I think it's more about making a CE character, then stealing from the party and being a murder hobo, while saying "I'm CE, it's what I am supposed to do."
That's fine too as long as you clear it with the other players first. A player who values the experience of the other players and of the DM (i.e. not a narcissist) will understand that certain character behaviors have the potential to disrupt group play but some groups might like intra-party conflict. Some groups might like looking over their shoulder and having a potential wildcard nutjob in the mix.
The key, as always, is communication and coordination with other players rather than labeling certain alignments or personality traits as unplayable. CE characters are challenging to run in a party sure, but not impossible and potentially incredibly fun - especially if you are open to having an arc that modifies your alignment down the road. The party paladin setting a CE assassin rogue on a redemption arc can be incredibly satisfying for both players.
I agree to some extent. It is certainly a session zero (or pre-session 1) conversation to have with the players, but it really is on the players to follow-through with this. As a frequent DM, I don't see it as part of my job to referee players. Characters, yes. Players, no.
With purely what PHB says the alignments mean, I managed to make a CE character that isn't an asshole who steals from the party and murder hobos his way through the game.
You can easily play a CE character who doesn't steal from their party and is a general nuisance. You just need to come up with a proper motivation. I would go as far as to say that a CE character whose loyalty has been earned and whose goals align with those of the party might be one of the best assets in said party as you can convince that type of character to pretty much anything.
Not really, a CE character may be a lot more deceptive by having big schemes in which you need to be under some cover like helping the paladin in doing good deeds but because now he owns you one and you can deceive it more easily into helping you in your personal goals.
Good is more selfless while evil is selfish, if literally everything you do is for your own profit and don't hesitate doing it even if you know people will get hurt, that's evil.
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u/soepie7 Mar 25 '21
I think it's more about making a CE character, then stealing from the party and being a murder hobo, while saying "I'm CE, it's what I am supposed to do."