From my first exposure to the game, when there were just the three alignments, alignment seemed so artificial and unyielding, like a saccharin straightjacket. When complexity was folded into the mix, in the form of good and evil, and the three options ballooned to nine, the straightjacket became vented, silk-lined, and double-breasted, very fancy and good for an evening out, but still, you know, lashed in the back and making dancing a challenge. Yes, I’m pleased that 4E gave alignments a good shake, reducing the number to five, but I still feel like that might be five too many.