Once more I'm joined by Scott, a.k.a. Optional Rule! This time we discuss the hot topic of alignment in Dungeons & Dragons. Scott takes us through the history of alignment, and how it impacted and shaped the earliest editions of the game - I'm willing to bet you never knew how the cold war affects your player character! Despite all the (arguably justified) negativity around alignment, it still provides value in the utility of a consistent experience, the same reason USB is so ubiquitous! However, with all things involving humans, there is always the risk of misalignment (pun intended). Often there is the implicit ideal that the player characters are "heroes", that is to say, "good". How this impacts the design of 5e and the DM/Player interaction is a subtle but noticeable effect of alignment. 01:15 - History of Alignment 16:40 - Scorched Earth Solution 21:34 - Does Alignment Stifle Role Play? 30:04 - The Alignment Police 43:46 - Reconciling the Heroic Trope Find Scott (@optionalrule) on: Website: https://optionalrule.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/optionalrule Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optionalrule/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi7AoQ6KbaZQqhdO7heKPqw Find me on: Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThinkCritDnD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinking_critically_dnd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkingCriticallyDnD YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH_BSgazjwyshzo1jazHeaQ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thinkingcritically Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thinkingcritically References: 'Agency' episode of Thinking Critically Patrons: Matthew Perkins @mperkinsDM: https://www.matthewperkins.net/ Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/ Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod