Practical Alignment
The days of Lawful Neutral Paladins, Chaotic Evil Half-Orcs, and Neutral Good Half-Elves is behind us. Dungeons and Dragons has outgrown one of it's oldest features, and needs to move on to better things. Just like an adult can't wear toddler shoes, D&D can't continue to use it's current alignment chart. I know this isn't a plesant discussion to have for some of us. We can still keep the normal alignment chart for a bit of RP flavor. Already it affects almost no game mechanics, so calling it flavor is fair. I now submit to the Dungeons and Dragons community, my system for practical alignment: Humanity and Materialism
Humanity
Humanity is a measure of a Character's willingness to take a sentient being's life. It describes the character's opinions of mercy and justice. It presents in three types: Vigilante, Mercenary, Murderer.
Vigilante
A vigilante only kills a sentient creature if it deserves it, or more acurately, if the vigilante believes that they deserve it. This would most closely correlate to the "Good" aspect of standard alignment.
Mercenary
A mercenary only kills a sentient creature if doing so is seen to directly benefit the mercenary. The most obvious example would be a sell-sword or bodyguard.
Murderer
A murderer will kill anything for no reason other than their own amusement. This would be most closely compared to the "Evil" aspect of standard alignment.
Materialism
Materialism is a measure of a Character's opinion of money, wealth, and material possessions. It describes a character's willingness or desire to obtain wealth as well as the means they will employ to obtain it. It presents in three types: Snob, Thief, and Hobo.
Snob
A snob earns money by legal and mostly ethical means. They may steal if they are in a situation where it is absolutely necessary, but as a general rule they pay their debts. They are often wealthy, but it is not uncommon to see poor snobs. Snobs typically seek to obtain a luxuriuos lifestyle through work, trading, adventuring, or inheritance. This could be most closely compared to the "Lawful" aspect of standard alignment.
Thief
A thief believes that they are entitled to ownership of anything they desire. They will think nothing of taking anything not nailed down if they have a chance through stealth, subterfuge, deception, and possibly even murder depending on their humanity.
Hobo
A Hobo cares little for wealth or material possessions except for their basic needs or immediate desires. They usually carry everything they own, and often accidentally abandon forgotten aquired items absentmindedly while adventuring. A hobo will often go to great lengths to aquire an item of supposed value, only to leave it forgotten and unused in the bottom of their backpack for months. They may still trade, sell, buy, steal, or search for wealth and treasure, but they are often driven by desire for something other than money or wealth. This could be most closely compared to the "Chaotic" aspect of standard alignment.
Vigilante Snobs & Murderer Hobos
I know that it's hard to let go of something so iconic to D&D as alignment, and we'll always want to go back to our beloved jokes about Lawful Stupid Paladins and Chaotic Evil Warlocks, but I think that Practical Alignment fits 5th Edition better and standard alignment. I hope you have found this helpful, and as with anything, if it doesn't suit your game, then do whatever is right for your game so that you and your players can have fun in a respectful and safe environment.
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