Shattered Kingdoms

Well like I wrote elsewhere, I'd really split the good alignments into:

'Principled' - Essentially 'angelic', better than good characters (paladins) who are holier than thou
'Disciplined' - Characters closely bound by their vows and moral code, but not so 'angelic'
'Scrupulous' - Just generally good characters that will do anything for 'the greater good'.


If it were up to me I'd change the word 'Principled' for 'Exalted' or 'Heroic' and then turn 'Disciplined' into 'Principled', but I understand that the principled alignment as a wording is a part of SK history and might sadden people if it were changed.

That is essentially lawful good, neutral good, and chaotic good though, which isn't I think what SK is going for.

What it really is is 'Holy', 'Good but rules are important', and 'Good but circumstances might cause problems'.

...Which I think is what SK has been, plus a level for those who actually want to play characters that are law-abiding without necessarily being holier than thou types.

I don't understand how Holy fits in - can you flesh that thought out a bit for me?

From his descriptions, this is what I take from it. Best way I can sum them up is via superheroes.

'Principled' - Captain America, does everything for the good and law that he knows is just.
'Disciplined' - Iron Man (from the movies) always does good and tries to uphold the law, but he doesn't always uphold that standard to himself if it stops someone else.
'Scrupulous' - Thor, Laws? Silly things that are there to stop good people from doing what is right. Smashing face of the bad guy.

Well. What principled has been in SK (in my understanding), is essentially an alignment that is 'more good' than scrupulous, for lack of a better term off the top of my head.

The problem this presents is that characters wanting to play characters that are not scrupulous but are good, are essentially stuck with 'paladin alignment' as their only other option.

So, if paladin is the 'holy' alignment, as in the infallible, honor bound, angelic-type creature, then Disciplined would be one step below that. The sort of good guy who will err on the side of being true to his word and code, as opposed to the (scrupulous) guy who will err on the side of being good rather than keeping the rules.


I also think there should be some added perks/penalties to playing principled and diabolic characters, as right now these alignments are only limiting for the player (unable to join certain factions or use certain items). Unless you're forced into the alignment by the class you pick there's little other reason to pick it, but this falls slightly off topic.

Haha awesome example, came in as I was typing my reply!

I'd still hurl iron man in with scrupulous though. I'd say Batman is disciplined.

And cooler. Another example would be Robocop ;3

Essentially the difference between a Principled and a Disciplined character would be that the principled character would feel the need to atone if he finds himself in a situation where he has to either break his word/vows or perform an act that is less than holy, whereas a disciplined character would simply chalk it up to 'following orders' or 'going by the code I follow'.

What is hilarious, I was thinking of robocop also!

Bolt of Glory vs Robocop:

Wasn't that a cleave?