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Author Topic: larger clarification of being chaotic?  (Read 493 times)

silverblades

larger clarification of being chaotic?
« on: July 29, 2008, 05:18:06 pm »
is there a thread explaining what it means to be chaotic specifically chaotic nuetral?
If not could someone put it in more detail than what Lore says, or the definition of chaotic nuetral given during character creation.

thankyou.
There can be only One.
 

Carillon

Re: larger clarification of being chaotic?
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2008, 06:03:04 pm »
You may find this thread about roleplaying CN interesting. It was a discussion from a while ago.
 

Acacea

Re: larger clarification of being chaotic?
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2008, 06:18:44 pm »
There are a lot of ways to play CN, just like there are many ways to play any alignment. Really, to be correct, no one is "playing an alignment" ... Rather, alignments are labels to describe how a character is played. Subtle difference, there. ;) Some interesting different opinions on CN...

Quote
Perhaps the most misunderstood of the nine alignments, many people believe that all chaotic neutral characters are insane. While it is true that none of them are very predictable, insanity is not the province of the members of this alignment alone. Indeed all characters of all alignments are capable of insane and compulsive behaviors, but Chaotic Neutrals are not only the most inclined to this type of behavior, they are also the most famous for it.

Chaotic Neutral characters have little to no discipline. That is perhaps the only statement that can be made about this alignment that applies to all the personalities contained within its context. As a rule the only thing that concerns a Chaotic Neutral character is themselves. They seek to do what pleases them only, and don't really care if that pleasure includes anyone else. Chaotic Neutrals can also be surprisingly snug and unambitious. This lack of personal greed separates this group from Chaotic Evil characters, who are often very concerned with getting ahead. Chaotic Neutrals are also unconcerned with philanthropy in the least. They will help someone that it pleases them to, or someone who will pay them.

Chaotic Neutrals do not consider morality in their judgments, and about the only thing they stop to consider is whether or not they have a remote chance of success. The odds aren't usually considered, but even Chaotic Neutrals will not attempt the obviously impossible unless desperate (then watch out, anything could happen). Chaotic Neutrals aren't suicidal, neither do they shy away from trusting sheer luck, and hence the alignment has reputation for brash behavior.

Chaotic Neutral societies are anarchies. Everyone does pretty much what he wants, and therefore Chaotic Neutral societies are either very small, or do not last long at all. The only real example of such a situation is the Mad Max movies and others in the post-apocalypse genre. The very lack of authority invites its institution, usually by force of arms. It is also necessary to remind all that Chaotic Neutrals aren't insane, or crazy by definition of alignment. Chaotic Neutral characters as individuals may not take high risks, especially intelligent ones. However, they have a tendency to take odd approaches to objectives. Chaotic Neutral characters also thread intricate plots, but unlike lawful characters these plans are flexible and can change as whim and situation demand.


An old one is http://forums.layonara.com/347910-post1.html and is a bit amusing as it is styled as a set of codes for a CN character to follow... Mostly everyone just giggled at the thought of a set of rules telling people how to break rules, but as an OOC observation it is in theme with the mindset of most CN characters - just if one were to actually carry such a mental handbook around and follow it as an unbreakable personal code, it starts to get confusing :P

There are a lot of different resources and discussions floating around... internal strife, apathy, insanity, playful mercurial freedom from all trappings of civilization, you get all types.
 

jrizz

Re: larger clarification of being chaotic?
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2008, 07:01:42 pm »
As already stated a lot goes into the personality of a PC besides the alignment. For me I look at:

Race - what does it mean to be a certain race. What are their likes and dislikes.
Class - Much what what your PC is, is based in what they study most
Stats - Is she smart? or easy to get on with? or wise in the ways of the world?
After all this I then look at alignment and how it would fit into the above framework.
 

Acacea

Re: larger clarification of being chaotic?
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2008, 07:04:41 pm »
Well, yeah, but that doesn't help anyone understand what chaotic neutral is. It's like someone asking the stats of full plate, and explaining that high dex can be just as good, and why doesn't anyone ever wear chainmail? ;) Alignment really doesn't have much to do with the race, class, or even stats...or personality. You could fill in those blanks and I could still pick most any alignment, hehe.
 

Gulnyr

Re: larger clarification of being chaotic?
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2008, 07:23:40 pm »
Instead of thinking of Chaotic Neutral as a distinct thing, think of it instead as two things; it is "Chaotic" and "Neutral," not "Chaotic Neutral."  This way, it's easier to see how one alignment (CN in this case) is similar to other alignments (like TN or CG) and how alignments blend smoothly from one to another without distinct, black-and-white boundaries.  Seeing alignments as distinct things sometimes causes them to be pigeon-holed.  In the case of CN, that hole is often "crazy" or "utterly random" or something similar.  I suppose that's why LN is often seen as "perfectly ordered" or "utterly predictable".  Or maybe it's the other way around, or there could be a synergy.  Doesn't matter.  The point is that the "Chaotic" in Chaotic Neutral can be exactly the same as it would be in Chaotic Good or Chaotic Evil, and the "Neutral" in Chaotic Neutral can be exactly the same as it would be in Lawful Neutral or True Neutral.  So, Chaotic doesn't make Neutral something it isn't, and vice versa.

In this case, you've got Chaotic as the ethical component.  If you know how to play Chaotic Good or Chaotic Evil, you're half way to playing Chaotic Neutral.  You also have Neutral as the moral component.  If you can play Lawful Neutral or True Neutral, then you have the other half.  It's the way you bring together what "Chaotic" and "Neutral" are that determine what Chaotic Neutral is for your character.

Wow.  I think that was chaotic.  I hope it makes sense.
 

jrizz

Re: larger clarification of being chaotic?
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2008, 07:42:46 pm »
All CN PCs are not of the same ilk. It is the other things that make up the PC that make the difference in how you play CN. Were your CN PC of very low intelligence the C part could come out as being easily swayed by his whims from moment to moment and the N part could come out as just being totally clueless to what is going on around him.
 

silverblades

Re: larger clarification of being chaotic?
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2008, 11:43:22 pm »
Wow thanks people, If a cant figure it out with all this wealth of Info, well I shoulden,t be playing one.

thankyou.
There can be only One.
 

Faldred

Re: larger clarification of being chaotic?
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2008, 02:01:17 pm »
Not to self-promote too much, but you might want to check the thread "On The Nature Of Alignments" in the Roleplaying forum.

In short, is the character primarily chaotic or primarily neutral?  That goes a long way into determining how it is played.

The other thing to note is that chaotic characters aren't necessarily random or anarchistic.  They can have token support for law and tradition, unless of course it suddenly becomes too much of a hassle or inconvenience.  (This is typically true of the CN character who is primarily neutral.)

Also, on neutrality between good and evil, note that that doesn't mean you can alternate between "good" and "evil" acts at will.  It takes an awful lot of good to compensate for a small amount of evil.  At most, the "neutral" character will perform minor evil acts (low-grade mental or physical abuse, "using" someone for personal gain, etc.) instead of the outright evil stuff (slavery/domination, murder, and such).

The "CN problem" is that too many folks simply think it's a license to do anything, specificall evil acts, and say that it's excused IC due to the alignment, as long as there's a corresponding "good" act as well.
 

jrizz

Re: larger clarification of being chaotic?
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2008, 02:22:48 pm »
Quote from: Faldred

The "CN problem" is that too many folks simply think it's a license to do anything, specificall evil acts, and say that it's excused IC due to the alignment, as long as there's a corresponding "good" act as well.


This is perhaps the most important piece of information given so far.
 

Script Wrecked

Re: larger clarification of being chaotic?
« Reply #10 on: July 30, 2008, 02:54:23 pm »
Unfortunately, a lot of the time the neutral alignments are played as only being betwixt the good and evil/lawful and chaotic ends of the alignment poles, rather than an alignment in its own fight.

This is partially reinforced by alignment adjustments typically moving you towards one end of the respective pole or the other. Its always "that was a good action", or "that was an evil action", never "that was a neutral action".

I have yet to see an alignment adjustment that would move both good and evil characters towards neutral.

Regards,

Script Wrecked.
 

Stephen_Zuckerman

Re: larger clarification of being chaotic?
« Reply #11 on: July 30, 2008, 03:31:02 pm »
Advising moderation would do it. Give money to the poor? Er, I need to eat, too. Bring down the hammer of the law? Or maybe spring those guys from lockup? SET FIRE TO BUILDINGS, WOO!

... Meh, let's just play Rockband.

(Totally a Neutral action.)
 

 

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