[MUD-Dev] Alignment

[Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services]

> From: "Mordengaard" <mordengaard at redhotant.com>
> To: <mud-dev at kanga.nu>
> Subject: Re: [MUD-Dev] Alignment
> Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 10:21:16 +0100
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> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Phillip Lenhardt <philen at monkey.org>
> To: <mud-dev at kanga.nu>
> Sent: Monday, May 01, 2000 4:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [MUD-Dev] Alignment
> 
> 
> > On Sun, Apr 30, 2000 at 02:27:57AM +1000, Malcolm Valentine wrote:
> > > Paul Schwanz wrote:
> > > > Solution #29863:  Use the wonderful properties of multiplying signed
> > > > integers. Killing is evil (-).   Killing is _very_ evil (-5).  Dragon
> is
> > > > evil (-).  Dragon is _quite_ evil (-3).  Princess is _very_ good (+5).
> > > > Killing the dragon is now _extremely_ good (-5 * -3 = +15), but
> killing
> > > > the princess is _supremely_ evil (-5 * +5 = -25).
> > >
> > >   Unfortunately two wrongs don't make a right. Even worse, if I do a
> good
> > > deed (+) to an evil creature (-), that counts as evil-doing...
> >
> > I'm not sure what case you are covering by "two wrongs don't make a
> right.",
> > but I for one have no problem with helping an evil creature being an evil
> > deed. Why would healing a demon while it is battling a paladin be a good
> deed?
> 

Mordegaard said:
> And yet, there are many cases in fantasy when the young hero(ine) helps the
> evil adversary in their hour of need, remaining pure themselves while
> reducing the emnity of their enemy... for at least a chapter or two.  I
> agree that if someone aids the demon while the paladin is trying to defeat
> it, then their actions are evil, but shouldn't there be some scope for mercy
> (a "good" quality if ever there was one) outside of combat?
> 

It seems to me that mercy is a chaotic form of justice, while law is a more 
orderly form of the same.  We could attempt to refine our alignment system by 
saying that someone who takes a chaotic approach to ethics might be expected to 
show mercy where someone who takes a lawful approach would not.  But as you've 
said, this would have limits depending upon the situation.  If the _opportunity_ 
presents itself in which an individual has the choice of assisting opposing 
characters who are facing danger, I would think that a good character would 
always choose to help the good character who is in danger at the expense of the 
evil.

Eventually, however, we will snag ourselves on the sticky wicket of motive, and 
no man can know the heart.  But perhaps we will be closer to where we want to 
be.  I think it is important to balance/conjoin any type of mechanical ethical 
system which a player-based rating system to arrive as close as possible to a 
believable reputation system.  Similarly, to avoid abuse, I think it would be 
wise to temper any player-based rating system with a mechanical system. 
 
> P.S.  Incidentally, thanks for all the feedback on this subject, when I
> started it off I hadn't realised there were so many angles to consider!

Thanks for the opportunity to talk about a fascinating subject.

--Phinehas

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