Heroes and Alignments

[alexxkay]

A while back on this LJ, while discussing Heroes, rufinia said: "Nathan...well, Nathan isn't quite prepared to be Lawful Good." Actually, I'm not sure he's even particularly trying to be Lawful Good, though he may be trying to fool himself about that. The D&D Alignment system is a fairly blunt instrument at best, but looking through that lens, Nathan seems to me to be Neutral Evil. He doesn't register strongly on the Law/Chaos axis, being willing to work either with or against the system as it suits him. But in D&D terms, Evil equates to selfishness and self-centered-ness, and that's Nathan in spades. While Hiro may *think* Nathan cares about other people, it seems to me that he treats them as either tools or potential liabilities. He works with the FBI against Linderman not out of any moral code, or because it will make the world better -- he does it because Linderman tried to kill *him*, personally, and remains a threat to him. As soon as Linderman said, "You won't make it out of this room alive if you shoot," the conversation was effecively over. Nathan *really* doesn't like having someone in a position of power over him -- but he would hate being dead much, much worse. It was sensible of Linderman to apply some carrot as well as stick, but the stick probably would have been enough.

Alignment is a fun game, let's play some more!

Hiro, of course, is Chaotic Good. He'd probably *like* to be Lawful (and goodness knows his dad would prefer it), but it just isn't in him. He will always be quitting jobs, stealing things when it is "his destiny", and the like.

Mr. Bennett, like most Evil Government Conspiracy members, is a fairly classic Lawful Evil, although that could change with all the plot-stress he's been under.

Claire, on the other hand, is Lawful Good. Much of her stress comes from the fact that she's put in positions where being Lawful is difficult or impossible for her, or where other people (like her father) appear to be "breaking rules".

Peter is Chaotic Good, though he's in serious danger of slipping over to the dark side.

Nikki is Lawful Good, but Jessica is Chaotic Evil.

Anyone else want to play?

Comments

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

I think we're overlooking True Neutral or other Neutral alignments. Neutral isn't about having a say - it's about keeping the balance between Good and Evil, Chaotic and Lawful.

Of course, I'm biased as I created a True Neutral Planetouched race called the Tuladhara (http://oracle.wizards.com/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind0303e&L=planescape-l&D=1&F=&S=&P=1037) for 3e Planescape. I spent a long time contemplating the various neutral alliances and the True Neutral race of Rilmani.

Is Jessica really Chaotic Evil? She's been killing for Linderman but we don't quite know why. She killed the lawyer for stealing, Linderman's goons for going after Nikki, etc. She seems to be doing all this in the name of protecting Nikki. Has she killed anyone truly innocent? Has she attempted to do truly evil things?

I don't have time at the moment to go through the rest. I think Mr. Bennett may be Chaotic Good - he's doing what he's doing because he believes it's for the best and for mankind. Just because he's breaking the law does not mean he's evil. Someone who is Lawful Evil would not give a crap about the greater good....he's be all about personal gain or corrupting innocents or the like......

More after work.

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

Has she attempted to do truly evil things?

Beating that psychiatrist into a pulp (possibly even fatally) was certainly uncalled for. She's gleeful about using lethal force, and inflicting fear and/orpain in others.

I think Mr. Bennett may be Chaotic Good

*boggle* I can see the argument for Good (though I don't agree), but how can you possibly say he's Chaotic? He's the most orderly person on the show!

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

I guess I see Chaotic not necessarily in terms of order and appearance but in how they perceive what is Lawful and what may fudge the lines. My education on D&D alignment draws heavily from the planes that represent said alignments. i.e. the folks from Ysgard aren't necessarily messy and disorderly however if what they think they're doing is good, then I see it as a chaotic interpretation of good rather than one drawn by canonical law e.g. lawful.

I should preface this by saying I tend to have an orthogonal method of thinking...not necessarily linear. One might say....chaotic ;)

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

Also, I dunno if you're reading the graphic novels but last night's was a perfect example of Chaotic Good vs Lawful Good.