D&D stereotypes you can't stand

[Lord Slasher]

We've certainly have dealt with them at least once, but which ones in particular burn you up.

Lawful Good equals being both a boy scout and a total stiff
Let me tell you right away as longtime paladin that I hate this one with a passion. It just blows my mind on the fact that the alignment that IMO is the easiest to play is always the one that is so poorly done. Even worse is when the Lawful Good character is also super preachy about it.

[phaedrusxy]

Along the same lines:
Chaotic Neutral = psychopath in sheep's clothing. Many times I've seen people stick CN on their sheet just because the DM banned all evil characters, and what they really wanted to play was a guy who is a total psychopath (CE) who kills anyone he feels like, for little to no reason at all.

And the same people usually think that Chaotic Evil automatically means foaming at the mouth lunatic psychopath. It doesn't, actually.

Then there's the CN = "crazy" idea, which is also annoying. I think this one makes more sense, though, as part of that is actually built into the system itself (look at the slaadi).

[Lord Slasher]

And the same people usually think that Chaotic Evil automatically means foaming at the mouth lunatic psychopath. It doesn't, actually.

Oh god my brother drives me nuts with this. He literally thinks that all chaotic evil characters are either Khrone berserkers, The Joker, or Sober Gamzee.

[Libertad]

We've certainly have dealt with them at least once, but which ones in particular burn you up.

Lawful Good equals being both a boy scout and a total stiff
Let me tell you right away as longtime paladin that I hate this one with a passion. It just blows my mind on the fact that the alignment that IMO is the easiest to play is always the one that is so poorly done. Even worse is when the Lawful Good character is also super preachy about it.

Another alignment stereotype that I can't stand:
Chaotic Neutral means that you're completely exempt from the alignment rules and can do whatever you want.  Also, the idea that Chaos=mental instability.

[ariasderros]

Along the same lines:
Chaotic Neutral = psychopath in sheep's clothing. Many times I've seen people stick CN on their sheet just because the DM banned all evil characters, and what they really wanted to play was a guy who is a total psychopath (CE) who kills anyone he feels like, for little to no reason at all.

And the same people usually think that Chaotic Evil automatically means foaming at the mouth lunatic psychopath. It doesn't, actually.

Then there's the CN = "crazy" idea, which is also annoying. I think this one makes more sense, though, as part of that is actually built into the system itself (look at the slaadi).

Or just plain Chaotic = Total Anarchy. Yeah, the Drow live in cities. With each other. With rules and laws and shit, of course, abiding by them is not their specialty, but hey. It isn't anarchy, or anarchism.

Also, about the first part of what you'd said:

"But....I'm chaotic neutral!"

"You're evil....and a whore."

[Lord Slasher]

Another one

X Class has to be Dark and Brooding
This is one that Warlocks and Hexblades seem to fall into. Look buddy just because you tamper with dark forces and you can't be a good alignment, doesn't mean that you have to be all emo about it.

Also Rangers tend to be a bit guilty of this.

[Libertad]

Then there's the CN = "crazy" idea, which is also annoying. I think this one makes more sense, though, as part of that is actually built into the system itself (look at the slaadi).

Or just plain Chaotic = Total Anarchy. Yeah, the Drow live in cities. With each other. With rules and laws and shit, of course, abiding by them is not their specialty, but hey. It isn't anarchy, or anarchism.

Also, about the first part of what you'd said:

"But....I'm chaotic neutral!"

"You're evil....and a whore."

I tried a major revamp of the Slaadi in my Planar Revision Project by basing their societies off of various forms of anarchism.  I pretty much had to make them something they were not in order to do this.

[Pencil]

Another one

X Class has to be Dark and Brooding
Also Rangers tend to be a bit guilty of this.

Whaaaaaaaat?

[Lord Slasher]

Another one

X Class has to be Dark and Brooding
Also Rangers tend to be a bit guilty of this.

Whaaaaaaaat?

Yeah, I've seen this done a few times before especially with the whole *Batman Voice* Favored Enemy killed my family shtick

[Pencil]

Never witnessed anything like this.lol
I always hated the kind of paladin that was not only stiff but killed half the party without a "reason" other than I sneezed and they didn`t say bless you...

[Unbeliever]

Well, their one most notable class ability (since everyone can get TWF in 3E) is "I hate X group."  So, some broodingness can be forgiven.  And, they are stealthy melee fighters, which leads to a bit of Wolverine and Batman syndrome.  And, please don't go on to tell me how you would build Wolverine and Batman.  I'm just saying that one could be forgiven for reading that into the Ranger's DNA, especially if you wanted to play against Aragorn a bit, who is in the films depicted as totally brooding (at least in Fellowship).

A lot of this comes down to D&D's alignments sucking.  They are not all that useful shorthand for morality or points of view.  And, some of them are hard to even make sense of (e.g., Chaotic Neutral).  As usual, I'd suggest dispensing with it entirely and looking for better descriptions of a character's general outlook on life/morality/society.  I suggest a 2 sentence approach. 

[Pencil]

Well, their one most notable class ability (since everyone can get TWF in 3E) is "I hate X group."  So, some broodingness can be forgiven.  And, they are stealthy melee fighters, which leads to a bit of Wolverine and Batman syndrome.  And, please don't go on to tell me how you would build Wolverine and Batman.  I'm just saying that one could be forgiven for reading that into the Ranger's DNA, especially if you wanted to play against Aragorn a bit, who is in the films depicted as totally brooding (at least in Fellowship).

Isnt it more like "I am specialized in fighting group x"?At least that was the way we always interpreted.To be fair I can see why someone would play a ranger like this.

I suggest a 2 sentence approach. 

"I like reading and long walks at the beach.Furthermore I am a deep talker"?

[xaotiq1]

Not sure if this is just limited to alignment stereotypes, but I've always disliked the Lesbian Stripper Ninja.

[phaedrusxy]

Not sure if this is just limited to alignment stereotypes, but I've always disliked the Lesbian Stripper Ninja.

Please elaborate on this stereotype, with pics if possible.

[Lord Slasher]

Not sure if this is just limited to alignment stereotypes, but I've always disliked the Lesbian Stripper Ninja.

Alignment Stereotypes, Character Stereotypes, any D&D stereotype you can imagine.

And don't forget to add Drow to that combo

Please elaborate on this stereotype, with pics if possible.

Basically imagine Bayonetta if she was a ninja and a lesbian

[Unbeliever]

...

I suggest a 2 sentence approach. 

"I like reading and long walks at the beach.Furthermore I am a deep talker"?

If that's your idea for a fantasy hero.  I don't judge. 

Alternatively, something like:  committed to protecting those weaker than him, but actually a reluctant warrior.  Would prefer to spend his time raising barns and farming, but b/c of his abilities feels that he must fight.  Tries to mitigate the unpleasantness of war, etc. by offering quarter, etc.

That's a rough summary of a lawful good character I played some time ago.  It just seems much more helpful for everyone involved than "Lawful Good." 

[Lord Slasher]

The Flamboyant Illusionist
Here is a stereotype that is outright annoying (especially if they're played by gnomes). You know how Illusion is all about trickery and being subtle. Well these guys got the trickery part down, but they're the least subtle person imaginable. And to make them worse they're often combined with the

The Ceaseless Prankster
As the title says these guys are all about comedy, but they will never stop. Especially when the moment is inappropriate for jokes. It's like having that one clown from the Phoenix Wright Games in your party.

[Terminus Est]

Along the same lines:
Chaotic Neutral = psychopath in sheep's clothing. Many times I've seen people stick CN on their sheet just because the DM banned all evil characters, and what they really wanted to play was a guy who is a total psychopath (CE) who kills anyone he feels like, for little to no reason at all.

And the same people usually think that Chaotic Evil automatically means foaming at the mouth lunatic psychopath. It doesn't, actually.

Then there's the CN = "crazy" idea, which is also annoying. I think this one makes more sense, though, as part of that is actually built into the system itself (look at the slaadi).

Yeah, chaotic neutral would fall more along the sociopath line anyhow. They know right from wrong and they understand that their actions have consequences. They simply do not feel remorse, sympathy or empathy and will do whatever benefits them the most. . . but they aren't fundamentally malicious or even particularly cruel unless it some how suits them and they think they'll get away with it. The key there that a lot of chaotic neutral players miss is that "What benefits them the most" doesn't mean they just randomly make decisions at random times. They can be meticulous and just as capable of plots and rational thought as anyone. There's a very good chance that you've known a sociopath or two and there's also a good chance that you didn't even know that they were.

I'm playing a CN character in one of my games and basically he's just a manipulative asshole..but he keeps that side of him tucked away. He uses the people around him to try and get what he wants but he also tries to hide the fact that he's doing so. Sure, if he has a chance to benefit himself at someone else's expense and he can get away with it without getting caught or having to face any consequences, he almost certainly do it, but he also knows that the best chance for him to get the things he wants (money, fame, power) are to work with his party members while trying to shmooze the other powerful people in their world.

He's not random or cruel . . . unless the situation calls for it.

[Prime32]

Honestly that sounds closer to chaotic evil to me. Being evil doesn't mean doing evil things you can't get away with, that's being stupid.

Good characters are the ones who take actions that harm themselves, evil characters are the ones motivated by self-interest.

[Lord Slasher]

And the same people usually think that Chaotic Evil automatically means foaming at the mouth lunatic psychopath. It doesn't, actually.

You wanna now whats an even more annoying portrayal than the murderous Chaotic Evil, the hedonistic Chaotic Evil. This chaotic evil ALWAYS gets played very immaturely in which the hedonists devolve into an omnisexual rapists. Hell just look at almost every portrayal of Slaanesh and the Emperor's Children on the internet. Slaanesh is suppose to be about all pleasures in life taken excessively (For The Emperor's Child its about Noise, Battle, and Drugs) In fact I applaud Relic for being mature with their portrayal of Slaanesh