Edit: I see what you mean maidros about whether something's good/evil/lawful/chaotic, but simply, the answer is - it depends on the scenario.
Absolutely true. Therefore, can we make general judgements about whether a man/woman is good or evil? 'Sin is geographical' as Blaise Pascal once said. That is why I am wary of the alignments - at best it is a guide, an insight into the person's likely line of reasoning (or lack of it), but it is very very difficult to categorise persons absolutely.
Oh yes! Good idea about redeeming Phaere, Merja! I'm glad maidros noticed that YOU said it first, unlike me, who didn't say it a load more posts ago! Why does no-one seem to like my ideas, yet when someone else says it it's a good idea? *sigh*
If you read my post carefully, you will find that at no point of time have I ascribed the Phaere redemption idea to Merja. I merely applauded the idea of redeeming Phaere - it is just another approach into working out things differently. I am sorry that it gave you the impression that I was crediting Merja with the idea. I assure you that I was not.
But, yeah, a Phaere redemption would be nice, rather than handing her her own ass on a platter. It'd be hard though, because she is very far gone when you get to her.
True - anyone who writes will have their hands full - it is not an easy thing to write a believable redemption of Phaere - especially when she is on the rise, as she is in Ust Natha. If, on the other hand, in some fashion, her House fell from power and she were to lose the favour of Lolth, it might make for an interesting theme to develop. A drow, who has been brought up on the idea that power is everything, is unlikely to throw away power and become a convert to an idealistic PC's thinking and beliefs unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
To make a GOOD redemption there has to be some 'humanity' in the character anyway, which is why it doesn't seem to work well that the other four of the Five get redeemed, as there's no 'good' qualities in them, though you COULD develop them as you like, since they don't have that much development on them anyway, other than a basic outline, and, apparantly, that worked well with Solaufein.
Hmm. I am not so sure about that. One of them is a dragon, one a drow, one a fire giant - the societies of these creatures are traditionally ones that encourage cruelty, lust, greed etc and having been raised in these they have had very little exposure to the better things of life. Therefore, it is not inconceivable that their outlooks would change over time, if they were in better societies. To take an example from Bioware itself, it is very difficult to see the original Viconia, the priestess of Lolth change into a better creature. Even after she fled to the surface, she is a priestess of Shar, and Shar is hardly any better than Lolth. However, change she does, in the PC's company and it is not, therefore, beyond the bounds of reason that one or more of the Five would change. But the redemption, if at all there is one, is not easy to write and would take a lot of work.
On a final note, Illasera is an archer - by
BG's own terms, that means that she is a ranger and rangers in 2E have to start 'good'. Does this mean she started out as good and then became 'fallen' somehow? That gives another angle to write Illasera redemption.
The most difficult to write, in my opinion, would be Gromnir - unless you take the line that he went mad with the continual persecution by Yaga Shura and other Bhaalspawn and became totally cruel and paranoid. But is the 'redemption' of a madman any easier to write?
