A general D&D question: why are skeletons and zombie chaotic evil?

[Legacy_Grani]

               

It's understandable why most of the undead are neutral evil - folk like liches, spectres or wraiths are what they are because of their evil actions in life.

However, skeletons and zombie are only risen corpses to serve the necromancer. The NWN description of skeletons even explicitly states that they are mindless. They're basically puppets.

 

So why is their alignment neutral evil? Just because they might serve an evil master (and that's also not always the case) doesn't mean they are evil themselves. If constructs are true neutral because they lack conciousness, why isn't it the case with puppet-like undead?

 

Edit: Sorry, I meant neutral evil. I'm already tired, excuse me. '> My question still stands, though.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Tchos]

               

I believe it's because they are animated with negative energy, which is evil by definition.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Grani]

               

I believe it's because they are animated with negative energy, which is evil by definition.

 

Cursts are undead "thanks" to negative energy as well, yet they are chaotic neutral.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_AlanC9]

               Maybe that's a problem with cursts?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Grani]

               

Maybe that's a problem with cursts?

Maybe. Whether it's cursts' alignment that is messed up or skeletons' and zombies', there is some inconsistency here.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Shadooow]

               

Maybe that's a problem with cursts?

http://www.realmshel...tes/curst.shtml

 

seems lke an intent, this page should help Grani

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Grani]

               

http://www.realmshel...tes/curst.shtml

 

seems lke an intent, this page should help Grani

Indeed. Looks like the chaotic alignment of cursts is supposed to reflect their madness and the neutral component signifies that they are just victims and that they are not controlled by the caster.


Which makes me believe that the answer lies in the fact that cursts retain conciousness while skeletons and zombies do not.

So, in case of cursts, their alignment is dictated by their character, while in case of skeletons and zombies, who LACK character, it's determined by the magic that animates them. In other words, the character of the creature is more important than the influence of negative energy working on it.


Seems to be a far-fetched explanation, but it does make some sense.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Elhanan]

               

Zombies and skeletons lack the ability to sing, so there is little harmony among their ilk. And when they do try, it is terrible; should hear how they carrion....

 

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Malagant]

               

I'm not sure how it is far fetched. A Curst maintains most of it's full faculties as opposed to being completely dead and reanimated nor did they seek out becoming one. I'm not sure why that realmshelp version had adjustments made, but the actual Monsters of Faerûn template states "Only about one in ten cursts retains its full, former Intelligence score—the rest have an Intelligence score of 8. Otherwise, cursts retain the ability scores they possessed in life."

 

They are essentially the same person they were when they died, aside from being technically undead and maybe a bit less able to reason. The CN assignment reflects the fundamental change in their behavioral characteristics while preserving the fact that they don't just go stark raving mad without any regard for anyone else.

 

It's all in the 3e alignment guidelines:

NE: does whatever one can get away with; no guilt, shame, remorse, apprehension about actions. (Socio/psychopath)

CN: follows his whims; values own liberty but doesn't strive to protect others' freedom. (Selfish)

 

NE: commits evil for its own sake; no regard for others.

CN: not motivated by good or evil; unpredictable, but not is not totally random behavior.

 

More importantly, CN believes that there is no order to anything, including their own actions (Nihilistic). From a psychological perspective, this would make sense of someone forced into an undying form having to live out unending days.