From: LRPR000 <LRPR@UNB.CA>
Subject: RE: Alignement change and consequences
Organization: The University of New Brunswick
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 16:50:15 GMT

In article <5836@balrog.ctron.com> cyoung@ctron.com (Chris Young) writes:
>Hi All,
>
> Got a question.
>
> According to 2nd edition when a PC changes alignment they need twice
>the experience to reach their next level (fighter needs 4000 to reach 2nd or
>3rd [total of 6000 if no prior changes]).
   I usually give them 1/2 XP until they reach their next level. Of
course, they wouldn't notice that right away; thus record the XP they
think they have but don't; and when they announce they've gone up a
level take them aside and explain it. If they're aware of alignment
shift XP penalties they may clue in - and it's time they did.  If not,
they might assume they've been drained of XP's somehow - whether to
correct them is your decision.
> My question is:  How do you tell the PCs (if your the DM like me) that
>they are in big trouble?  Do you say "You have feelings of self doubt?" or
>blantantly say "You are losing your evil tendencies".
   Try to be subtle about it, except in the case of strongly aligned
characters like Priests and Paladins - then the loss of some of their
special powers signal's their deity's displeasure.  Let them work out
what they did wrong by themselves - no augury spells or prayers -
after all, the PC's are creatures of free will, and that includes making
mistakes and paying for it, and learning BY THEMSELVES ehat the mistakes
were. It's the DM's responsibility to be fair (ie. equal treatment for
different PC's and occasions).
> Given that they realize their alignment is changing what do you think
>their reaction will be when they don't get that level when the other party
>members are advancing?  I have two out of 5 PC that are going through some
>changes (NE -> NG and perhaps NG -> CG).
   They probably won't like it.  I sometimes don't charge the penalty
when the character is low level and the player was still feeling them
out.  For example, a fighter who started as CN and then decided he
couldn't just walk away when evil threatened the helpless - he became
CG, but I didn't penalize him as I thought it was good roleplaying.
You have to be ruthless with Clerics and Paladins and Rangers though -
they get lots of nice benefits, and their alignment is a "price" they
pay for them.
> I also have a ranger player who cut down a wolf which was running after
>being repelled by the party.  The wolf was hungry it attacked but had no evil
>intent.  What would you do to this ranger?
   I would have the ranger's ability to calm animals cease to function
until he had somehow atoned for this - perhaps by going off to spend
some time helping animals during a hard winter (which might be risky,
or force him to miss an adventure (unless the party waited for him)).
No high level ranger should be doing this kind of thing; he should lose
his spellcasting for a while if he's 8th or above. Also, he should have
his animal companions leave for a while. Point out that he should
try to calm animals; that's what the power is for. Perhaps you can
just explain it to him if it's an honest mistake; but if he was chasing
"XP's on the hoof" or going into hack and slash mode - keep him honest.
                           JubbaBones