Breaking Down the Character Alignment System: True Neutral

*Originally published on 3/25/12



As the name implies, characters that fall under the "true neutral" category (also referred to as either just neutral or neutral neutral which may very well be the most ridiculous name for a thing ever) have no real loyalty or obligation to others or to any system.

They are the type of characters who will associate with whoever they need to in order to meet their goals.

This generally makes them a sort of wild card in the spectrum. As far as role-playing a true neutral character goes, one can see the appeal as it gives you a lot of flexibility in tough situations, but it could prove problematic when dealing with a group dynamic.

In a lot of ways, this alignment lends itself more to an NPC character as he or she could appear as an ally or enemy depending on the circumstances.

Of course, being true neutral doesn't necessarily mean that you are constantly switching allegiances, but it is a real possibility with that character type.

Druids are often categorized as true neutral as they are more focused on nature and the animal kingdom than any sort of political machinations that take place in the world of men.

Often times, true neutral acts as a sort of transition alignment. Often times, the player may develop a sort of story arc for his or her character. Other times, plot elements will result in the character having a change of heart. In instances such as this, true neutral status gives the player a stepping-stone so that the change in behavior doesn't look as drastic as it may have otherwise.

While the alignment system gets watered down in 4th edition to about half of the alignments, the Essentials Dungeon Master's Book keeps the true neutral alignment alive in spirit, though it is merely referred to as "unaligned" in this instance.

Interestingly enough, a lot of the characters who fit this bill are generally villains. In these instances, they usually just work for some bigger bad but honestly couldn't care one way or the other. They might just be doing it for money, but don't really have any sense of loyalty to their employer.

According to the page on TvTropes, the answer to any dilemma according to a true neutral is, "what would a bear do?" In short, neutral characters generally just mind their business and don't get involved in matters larger than themselves.