Kevin's Watch

The first category indicates a preference for law and order at one extreme and anarchy at the other. Neutral, in the middle, would be a pragmatic type of person who could go either way.

The second category indicates a moral preference. Good indicates a preference for doing good, evil indicates as preference for doing evil. Neutral, in the middle, means one can be either selfish or selfless under any given circumstance.

Thomas Covenant: Lawful-Neutral
Banner: Lawful-Neutral
Linden Avery: Lawful-Good
Lord Mhoram: Lawful-Good
Drool Rockworm: Lawful-Evil
Lord Foul: Chaotic-Evil
Stave: Lawful-Neutral
Roger Covenant: ?-Evil
Angus Thermopyle: Chaotic-Evil
Holt Fasner: Lawful-Evil
Nick Succorso: Chaotic-Neutral

thewormoftheworld'send wrote:The first category indicates a preference for law and order at one extreme and anarchy at the other. Neutral, in the middle, would be a pragmatic type of person who could go either way.

The second category indicates a moral preference. Good indicates a preference for doing good, evil indicates as preference for doing evil. Neutral, in the middle, means one can be either selfish or selfless under any given circumstance.

Thomas Covenant: Lawful-Neutral
Banner: Lawful-Neutral
Linden Avery: Lawful-Good
Lord Mhoram: Lawful-Good
Drool Rockworm: Lawful-Evil
Lord Foul: Chaotic-Evil
Stave: Lawful-Neutral
Roger Covenant: ?-Evil
Angus Thermopyle: Chaotic-Evil
Holt Fasner: Lawful-Evil
Nick Succorso: Chaotic-Neutral

I would define the alignments a little differently:
Lawful is indeed "order", but it is primarily internal order and structure. It may or may not "align" with the prevailing rules of the society the character finds itself in, but if it does, so much the better!
Chaotic is the absence of internal order, and a high priority on the individual. There aren't any hard and fast rules - it is all about accomplishing the goal as efficiently as possible.
Neutral on this axis recognizes there are times when structure and planned process can work, but others where you just need to fly by the seat of your pants.

On the other axis...
Good is care and concern for the welfare of others, whether on an individual or societal basis. Sure, you need to take care of yourself, but not at the expense of someone else.
Evil is all "what's in it for me". Others' lives and well being are of little to no importance, and they may even relish causing pain. The Evil character's slogan could be "It is not enough that I succeed, but everyone else must fail!"
Neutral here is less disregard for others, than believing that there are always winners and losers in every scenario. They don't actively seek to cause pain, and don't mind sharing the wealth, as long as they get their fair share.

The individual alignment combinations, I'll save for another day.

Lawful is preferring to live in an orderly society, organization or family system. Lawful means obedience to and compliance with the rules of the society.

Chaotic means to set your own rules and boundaries. It entails non-compliance with rules, rebellion against the external order. Hippies, anarchists.

Neutral types play it by ear. They will conform with some rules, rebel against others.

People who are lawful on the outside are likely to be lawful on the inside. It'd be very rare to find someone who was lawful on the outside and chaotic on the inside unless they were feigning lawfulness.

To be chaotic on the outside would entail being chaotic on the inside - but not too chaotic, because internal anarchy ultimately leads to insanity.

"It may or may not 'align' with the prevailing rules of the society.'

But only for that society. Lawful means obedience to and compliance with the rules of an orderly society. It doesn't have to be the one the character is embedded in.