This essay offers a comprehensive exploration of alignment in Dungeons & Dragons. It examines what alignment is, its purpose in the game, its meaning, and how it shapes both characters and monsters on individual and social levels.

Alignment is a cornerstone of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Its concepts of player morality and ethics are integral to many aspects of the game,

Gary Gygax’s afterword to the Dungeon Masters Guide (DMG) begins with the well-known quote, “IT IS THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME, NOT THE LETTER OF THE RULES, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.” The focus of this discussion is the intended meaning of the “spirit of the game.”

First Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) is a wondrous game that has left an indelible mark on those who’ve played it — this author included. Yet its quirky, idiosyncratic rulebooks can be difficult to navigate, even for veteran players. Editing issues run throughout, leaving readers unsure of what the rules actually mean. Common problems include vague wording,

Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax enjoyed sprinkling his writings with unusual and often archaic words, a habit that gave his rulebooks and adventures a distinctively arcane flavor. Rather than relying on familiar fantasy clichés, Gygax seemed to delight in language that felt half-forgotten, lending the game an almost scholarly strangeness that players found both puzzling and enchanting.

This article explores the original sources that inspired one of the game's greatest antiheroes.