The original Dungeons & Dragons game created a three alignment system of Law, Neutrality and Chaos. In Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, this became a two-dimensional grid, one axis of which measures a "moral" continuum between good and evil, and the other "ethical" between law and chaos, with a middle ground of "neutrality" on both axes for those who are indifferent, committed to balance, or lacking the capacity to judge. This system was retained more or less unchanged through the second and third editions of the game. By combining the two axes, any given character has one of 9 possible alignments:
| Lawful Good | Neutral Good | Chaotic Good |
| Lawful Neutral | Neutral (2 versions) | Chaotic Neutral |
| Lawful Evil | Neutral Evil | Chaotic Evil |
Neutral in this scheme can be one of two versions: Neutral/Neutral, those who have no interest in (or no ability to care about) the choice; or "True Neutral", meaning those who not only actively remain neutral but believe it is necessary to enforce the balance of the world on others, and would act in any required fashion to bring about that balance.
In the current 4th edition of the game, the alignment system has been simplified.
- Lawful Good: Civilization and order.
- Good: Freedom and kindness.
- Unaligned: Having no alignment; not taking a stand.
- Evil: Tyranny and hatred.
- Chaotic Evil: Entropy and destruction.
Read more about this topic: Alignment (role-playing Games)
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