Choosing alignments

[Eternity25]

For casters and bards would True Neutral or Neutral Good be better than Lawful or Chaotic Good?

For rogues and rangers would Neutral Good be the best option?

[Blazer]

**Note, simply personal preferences listed below. I honestly don't think it matters too much one way or another.**

Honestly, unless you're planning on multi-classing into a class that requires a specific alignment (Pally, Monk, Barb, Bard), I prefer true neutral. The ranger/monk splash is pretty popular, so obviously you'd have to be LN or LG for that build. Bards and rogues may as well be TN since they can UMD everything anyway, ditto with sorcs (even at half ranks).

[Eternity25]

Does the +2 resistance bonus to saves that True Neutral characters get stack with the resistance items?

[Kraldor]

Does the +2 resistance bonus to saves that True Neutral characters get stack with the resistance items?

If by the +2 bonus, you mean stability items, then no, they don't stack.

[Eternity25]

No, I mean +2 resistance bonus to saves.

True Neutral is an alignment that is neutral on both the Good-Evil axis and the Law-Chaos axis of the alignment spectrum.

In DDO, True Neutral garners special benefits from 'Stability' items (namely +2 deflection bonus to AC and a {verified|+2} resistance bonus to saves). There are, however, no alignment-specific wepons for true neutral characters. True Neutral characters can use axiomatic and anarchic wepons without suffering a negative level. They can also use items with a Taint of Evil without penalty.

Taken From: http://ddo.enterwiki.net/page/True_Neutral

[Arianrhod]

No, I mean +2 resistance bonus to saves.

True Neutral is an alignment that is neutral on both the Good-Evil axis and the Law-Chaos axis of the alignment spectrum.



Taken From: http://ddo.enterwiki.net/page/True_Neutral

But the only +2 bonus to saves that's specific to True Neutral characters is from Stability items. It is a resistance bonus, and doesn't stack with other resistance bonuses.

[Blazer]

Read that again Pheona, you'll see the quote you put up there talks about the +2 resistance bonus from "stability" items. As Kraldor pointed out, they don't stack (since they are the same bonus).

[Eternity25]

I must have read it too fast the first time and missed the first part of the sentence that said the resistance was also from stability.

Do lawful characters get a +2 ac bonus against chaotic enemies and do chaotic characters get a -2 ac against lawful characters? I heard someone mention that awhile ago and am not sure if its accurate.

[Kreaper]

Some people pick neutral because of weapons used by some mobs. Some, like me, go with neutral good or chaotic good for weapon selection. Otherwise, it really doesn't matter that much.

[Balkas]

Do lawful characters get a +2 ac bonus against chaotic enemies and do chaotic characters get a -2 ac against lawful characters? I heard someone mention that awhile ago and am not sure if its accurate.

No.

Lawful characters can however usually get 2 ac higher because of Chaosgardes.

[Arianrhod]

I must have read it too fast the first time and missed the first part of the sentence that said the resistance was also from stability.

Do lawful characters get a +2 ac bonus against chaotic enemies and do chaotic characters get a -2 ac against lawful characters? I heard someone mention that awhile ago and am not sure if its accurate.

No one gets bonuses/penalties from alignment alone. Some alignments allow use of specific equipment (Stability, Chaosgarde), or are vulnerable to specific attacks (unholy, Order's Wrath). One reason people choose True Neutral for characters with good UMD skill is that Stability is the only item property with an alignment restriction that can't be bypassed with UMD. But, as many people will be quick to tell you, Stability loses its attractiveness once you can equip +3 or higher resistance and deflection items.

[Noctus]

There are several spells and monsters who hurt characters of a certain alignement more than others.

For example:
Unholy Weapons, wielder by some monsters, deal +2d6 damage against good aligned characters.
The "Unholy Blight" spell deals more damage against good characters than against neutral ones.


In general alignement doesnt really matter. There are no inherent boni or mali associated with a certain alignement. Some relatively minor effect have a slightly changed effect on different alignements, but nothing important.
The biggest difference is indeed which weapon properties you are allowed / excluded from. But again this are just minor differences.


The only really thing to watch out for is the Chaosguard-Item. it is really good if you go a certain route of AC-Specced Character. So to use it you need to get UMD or take a certain alignement.

[sirgog]

I advise you go as follows. This is strictly for min-maxing - you won't be crippled by any choice as long as your alignment fits all classes you plan to take. If you want to RP, choose an alignment based on that.

That said:


Characters with UMD, no plans for Monk or Paladin levels: Always go TN. You suffer less alignment-based damage (from enemies with Unholy weapons, like many archers in mod 4-5 quests); suffer no negative levels for equipping Anarchic/Axiomatic/Taint of Evil items, and the only things you really miss out on are early access to Pure Good weapons (this is a notable drawback until level 8 for a twinked toon and level 11-12 for untwinked) and the Ring of the Ancestors plus one Abbot raid item.

Casters without UMD: As above, but it's less important to be TN.

Characters with Monk levels: LG. You're probably going to have enough AC that unholy arrows don't cause you any true grief (although the Demon Queen's six unholy blades might, but who melees her except to show off?). LG opens the way for Paladin levels which are a good choice on many part monk builds, and of the Taint of Evil items, only Litany of the Dead is good on an unarmored melee - and it's outclassed by the Bloodstone.


So in summary - LG if you have to be Lawful; TN otherwise.

[Emili]

No.

Lawful characters can however usually get 2 ac higher because of Chaosgardes.

If you max umd though it makes no difference.

[Borror0]

So in summary - LG if you have to be Lawful; TN otherwise.

LN might be a good choice for ranger/monks with high UMD.

For barbarian, either of NG or CG is justifiable. Even non-good is acceptable since Pure Good isn't what it was.

[Impaqt]

Bards cant be Lawful.

I still like Chaotic Good for an allignment.. With all the Lawful Evil stuff we see end game its nice to have no restiction access to Anarctic, True Chaos, and Pure good. ALso nice because its very difficult to get to a UMD of 20 for Pure GOod weapons by the timeyou Hit Delaras and Plain +1 Holy items are not super easy to obtain at l4.