THE ALIGNMENT TEST

Here are ten questions, each to be ranked on a scale from 4 - the most like your character - to 1 - the least like your character - that will help determine your character's alignment. Please rank each question from 4 to 1 without looking at the scoring section first. Remember, your answers should reflect your character's thoughts and feelings and NOT your own - though you can take the test for yourself if you wish. After you have completed the test, below you will find the method to score your character. This will reveal, more or less, your character's alignment.

01.) By adventuring, I am primarily. . .
a.) _____ doing my part to put things right.
b.) _____ rescuing the weak and helping those in need.
c.) _____ enjoying the thrill of the dangers faced.
d.) _____ acquiring wealth and power through this experience.

02.) Were I not fit for an adventuring class, I would most likely be. . .
a.) _____ a man-at-arms in a nearby castle.
b.) _____ a bandit raiding the countryside.
c.) _____ an herbalist treating the sick.
d.) _____ a solitary loner, enjoying life in the wilderness.

03.) My Hero is. . .
a.) _____ Robin Hood.
b.) _____ King Arthur.
c.) _____ Attila the Hun.
d.) _____ Darth Vader.

04.) I see myself more as. . .
a.) _____ a soldier.
b.) _____ a hero.
c.) _____ an adventurer.
d.) _____ a rogue.

05.) At the end of a successful venture. . .
a.) _____ I kill everyone and take the loot.
b.) _____ the party leaders begin planning another venture.
c.) _____ I look for ways to help others.
d.) _____ We say goodbye to each other until next time, and I go relax my way.

06.)
a.) _____ Careful planning is the best was to assure success.
b.) _____ Opportunities come to those flexible enough to grasp them.
c.) _____ One should always be ready to help others.
d.) _____ Look out for number one.

07.)
a.) _____ If people were free, crime would disappear.
b.) _____ Prosperity for all is only possible where crime is controlled.
c.) _____ Government makes it possible for the best people to get ahead.
d.) _____ The function of the police is to oppress those who are just trying to survive.

08.)
a.) _____ No creature can ever claim ownership of any other creature.
b.) _____ Stronger creatures use slavery to take advantage of the weak.
c.) _____ Slavery is a reasonable solution to certain economic problems.
d.) _____ Some people deserve to be served by others.

09.)
a.) _____ The government which governs least, governs best.
b.) _____ One who always does good need not fear the law.
c.) _____ Without law, society would collapse.
d.) _____ Almost any situation can be made to work to one's advantage.

10.)
a.) _____ Each of us has a duty to all of us.
b.) _____ Each of us has a duty to our country and its government.
c.) _____ Each of us has a duty to himself.
d.) _____ There is no duty common to all.

SCORING

At this time you may score yourself using the sums in each of the four columns below. For LAW and CHAOS, subtract the smaller from the larger; then do the same with GOOD and EVIL. This gives your character's tendency rating. For example, if your sums are LAW 44, CHAOS 21, GOOD 35, and EVIL 20, then your character's Law/Chaos tendency would be 44 - 21 = 23 towards lawful, and your character's Good/Evil tendency would be 35 - 20 = 15 towards good.

The maximum possible sum in any column is 46, while the minimum is 14; therefore the greatest possible difference is 30. Differences up to 8 are considered nearly neutral with slight or strong tendencies in the appropriate direction. Differences above 10 indicate an alignment other than NN. Neutral-Neutral characters probably have both differences below 10, and if one of those is below 8, they are probably very neutral.

Replace each letter in the grid below with the number - 4, 3, 2, or 1 - that you wrote beside it.

NOTE: Questions 3 and 7 have a double scoring, so place the numbers in both the a and b rows for those two questions.

If you feel you were forced to pick answers that you didn't really like, or order them in some specific way that didn't entirely please you, that's good. That would indicate a hard question and a tough choice your character had to make.

Though it is true not every question will give you full or adequate choices, or there will always be some exceptions to each choice, the idea is to make the best choices possible for your character out of those choices that are given, even if you'd rather have other choices available, or are mindful of certain exceptions, however rare.

If you do not like the alignment test, well, ok. Just ignore it.

M. J. Young's Dungeons & Dragons Materials (These 10 alignment questions originated from this man).

If you'd like to email me any comments you may have on this material, feel free to do so.

Email Jim Your Comments (Send Praise, Critique, Complaints, Suggestions, Ideas, Corrections, or Submissions).

Posted; November of 1999
by
James L.R. Beach
Waterville, MN 56096