Poll: Why Don't Games Use D&D Alignment for Moral Choice?

[Samechiel]

http://darksoulswiki.wikispaces.com/Covenants

It is, sometimes.
I personally think that this system could be improved by eliminating evil/good and replacing it with something less arbitrary.

I'm glad somebody mentioned Dark Souls, because I love the way From Software handled morality; everything is a different shade of gray.

It all looks very cut-and-dry on the surface. There are good deeds to be done, people to be saved (I was soooo happy when I learned I didn't have to kill Priscilla), justice to mete out... but also murders to commit, vile plans to undertake. Monsters need killing and Undead = bad! Rrrraaarrgh!

But then you start getting into the lore of the game. You start finding out what exactly is going on and suddenly everything you thought was, isn't. Take the Darkwraiths, for instance. According to the chart, they squat squarely in the Chaotic Evil box and surely they fit that bill -they're crazy murdering bastards bent on a lifetime of rape and pillage.

And then you learn why they're doing that. In the end, their goals are actually noble, even if their methods to reach that end are anything but.

 

[loudestmute]

I'm sure that a great morality system for a tabletop game, but I'm struggling to see how it would be implemented in a video game in a way that's got more substantial difference than what's currently going on in terms of morality systems. Players would still pick out which side of the two sliders they'd like to fall under, and only take on the quests and side tasks that help to increase those levels.

While I haven't played New Vegas enough to get to the concept of group-oriented morality, the idea does hold some appeal. Less on what you do, more on what others think about what you do. For a proof of future concept, let's engage in a little thought experiment.

Spoiler: The Cathedral

Let's imagine a standard fantasy setting, one of the early areas in the game being a decaying church on the outskirts of your starting village. No story critical stuff here, just a gang of monks led by a former thief who reacts differently depending on your outstanding alliances.

Town Guard (Night watch jobs): "Hello, sailor! As you can see, we've got a bit of a money problem around here. Seems that we're having some problems getting our pledged tithing amounts to match with what's in our coffers. I think someone's been lightening our load, so to speak. Can you hang around for a couple nights, give us an idea of who we should be questioning?"

Sword and Shield (Bounty hunting jobs): "...I should have known my past would catch up with me. Listen, I know you're probably here to collect the bounty on my head, but if it's not too much to ask, will you let me perform a formal confession before you take me in? We're in a place of divine authority after all, so please, hear me out before passing judgement?"

College of the Third Eye (Mage's guild stuff): "Glad you could join us, traveler! We could actually use someone with your talents. See, we're trying to translate some old scriptures, and we've hit a bit of a snag. We've seemed to uncover some divine litanies that could be of service to the College, but none of the acolytes here are experienced enough in the arcane to test them. Feel up to the challenge?"

Thieves Guild (stealing, being sneaky, etc): "Well now, I'm guessing you're not here to seek forgiveness. And you can probably tell there's not much for a cutpurse like you to take. But I do think we can come to a...mutually beneficial relationship. There's an estate nearby owned by a family of degenerates, shaking down the merchants in town for protection money. Shameful stuff. They've already bought off the town guard, and they keep inviting me over thinking that divine judgement can be just as easily swayed. So I've got the lay of the place pretty good, and I got a rough idea where they keep their most valued possessions. You take what you can, I'll refer you to an old associate, we split the take 50-50, and I can keep this place open without as many worries. Sound like a plan?"

For a different take on the issue, my current favorite "morality" system is in Saints Row 3. Since most moral choice systems basically boil down to "choose your alignment at the start of the game, we'll dispense appropriate gameplay benefits", it's nice to see a system that makes the benefits as bold-faced as possible while removing any deifying/demonizing of the player's actions. Yes, the cutscenes following these choices still give your actions context, but there's no consequence for shifting your character's priorities. You'll always be an asshole, so the choice is now more what toys you want that asshole to play with.

 

[Thunderous Cacophony]

9 > 2. More work for the game makers is my guess as to why not.

 

[ResonanceSD]

9 > 2. More work for the game makers is my guess as to why not.

Ninjaed. There are nine different DnD alignments. Or fifteen million, if you accept that Chaotic Neutral is a polite way of saying "completely insane". You try coding that for every interaction.

 

[thelittleman66]

Any sort of "moral" choice system that distinguishes between good and evil is bound for failure.

 

[darksakul]

I think the closes anyone got to an alinement system from D&D inb a video game was the PC game Balders Gate.

9 > 2. More work for the game makers is my guess as to why not.

Ninjaed. There are nine different DnD alignments. Or fifteen million, if you accept that Chaotic Neutral is a polite way of saying "completely insane". You try coding that for every interaction.

I disagree, True Neutral is more insane is played properly

 

[Thunderous Cacophony]

9 > 2. More work for the game makers is my guess as to why not.

Ninjaed. There are nine different DnD alignments. Or fifteen million, if you accept that Chaotic Neutral is a polite way of saying "completely insane". You try coding that for every interaction.

I disagree, True Neutral is more insane is played properly

I'm with Darksakul. From what I've seen, Chaotic Neutral people are essentially libertarians, which makes them easy to figure out. However, with someone devoted to maintaining the True Neutral balance of the universe, you can never be quite sure which side their on.