated By ===		=== Can Be Instantiated By ===

Staffan Björk at 14:22, 13 October 2014

2014-10-13T14:22:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:22, 13 October 2014
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	== Using the pattern ==		== Using the pattern ==
	The most basic design questions regarding [[Character Alignments]] is what alignments should exist, and if they should be organized in various dimensions. From these decisions, the next steps is to relate the alignments to actions and opinions in the diegesis to help players with [[Roleplaying]].		The most basic design questions regarding [[Character Alignments]] is what alignments should exist, and if they should be organized in various dimensions. From these decisions, the next steps is to relate the alignments to actions and opinions in the diegesis to help players with [[Roleplaying]]. This typically takes the form of which actions one should perform (and in what circumstances) and which actions are deemed morally objectionable or worse.

	While [[Character Alignments]] are typically most relevant to [[Player-Created Characters]], they can be useful for all [[Characters]] and [[Factions]] especially when the alignments are [[Characteristics]] that affect actions.		While [[Character Alignments]] are typically most relevant to [[Player-Created Characters]], they can be useful for all [[Characters]] and [[Factions]] especially when the alignments are [[Characteristics]] that affect actions.

	[[Ability Losses]]		Unless players are completely blocked from performing actions that go against their alignment, game designers need to consider what happens when [[Characters]] break the rules of the alignments. [[Ability Losses]] is a typical penalty but

			[[Character Defining Actions]]

	[[Social Dilemmas]]		[[Social Dilemmas]]

	~~=== Can Be Modulated By ===~~
	~~[[Character Defining Actions]]~~
	[[Social Gatekeeper]]		[[Social Gatekeeper]]
	[[Diegetic Social Maintenance]]		[[Diegetic Social Maintenance]]
	[[Diegetic Social Norms]]		[[Diegetic Social Norms]]


	=== Diegetic Aspects ===		=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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	== Consequences ==		== Consequences ==
	[[Character Alignments]] can be [[Characteristics]] in that they can regulate what actions agents of specific alignments can do in a game as well as affects with actions can be made against them; being revealed by "detect good" spells for example. As mentioned above, [[Character Alignments]] can be used to regulate how [[Characters]] should behave or what are the norms of [[Factions]]. In doing so, they dictate [[Diegetic Social Norms]] and [[Diegetic Social Maintenance]] in the cases when they do require active engagement.		[[Character Alignments]] can be [[Characteristics]] in that they can regulate what actions agents of specific alignments can do in a game as well as affects with actions can be made against them; being revealed by "detect good" spells for example. As mentioned above, [[Character Alignments]] can be used to regulate how [[Characters]] should behave or what are the norms of [[Factions]]. In doing so, they dictate [[Diegetic Social Norms]] and [[Diegetic Social Maintenance]] in the cases when they do require active engagement. They can also affect how players can or want to relate to [[Diegetic Social Maintenance]] and [[Diegetic Social Norms]] that exist independently of the [[Character Alignments\|Character Alignment]] system.

	[[Character Alignments]] can be an important part of making players of [[Player-Created Characters]] consider how they wish to [[Roleplaying\|Roleplay]].		[[Character Alignments]] can be an important part of making players of [[Player-Created Characters]] consider how they wish to [[Roleplaying\|Roleplay]].

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2014-10-13T14:17:48Z

Using the pattern

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:17, 13 October 2014
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	The most basic design questions regarding [[Character Alignments]] is what alignments should exist, and if they should be organized in various dimensions. From these decisions, the next steps is to relate the alignments to actions and opinions in the diegesis to help players with [[Roleplaying]].		The most basic design questions regarding [[Character Alignments]] is what alignments should exist, and if they should be organized in various dimensions. From these decisions, the next steps is to relate the alignments to actions and opinions in the diegesis to help players with [[Roleplaying]].

	While [[Character Alignments]] are typically most relevant to [[Player-Created Characters]], they can be useful for all [[Characters]] and [[Factions]] especially when ~~they~~ are		While [[Character Alignments]] are typically most relevant to [[Player-Created Characters]], they can be useful for all [[Characters]] and [[Factions]] especially when the alignments are [[Characteristics]] that affect actions.

	[[Characteristics]]

	[[Ability Losses]]		[[Ability Losses]]

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2014-10-13T12:08:45Z

Using the pattern

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:08, 13 October 2014
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	== Using the pattern ==		== Using the pattern ==
			The most basic design questions regarding [[Character Alignments]] is what alignments should exist, and if they should be organized in various dimensions. From these decisions, the next steps is to relate the alignments to actions and opinions in the diegesis to help players with [[Roleplaying]].

			While [[Character Alignments]] are typically most relevant to [[Player-Created Characters]], they can be useful for all [[Characters]] and [[Factions]] especially when they are

	[[Characteristics]]		[[Characteristics]]
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	[[Diegetic Social Norms]]		[[Diegetic Social Norms]]

	~~[[Characters]],~~
	~~[[Factions]],~~
	~~[[Player-Created Characters]],~~
	~~[[Roleplaying]],~~

	=== Diegetic Aspects ===		=== Diegetic Aspects ===

Staffan Björk at 11:58, 13 October 2014

2014-10-13T11:58:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:58, 13 October 2014
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	== Consequences ==		== Consequences ==
	As mentioned above, [[Character Alignments]] can be used to regulate how [[Characters]] should behave or what are the norms of [[Factions]]. In doing so, they dictate [[Diegetic Social Norms]] and [[Diegetic Social Maintenance]] in the cases when they do require active engagement.		[[Character Alignments]] can be [[Characteristics]] in that they can regulate what actions agents of specific alignments can do in a game as well as affects with actions can be made against them; being revealed by "detect good" spells for example. As mentioned above, [[Character Alignments]] can be used to regulate how [[Characters]] should behave or what are the norms of [[Factions]]. In doing so, they dictate [[Diegetic Social Norms]] and [[Diegetic Social Maintenance]] in the cases when they do require active engagement.

	[[Character Alignments]] can be an important part of making players of [[Player-Created Characters]] consider how they wish to [[Roleplaying\|Roleplay]].		[[Character Alignments]] can be an important part of making players of [[Player-Created Characters]] consider how they wish to [[Roleplaying\|Roleplay]].
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	== Relations ==		== Relations ==
	=== Can Instantiate ===		=== Can Instantiate ===
			[[Characteristics]],
	[[Diegetic Social Maintenance]],		[[Diegetic Social Maintenance]],
	[[Diegetic Social Norms]],		[[Diegetic Social Norms]],

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2014-10-13T11:56:12Z

Using the pattern

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:56, 13 October 2014
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	== Using the pattern ==		== Using the pattern ==

			[[Characteristics]]

	[[Ability Losses]]		[[Ability Losses]]

Staffan Björk at 11:47, 13 October 2014

2014-10-13T11:47:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:47, 13 October 2014
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	[[Diegetic Social Maintenance]]		[[Diegetic Social Maintenance]]
	[[Diegetic Social Norms]]		[[Diegetic Social Norms]]
	~~[[Factions]]~~

			[[Characters]],
			[[Factions]],
			[[Player-Created Characters]],
			[[Roleplaying]],

	=== Diegetic Aspects ===		=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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	== Consequences ==		== Consequences ==
			As mentioned above, [[Character Alignments]] can be used to regulate how [[Characters]] should behave or what are the norms of [[Factions]]. In doing so, they dictate [[Diegetic Social Norms]] and [[Diegetic Social Maintenance]] in the cases when they do require active engagement.

	~~=== Can Modulate ===~~		[[Character Alignments]] can be an important part of making players of [[Player-Created Characters]] consider how they wish to [[Roleplaying\|Roleplay]].
	[[~~Characters~~]],
	[[Player-Created Characters]],
	[[Roleplaying]],

	== Relations ==		== Relations ==
	=== Can Instantiate ===		=== Can Instantiate ===
			[[Diegetic Social Maintenance]],
			[[Diegetic Social Norms]],
	[[Ability Losses]],		[[Ability Losses]],
	[[Social Dilemmas]]		[[Social Dilemmas]]

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2014-10-13T11:43:22Z

Relations

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	[[Player-Created Characters]],		[[Player-Created Characters]],
	[[Roleplaying]],		[[Roleplaying]],
	[[Social Gatekeeper]],		[[Social Gatekeeper]]

	=== Can Be Instantiated By ===		=== Can Be Instantiated By ===