Character classes are a core piece of Dungeons & Dragons, and almost always play a huge role in defining your character. They certainly aren’t the only factor, however – while a class in part describes who a character is now, a background describes who they were, and their alignment partially describes what they value and how they act. Alignment has been in every edition of the game to some degree, and certain alignments and classes can pair together for compelling flavor.
The alignment system has evolved significantly since D&D‘s first iteration, but most commonly defines characters on two axes – good versus evil and law versus chaos, with neutrality as a midpoint along both. While recent books like Mordenkainen’s Monsters of the Multiverse have continued to de-emphasize alignment as strict rules in D&D, a character’s position on these axes can provide a snapshot of their morals, values, and methods – a lawful good character believes they can help people by working within established systems and traditions, while a lawful evil character may use those same systems to exploit others for their own gain. D&D no longer places restrictions on what class a character can be based on their alignment, however, so chaotic neutral Paladins are just as valid as their lawful counterparts in a campaign.
One alignment that some players may find particularly appealing is chaotic good. Instead of the inaccurate perception of these characters as D&D‘s so-called murder hobos, chaotic good characters will do anything in their power to help people in need, regardless of rules, laws, or even direct orders. This alignment is a goldmine for heroic narrative moments – breaking bad rules to do the right thing can be a huge piece of an RPG’s wish fulfillment. While D&D 5e lacks its predecessor’s restrictions, some classes are especially well suited for good and chaos.
Bards As Chaotic Good Characters In Dungeons & Dragons
In Dungeons & Dragons, chaos is often associated with freedom, creativity, and spontaneity – traits usually most common to artists and performers, which Bards almost always are in some form or another. While the archetypal Bard is a musician or singer in D&D, Bards can easily be dancers, storytellers, acrobats, or even comedians. While the traditions of passing down tales and studying ancient lore may push some Bards towards being more lawful, a Bard’s inclination to travel and learn new skills speaks to a desire for freedom perfect for a chaotic character. As for the good, a Bard’s stories and performances are curated for audiences, and talented Bards may find themselves drawing sizable crowds of everyday people – what better public good than bringing joy to strangers? A politically-driven Bard might even inspire revolts against oppressive systems so that individuals can attain their own freedom.
How Clerics Can Be Chaotic Good Characters In D&D
One of the divine classes, Clerics usually share an alignment with their patron deity, which can dictate a given Cleric’s Divine Domain subclass in D&D. D&D‘s gods vary in alignment just as much – if not more – than people do, with methods and motives to match. Chaotic good deities are often associated with life, light, and joy, as well as trickery and justified conflict. Adventurers who value and embody these ideals particularly strongly may take up worship of a relevant god and become a Cleric of a relevant deity. Serving as holy warriors, bringers of faith and healing, or even general mischief-makers, these Clerics enact the will of their gods, be it throwing revels or liberating the oppressed. While a chaotic good Cleric could belong to almost any Divine Domain, the Nature, Tempest, and Trickery domains can be particularly good fits.
Dungeons & Dragons Fighters As Chaotic Good Characters
If there is an abundance of chaotic good human Fighters in D&D, it’s only because the archetype is so evocative. More than any other class, Fighters are unrestricted by pre-defined flavor. Where Clerics are holy warriors and Druids always draw their power from nature, Fighters simply fight – better than anyone else.
This allows players to take Fighters in almost any direction they want, and because being a hero is such an empowering fantasy (and the usual tendency for D&D characters), it’s no wonder so many Fighters end up being chaotic good. Certain Martial Archetypes may define somewhat stronger theming with ties to structured organizations or codes, but these only make chaotic good more appealing – why play a rebel if they have nothing to rebel against?
Rogues As Chaotic Good In Dungeons & Dragons
Despite some conceptions, Rogues aren’t always shady criminals and cutthroat thieves. While the Rogue’s ability to specialize in stealth in D&D makes it a great choice for those characters, Rogues can just as easily be goodhearted. Looking at older editions, Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit and similar characters were influential in Rogue’s origins, called Thief in its debut in the Greyhawk supplement. Even modern Rogues are easily matched to the chaotic good alignment, as lovable scoundrels are everywhere, and it can be fun to play in grey morality – is it wrong to steal from the wealthy? Criminality is opposed to what is lawful, not what is good, and chaotic good Rogues should be quick to break unjust laws if they think it will help people.
D&D’s Sorcerers Can Be Chaotic Good Characters
In modern D&D, almost every class can learn at least a little bit of magic. Regardless, Sorcerers and Wizards are closest to the larger idea of a fantasy mage. Sorcerers and Wizards are thematically similar in D&D with one key difference – Wizards gain their magic through rigorous study, while Sorcerers possess magic through uncontrollable circumstances. As such, Wizards are often seen as dedicated and diligent where Sorcerers are spontaneous, and while chaotic Wizards can certainly exist, the Sorcerer is far more likely to tend toward chaos.
One Sorcerer subclass is even centered on this chaos – Wild Magic Sorcerers can produce wildly unpredictable results when casting their spells. Additionally, Sorcerer differs from almost every other class in one key regard: no character chooses to become a Sorcerer. No other class ties a character’s abilities so fundamentally to the circumstances of their birth or childhood in Dungeons & Dragons, making Sorcerer ideal for playing a “chosen one” style of character, an archetype often destined to save the world. Other Sorcerer subclasses, like Dragonlance’s Lunar Magic Sorcerer, define a Sorcerer’s source of magic more clearly, but almost all are themed around nature, supernatural entities, or other uncontrollable, chaotic factors.
