Where Do You Fall? Modern Archetypes of Good, Neutral, and Evil
For those who’ve played D&D or its fantasy cousins, the most intriguing mechanic isn’t the dice rolls it’s the alignment system. Good, Neutral, Evil / Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic. It doesn’t just guide how your character acts, it shapes the entire narrative.
Strip away the fantasy robes, and alignment becomes a surprisingly accurate psychological lens for real life. It’s a framework you can spot everywhere: in boardrooms, on the streets, governments or even in your own relationships. Think of it as archetypes of power and choice, updated for the modern world.
The fun part is asking yourself where you fall and whether it’s changed over time.
GOOD
Lawful Good – The Idealist Enforcer
Archetype: The military officer who actually believes in the constitution. The judge who won’t bend the law even for sympathy.
Modern label: The Paladin Cop / Soldier / Bureaucrat
Neutral Good – The Humanitarian
Archetype: The doctor working in war zones. The social worker who bends paperwork rules if it gets the kid food.
Modern label: The NGO Worker / Crisis Therapist / Medic
Chaotic Good – The Rebel With a Cause
Archetype: The hacker who leaks government surveillance programs. The protest leader who breaks laws for justice.
Modern label: The Whistleblower / Activist / Anarchist Hero
NEUTRAL
Lawful Neutral – The System Loyalist
Archetype: The civil servant who enforces policy without bias. The judge who says “my hands are tied.”
Modern label: The Bureaucrat / Strict Judge / Policymaker
True Neutral – The Balanced Pragmatist
Archetype: The mediator, fence-sitter, survivalist farmer, or hermit. They avoid extremes.
Modern label: The Diplomat / Business Consultant / Survivalist
Chaotic Neutral – The Wild Card
Archetype: The rogue investor, the eccentric creator, the traveler who won’t be pinned down. Lives on impulse, doesn’t pledge long-term allegiance.
Modern label: The Free Spirit / Maverick CEO / Nomad
EVIL
Lawful Evil – The Tyrant
Archetype: Dictators who wrap oppression in legality. Corporations lobbying laws to crush competition.
Modern label: The Strongman Politician / Mafia Boss / Corporate Shark
Neutral Evil – The Opportunist
Archetype: The war profiteer, the career politician who’ll swap positions for power, the exec who smiles while gutting pensions.
Modern label: The Corrupt Politician / Mercenary / Exploiter
Chaotic Evil – The Destroyer
Archetype: The terrorist who just wants blood. The serial killer. The mob that loots and burns for the thrill.
Modern label: The Warlord / Extremist / Psychopath
Summary in plain language:
Lawful = “I want order, rules, structure.”
Neutral = “I want balance or just my own gain.”
Chaotic = “I want freedom, disruption, movement.”
Good = “I preserve life, others, cooperation.”
Evil = “I consume, exploit, or destroy for self.”
In the end, alignment isn’t about fantasy, it’s about recognition. These nine archetypes are lenses for how people move through power, freedom, and morality. Some play by rules, some break them, some bend them only when it serves.
The real intrigue isn’t in labeling others, it’s in asking where you land, and whether that spot has shifted as you’ve lived and adapted. Alignment isn’t fixed; it’s a mirror that changes with you.
