This article is part three in a series about how to better understand and roleplay D&D character alignments. Today, we take a look at Chaotic character traits and behaviors, explain some ways to improve how you roleplay a Chaotic character, and think about how Chaotic creatures would express their moral values.
What Makes a Character Chaotic?
As an alignment, Chaos is diametrically opposed to Law. Last time, we discussed the common misconception with Lawful alignments: players assume that by being Lawful, they are forced to conform to all laws, all the time. This can sometimes result in players choosing to create Chaotic characters in order to have freedom from Lawful conformity, and even taking Chaos to extremes to avoid any semblance of Law. As before, these assumptions are based on the idea that an alignment dictates a character's behavior.
We've addressed at length the problems created by this mindset about alignments, but the way that it reveals itself with each alignment is very different. In this case, "Chaos" is often misunderstood as "Anti-Law," and players of Chaotic characters might try to do everything in their power to oppose any system or code of law that they are presented with because they are "Anti-Law." In fact, Chaotic characters operate by systems similar to Lawful characters, but their individual goals and ideals form the distinction between Law and Chaos.
Where Lawful characters perceive their world and purpose in terms of rules and boundaries that they choose to follow, Chaotic characters rarely define their existence by regulatory codes of honor or morality. Instead, Chaotic characters often feel called to stand up for social or emotional values that should be centered upon individuals rather than society at large. Chaotic characters find purpose through the pursuit and fulfillment of personal goals and objectives rather than social or group obligations. When those values or goals run up against restrictions placed by others, the character will tend to pursue their goals anyway, placing their ideals before the rules imposed by others.
This means that Chaotic characters are not "Anti-Law;" rather, they are very "Pro-[Your Ideal Here]," and seek to further themselves and their world through their devotion to that goal. Just like any other character wishes for themselves and their goals, no matter their alignment.
It is important to note that Lawful and Chaotic characters can share ideals and values, but the big separation between the two alignments is demonstrated through the reasoning and actions characters take in order to further those values. For instance, a Lawful character and a Chaotic character can both value individual freedom. However, when wrongfully imprisoned, a Lawful character might react by placing trust in the legal system to preserve their individual freedom, and so stay in their cell, whereas a Chaotic character might react by placing trust in themselves to preserve their individual freedom, and attempt to organize an escape.
How Can I Make a Chaotic Character?
First, consider what ideas and values are of high priority to your character, and what ideas and values they oppose. Common high-value ideals held by Chaotic characters include general concepts like freedom, individualism, choice, love, and power, as well as more specific goals or objectives based on previous experiences and desires. Examples of these goals can be long-term, like a plan to overthrow a tyrant ruler, or short-term, like a wish to explore the forests to the south of a nearby village. All characters should have immediate and long-term goals, but Chaotic characters need them even more in order to provide direction to their adventuring. For a Chaotic character, every step should be a step closer to accomplishing their priority objectives.
Next, be willing to add a little bit of randomness to how your character perceives, prioritizes, and executes their goals. The nature of Chaos is flux, and your character should change and develop through their experiences. It is only natural that your character's objectives should grow and change too. Maybe stealing that one ruby becomes less important to your character as bigger and better heist opportunities present themselves. Chaotic characters tend to struggle less with change than Lawful characters, and slightly random changes are an excellent way to highlight that distinction. Work with your Dungeon Master to create values and objectives that work for your character, and to plan out potential developments and changes that may be a part of your character's future.
Chaotic characters should demonstrate a tendency to behave in ways that emphasize themselves and their hopes and dreams over the restrictions and expectations of society. In practice, they should tend to pursue their higher priorities at the cost of their lower priorities. For instance, a Chaotic thief might sacrifice comfort or material goods for the chance to pull off a huge heist, or a Chaotic druid might advocate for the protection of nature over her potential social and financial status. Chaotic characters should tend to place their individual concerns and objectives over those of the group, but not to the extent that it would become a hinderance to the group's own nature, as this would almost certainly be counterproductive to the advancement of the character's goals.
What (Usually) Not To Do
Chaotic characters bear the brunt of stereotypes about crazy or self-defeating behavior. Sometimes, this is the intent of the player; other times, this is a byproduct of alignments being misunderstood. Regardless, it is still the player's responsibility to avoid being the cause of extreme irritation or divisive problems within a party, no matter their character's alignment. In general, actions like the following should be avoided.
Justifying actions with the excuse "I'm Chaotic" shouldn't fly. Alignment doesn't regulate character behavior, remember? Instead, consider taking actions and having a rationale based on your character's perception of the world and their values and goals. "I'm Chaotic" isn't a good reason to commit murder, for instance, if your character values freedom and independence. Killing a bystander necessarily removes their freedom and independence because they are dead. As a positive example, "My character's mentor is dead, and so my character gives life a huge value" is an effective justification for freeing rather than killing a goblin prisoner. It has a foundation in your character's morality and history, and enables more characterization in future.
In a similar vein, Chaotic characters should tend to avoid rupturing party agreements or creating difficulty with group goals. It's generally unhelpful to have your Chaotic thief pick the pockets of his fellow adventurers, as it creates unnecessary conflict between allies. It's generally unhelpful to have your Chaotic wizard leave the party for dead at the first sign of danger. It's generally unhelpful for your Chaotic bard to blatantly insult the noble that her companions are attempting to receive payment from, no matter how ugly the noble's appearance. Actions that are counterproductive to the party goals are, in all but the most specific cases, equally unhelpful to the character's personal goals.
That said, Chaotic characters should not allow others to place excessive limitations upon their behavior. It makes sense, for instance, to follow most of the laws most of the time, when the legal system is designed to protect things your character values, like freedom or individuality. It doesn't make sense for your character to follow rules that limit their ability to make progress in their high-priority goals. To be Chaotic means to perform a sort of balancing act between the expectations of society and the ideas your character prioritizes above those expectations. It is the player's responsibility to determine how best to maintain the balance.
A Moral Conflict for a Chaotic Character
A well-used tool to make an adventure engaging and foster character growth is through the presentation of a moral conflict or dilemma that the character must solve or decide upon in order to continue successfully. Handling a conflict-ridden situation well can improve a character's trust in themselves and add depth to their world outlook. A character's alignment is a useful tool for determining what sorts of hard decisions will help the character to grow and develop. Dungeon Masters and players alike can benefit from observing these moral conflicts, coming up with ideas for how to create their own, and thinking about how a character could respond to scenarios that test their personal limits.
For Chaotic characters, a moral conflict pitting the character's desires against the desires of others or society will have no effect, as Chaotic characters tend to prioritize their personal goals. In order to make an effective moral conflict, we can use that goal prioritization to force the character to make a choice between the things that they want. In this way, the conflict comes from within the character rather than being forced upon them externally.
Consider: The villain your Chaotic character has sworn to see dead on the edge of your blade is offering you the priceless artifact stolen from your family twelve generations ago in exchange for an end to your pursuit. He warns that if you attack him rather than accept the artifact, it will be transformed into useless rock and destroyed. The two goals (killing the villain; reacquiring the artifact) are each of utmost importance to your character, and allowing either opportunity to slip past could waste years of work and preparation, not to mention potential future complications. Do you make a choice? Do you work to create a plan to accomplish both goals–and thereby lose the chance to immediately accomplish either one? How does your character feel about the situation?
Additional questions:
Do you trust that the villain will uphold his end of the bargain?
If you let the villain go, will he have the opportunity to strike back against you or others?
If you kill the villain, will it become harder to stop his plans?
Is there a time quandary? Do you have to make your decision on the spot?
Summary
While a Chaotic character should have a different relationship with laws and expectations than a Lawful character would, that doesn't mean Chaos is "anti-Law." Instead, it means that a Chaotic character should have a different way of prioritizing their goals and desires, and should have to make sacrifices of lesser priorities in order to get what they want. They should remain true to their desires in both word and deed, while still having the flexibility to change their desires as time progresses. Players should look for ways to exercise their agency without inadvertently limiting others, and DMs should look for ways to introduce hard choices and opportunities for Chaotic characters to create and redefine their goals and experiences.
This ends part three in our discussion about alignments in D&D. In part four, we will break down and analyze the most common alignment held by player characters: Good alignments.
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