ALIGNMENT

GOOD		SELFISH		EVIL
PRINCIPLED	SCRUPULOUS	UNPRINCIPLED	ANARCHIST	ABERRANT	DIABOLIC

All players must select an alignment for their character. This defines a character's attitudes and provides a moral center. There are three basic alignment categories: Good, Selfish, and Evil.

Alignments play a vital role in developing a character's personality and are a key element of roleplaying. Everyone has their own moral compass to guide them. Whether it is called a code of ethics or morals, justice and honour, religious virtues, alignments define what the character sees as right and wrong, good and evil, acceptable behaviour and what is not acceptable. It is this sense of right and wrong that helps build moral fiber, mold one's behaviour, and dictate how a character treats others and how they should react when faced with a moral choice.

Alignments are a guideline for each character, indicating how that character is likely to react to any given situation. Alignments can help decide difficult decisions, following the character's emotional gut feeling.

Characters that are played, or slip, from their alignment into acts or decisions that do not represent that alignment can be, by the DM or at the player's request' moved to another alignment. People make mistakes all the time, and the DM should consider this in an 'out of alignment' act or decision, not merely change a character's alignment for the wrong act or decision.

No Neutral Alignments
Rifts has no neutral alignments. With the reasoning that one could not make a decision against any moral-based situation. Whether this is accurate or not matters not, this system has no neutral alignment.

Good Alignments
Good aligned characters: Principled and Scrupulous, are the straight-up hero of the world. Placing a high value on life and liberty, as well as law and order. Just because a character is of a good alignment, however, does not mean they are a saint or without bad habits. Good characters can be irritating, obnoxious, or arrogant, even prejudiced and full of annoying quirks. Likewise, they may find themselves stepping outside the boundaries of the law in their quest to combat evil and injustice, but when push comes to shove, these characters can always be trusted to do the right thing, especially in a life and death situation.

Principled
Principled characters are upright 'boy scout' or do-gooder' types who puts others before themselves. This is the knight in shinning armour, with the highest regard for the lives and well-bing of others, freedom, honour, and justice. Principled characters will always attempt to work with and within the law, and have a high regard (and trust of) authority, as well as for life and freedom. They are usually compassionate, merciful, cooperative and sincere.

A Principled character will:-

Always keep their word.
Avoid lies.
Never kill or attack an unarmed foe.
Never harm an innocent.
Never torture for any reason.
Never kill for pleasure.
Always help others.
Always work within the law whenever possible.
Never break the law unless conditions are desperate. This means no breaking and entering, theft, torture, unprovoked assaults, etc.
Respect authority, law, self-discipline, and honour.
Work well within a group.
Never take 'dirty money' or 'ill-gotten' goods or valuables. This means any property that belongs to criminals or gangs or villains. It matters not how the bad guys got that property themselves: the hero will not touch it even if destitute.
Never betray a friend.

Scrupulous
Scrupulous characters value life and freedom above all else and despise those who would deprive others of them. This type of hero is typically portrayed as the cop who plays by their own rules, forced to work beyond the law for justice (or retribution) and the greater good of the people. They are not vicious or vindictive characters, but are individuals driven by their sense of justice to right a wrong or take a (bloody) stand. These characters will always attempt to work with or within the law whenever possible.

A Scrupulous character will:-

Keep their word to any other Good person.
Lie only to people of Selfish or Evil alignments.
Never attack an unarmed foe.
Never harm an innocent.
Never torture for pleasure, but may use muscle to extract information from criminals or evil characters.
Never kill for pleasure, will always attempt to bring the villain to justice alive, no matter how vile they may seem.
Always try to help others.
Attempt to work within the law whenever possible.
Bend and, occasionally, break the law when deemed necessary. This means they may use strong-arm techniques, harass, break and enter, steal, and so on (but only against bad guys).
Distrust authority: fears the law and government may not be an effective weapon against injustice and crime. However, they will try not to flagrantly disregard the law.
Work with groups,but dislike confining laws and bureaucracy (red tape).
Never take 'dirty money'.
Never betray a friend.

Selfish Alignments
Selfish aligned characters: Unprincipled and Anarchist, are not necessarily evil, but they always have their own interests at heart and their opinions in mind above all others. These are the mercenaries, rogues, vigilantes, and anti-heroes of the world.

Unprincipled
Unprincipled characters are tend to be selfish, greedy, and holds their personal freedom and welfare above almost everything else. They dislike confining laws and self-discipline and distrusts authority. They view the law and government as well-intentioned, but clumsy and ineffective. Keeping their best interests in mind, the character will always look out for themselves.

This character will take 'dirty money' and items, with the concept that it will help in their crusade against evil. they may also destroy the property of known criminals. They will not deal in illegal wares, drugs, or take money from the innocent or good people. The Unprincipled character may associate with both good and evil characters, and often has paid informants, spies and stoolies.

This is the noble scoundrel, the guy who is always looking for the best deal, is continually tempted to lie and cheat, and hates themselves for being loyal, helping others and ultimately doing the 'right thing'.

An Unprincipled character will:-

Keep their word of honour.
Lie and cheat if necessary (especially to those of Anarchist or Evil alignments).
Not kill an unarmed foe (but will take advantage of one).
Never harm an innocent.
Not use torture unless absolutely necessary.
Never kill for pleasure: will attempt to bring the villain to justice alive and ruin them rather than simply kill them.
Usually help those in need.
Rarely attempt to work within the law.
Blatantly break the law to achieve their (usually good intentioned) goals.
Dislike and distrust authority, the law and bureaucracy. Feels they have been corrupted and abused.
Work with groups, especially if it serves their needs, is profitable, and/or they are in the limelight.
Take 'dirty money'.
Never betray a friend.
Have a high regard for life and freedom.

Anarchist
Anarchist characters are the type to indulge in everything. They are the insurgent, con-artist, gambler, and uncommitted freebooter who adventures because they enjoy the thrill, fame and fortune it brings, rather than for a cause (like defending humanity). This character will at least consider doing anything if the price is right or the challenge is alluring enough.

Laws and rules infringe on personal freedom and were meant to be broken. they will not hesitate at using strong-arm techniques, breaking and entering, theft, harassment, destruction of private property, and so on. This can also include acting as judge, jury, and executioner. These characters are usually the daring anti-heroes who feel the end justifies the means. The Anarchist-aligned character is always looking for the best deal and gratification. They will work with good, selfish, and evil characters to attain their goals. The Anarchist is continually teetering between good and evil, rebelling against and bending the law to fit their needs. Mercenaries and thieves often fall into this category.

An Anarchist character will:-

Keep their word, but only if it suits or pleases them.
Lie and cheat if they feel necessary.
Not be likely to kill an unarmed foe, but certainly will knock out, attack or beat-up one.
Never kill an innocent, although their rash or self-serving actions may injure or kill bystanders by accident.
Use torture to extract information, but it not likely to do so for pleasure.
Seldom kill for pleasure.
Not be likely to help someone without some ulterior motive (even if it's only to show off).
Rarely work within the law unless it serves their purpose.
Constantly break the law to achieve their goals.
Have little respect for authority, the law, or self-discipline.
Not work well within groups: tends to do as they please, despite orders to the contrary.
Take 'dirty money' without hesitation.
Possibly betray a friend.

Evil Alignments
Evil aligned characters: Aberrant and Diabolic, are not necessarily bent on universal genocide or dominating all other living creatures. Nor are all evil characters sadistic, cruel, ugly, or untrustworthy. Many, evil characters may actually seem kind or likable.

Evil alignments are a step beyond the self-gratification of Selfish alignments. Evil characters are ruthless individuals who are willing to say or do anything to achieve their goals. Most commonly, evil characters have goals that either entail making people suffer or cause suffering as a side effect (a side effect they knowingly and willingly disregards). Human life has little meaning to them, and friends tend to be (but not always) people to use and discard when they are no longer of value. Evil-aligned characters do not automatically slay any good-aligned person because of different ethics and philosophies. All the better to sue good to achieve their goals, for the end always justifies the means.

Aberrant
The cliché that there is no honour among thieves is false when dealing with the Aberrant character. This is an individual who is driven to attain their goals through force, power, and intimidation. Yet the Aberrant character stands apart from the norm with their own personal (and twisted) code of ethics. they expect loyalty from their minions, punishing disloyalty and treachery with a swift, merciful death or banishment. An Aberrant character will always keep their word of honour and uphold any bargains. They will define their terms and live by them, whether anyone else likes them or not.

If an anti-hero, they will completely disregard the law and deal out justice as they deem fit. they will never be cruel or vindictive and will always be absolutely positive that the person is guilty before dealing out their brand of justice. However, once they have condemned someone, they will see to it that they are destroyed.

Whether a villain or a corrupt or extreme anti-hero, the Aberrant character looks upon people without honour or a sense of loyalty as worthless and disgusting lowlifes.

Do not think of the Aberrant character as a misguided good-guy. they will break all laws with impunity, harass victims, destroy property, assault, blackmail, torture and murder. Only their methods and degree of violence may vary.

An Aberrant character will:-

Always keep their word of honour (at least to those they deem worthy of it).
Lie and cheat to those not worthy of their respect; good, selfish, or evil.
May, or may not, kill an unarmed foe.
Never kill an innocent, particularly a child, but may harm, harass or kidnap.
Never torture for pleasure, but will use it to extract information and intimidate others.
Never kills for pleasure, will always have a reason.
May, or may not, help someone in need.
Rarely attempt to work within the law.
Break the law without hesitation.
Have no use for the law or bureaucracy, but respects honour, self-discipline, and the 'concept' of laws and order.
Work with others to gain their goals.
Usually take 'dirty money', although their twisted code of ethics may prevent them from doing so in some instances.
Never betray a friend. Never!

Diabolic
Diabolic alignments are where most megalomaniacs, psychopaths, and violent and dispicable characters fall into. This is the cruel, brutal killer who trusts no one and has no value for life other than their own. A Diabolic character will crush anyone whogets in their way. The lowlife will lie, cheat, con, abuse, and kill anyone less powerful than they are. Aberrant characters find these dishonourable people more revolting than a good-aligned character.

A Diabolic character will:-

Rarely keep their word, and has no honour.
Lie to and cheat anyone.
Most certainly attack and kill an unarmed foe.
Hurt and kill an innocent without a second thought and for pleasure.
Use torture for pleasure and information, regularly.
Kill for sheer pleasure.
Belikely to help someone only on a whim (or to set them up for some evil deed later).
Rarely attempt to work within the law.
Blatantly break the law and mock authority.
Despise honour, authority, and self-discipline. Views them as weaknesses.
Not work well within a group; constantly disregarding orders and vying for power/command.
Always take 'dirty money', drugs, stolen goods, etc. as well as steal from others.
Betray a friend without hesitation: after all you can always find new friends.
Associate mostly with other evil alignments.