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Friendly reminder: no rule in D&D mandates your character& #39;s alignment, and no class is restricted to certain alignments. You determine your character& #39;s moral compass.
I see discussions that refer to such rules, yet they don& #39;t exist in 5th edition D&D. #DnD
I see discussions that refer to such rules, yet they don& #39;t exist in 5th edition D&D. #DnD
D&D has general rules and exceptions to those rules. For example, you choose whatever alignment you want for your character at creation (general rule). There are a few magic items and other transformative effects that might affect a character& #39;s alignment (exceptions). #DnD
Your character& #39;s alignment in D&D doesn& #39;t prescribe their behavior. Alignment describes inclinations. It& #39;s a roleplaying tool, like flaws, bonds, and ideals. If any of those tools don& #39;t serve your group& #39;s bliss, don& #39;t use them. The game& #39;s system doesn& #39;t rely on those tools. #DnD
Regarding a D&D monster& #39;s alignment, here& #39;s the general rule from the Monster Manual: "The alignment specified in a monster& #39;s stat block is the default. Feel free to depart from it and change a monster& #39;s alignment to suit the needs of your campaign."
TL;DR: The DM decides. #DnD
TL;DR: The DM decides. #DnD
Want a benevolent green dragon in your D&D campaign or a sweet werewolf candlemaker? Do it.
The rule in the Monster Manual is that the DM determines a monster& #39;s alignment. The DM plays that monster. The DM decides who that monster is in play. #DnD
The rule in the Monster Manual is that the DM determines a monster& #39;s alignment. The DM plays that monster. The DM decides who that monster is in play. #DnD
"What about the werewolf& #39;s curse of lycanthropy? It makes you evil like the werewolf." The DM determines the alignment of the werewolf. For example, the werewolf you face might be a sweetheart.
The alignment in a stat block is a suggestion to the DM, nothing more. #DnD
The alignment in a stat block is a suggestion to the DM, nothing more. #DnD
"What about the Oathbreaker? It says you have to be evil." The Oathbreaker is a paladin subclass (not a class) designed for NPCs. If your DM lets you use it, you& #39;re already being experimental, so if you want to play a kindhearted Oathbreaker, follow your bliss! #DnD
Even though the rules of 5th-edition D&D state that players and DMs determine alignment, the suggested alignments in our books have undeniably caused confusion. That& #39;s why future books will ditch such suggestions for player characters and reframe such things for the DM. #DnD
"What about demons, devils, and angels in D&D? Their alignments can& #39;t change." They can change. The default story makes the mythological assumptions we expect, but the Monster Manual tells the DM to change any monster& #39;s alignment without hesitation to serve the campaign. #DnD
"Why are player characters punished for changing their alignment?" There is no general system in 5th-edition D&D for changing your alignment and there are no punishments or rewards in the core rules for changing it. You can just change it.
Older editions had such rules. #DnD
Older editions had such rules. #DnD
