Alignment Distribution

[Matthew]

Posted this at Dragonsfoot a few minutes ago:

Thought this might be fun to do... turned out to be a total pain, but here are the results for the Monster Manual:

Neutral	Chaotic Evil	Lawful Evil	Lawful Good	Chaotic Good	Neutral Evil	Chaotic Neutral	Neutral Good	Lawful Neutral
Aerial Servant	Bugbear	Beholder	Blink Dog	Djinni	Larva	Su-Monster
Anhkheg	Chimera	Devil	Brownie	Dragon, Brass	Lich
Ant, Giant	Demon	Dragon, Blue	Couatl	Dragon, Copper	Night Hag
Ape	Dragon, Black	Dragon, Chromatic	Dragon, Bronze	Elf	Nightmare
Axebeak	Dragon, Red	Dragon, Green	Dragon, Gold	Giant, Storm	Wyvern
Baboon	Dragon, White	Eye Of The Deep	Dragon, Platinum	Hippocampus
Badger	Ettin	Ghost	Dragon, Silver	Werebear
Baluchitherium	Gargoyle	Giant, Fire	Dwarf	Pegasus
Barracuda	Ghast	Goblin	Halfling	Sphinx, Andro
Basilisk	Ghoul	Hell Hound	Ki-Rin	Titan
Bear	Giant, Frost	Hobgoblin	Lammasu	Treant
Beaver, Giant	Giant, Hill	Imp	Naga, Guardian	Unicorn
Beetle, Giant	Gnoll	Kobold	Shedu
Black Pudding	Groaning Spirit	Wererat
Boar	Harpy	Manticore
Brain Mole	Intellect Devourer	Medusa
Buffalo	Ixitxachitl	Mind Flayer
Bulette	Jackalwere	Mummy
Bull	Lamia	Ogre Mage
Camel, Wild	Leucrotta	Orc
Carrion Crawler	Werewolf	Rakshasa
Catoblepas	Minotaur	Sahaugin
Cattle, Wild	Morkoth	Spectre
Centaur	Naga, Spirit	Wight
Centipede, Giant	Ogre	Wraith
Cerebral Parasite	Peryton
Cockatrice	Quasit
Crab, Giant	Roper
Crayfish, Giant	Salamander
Crocodile	Sea Hag
Dinosaur	Shadow
Displacer Beast	Sphinx, Hieraco
Dog	Spider, Giant
Dolphin	Troglodyte
Doppleganger	Troll
Dragonne	Umber Hulk
Dragon Turtle	Vampire
Dryad	Water Weird
Eagle	Will-O-Wisp
Earseeker
Eel
Efreeti
Elemental
Elephant
Eye, Floating
Flightless Bird
Frog, Giant
Fungi
Gar, Giant
Gas Spore
Gelatinous Cube
Giant, Cloud
Giant, Stone
Gnome
Goat
Golem
Gorgon
Grey Ooze
Green Slime
Griffon
Herd Animal
Hippogriff
Hippopotamus
Hydra
Hyena
Hyena, Giant
Invisible Stalker
Irish Deer
Jackal
Jaguar
Lamprey
Leech
Leopard
Leprechaun
Lion
Lizard
Lizard Man
Locathah
Lurker Above
Wereboar
Weretiger
Lynx, Giant
Mammoth
Masher
Mastodon
Merman
Mimic
Mold
Mule
Naga, Water
Neo-Otyugh
Nixie
Nymph
Ochre Jelly
Octopus, Giant
Otter, Giant
Otyugh
Owl, Giant
Owlbear
Piercer
Pike, Giant
Pixie
Porcupine, Giant
Portugeuse Man-O-War, Giant
Pseudo-Dragon
Purple Worm
Ram, Giant
Rat, Giat
Ray
Remorhaz
Rhinoceros
Roc
Rot Grub
Rust Monster
Satyr
Scorpion, Giant
Sea Horse, Giant
Sea Lion
Shambling Mound
Shark
Shrieker
Skeleton
Skunk, Giant
Slithering Tracker
Slug, Giant
Snake, Giant
Sphinx, Crio
Sphinx, Gyno
Spider
Sprite
Squid, Giant
Stag
Stirge
Strangle Weed
Sylph
Thought-Eater
Tick, Giant
Tiger
Titanothere
Toad, Giant
Trapper
Triton
Turtle
Wasp, Giant
Weasel, Giant
Whale
Wind Walker
Wolf
Wolverine
Xorn
Yeti
Zombie

Notes:

1) Missing: Homonculous (I think they have the alignment of their master or something), Horse (Alignment is "Nil", presumably neutral, but who knows?)
2) "Neutral (Good)", rendered this as neutral. Probably half a dozen cases.
3) "Neutral to Lawful Good" (Gnomes), rendered this as neutral.

Obviously, I got sick of doing this and so it is not perfectly standardised. I will be along in a bit with the "odd cases" so they can be discussed in more detail.

[Wheggi]

Fascinating that there are no specifically LN monsters in the MM. Thank goodness that the modrons in MMII came along to fill that void . . .

- Wheggi

[T. Foster]

Speaking as someone who's made tons of lists like this in the past (for example), I'm glad you did this one so I didn't have to

[Matthew]

Fascinating that there are no specifically LN monsters in the MM. Thank goodness that the modrons in MMII came along to fill that void . . .

- Wheggi

Heh, heh. Technically, no chaotic neutral types really, either. One of those was a mistake on my part, the other is just listed as "chaotic" (Su-Monster).

[edit] Errors I have noticed... bronze dragon accidentally listed as neutral good and centaur as chaotic neutral.

Odd Alignment Designations

Centaur: Neutral-Chaotic Good
Brass Dragon: Chaotic Good (neutral tendencies)
Efreeti: Neutral (tend towards lawful evil)
Cloud Giant: Neutral (good 50%, evil 50%)
Gnomes: Neutral to Lawful Good
Larva: Evil
Lich: Neutral (Evil)
Bandit (Brigand): Neutral (Chaotic Evil)
Berserker: Neutral
Buccaneer (Pirate): Neutral (Chaotic Evil)
Caveman (Tribesman): Neutral
Dervish (Nomad): Lawful Good (Neutral)
Merchant: Neutral
Pilgrim: Lawful Good, Chaotic Good, Neutral, Chaotic Evil, or Lawful Evil
Night Hag: Neutral (Evil)
Nightmare: Neutral (Evil)
Nymph: Neutral (Good)
Giant Octopus: Neutral (Evil)
Pseudo-Dragon: Neutral (Good)
Rat, Giant: Neutral (Evil)
Sprite: Neutral (Good)
Su Monster: Chaotic
Sylph: Neutral (Good)
Triton: Neutral (Good)
Dire Wolf (Worg): Neutral (Evil)
Winter Wolf: Neutral (Evil)
Wolverine: Neutral (Evil)
Giant Wolverine: Neutral (Evil)
Wyvern: Neutral (Evil)

Speaking as someone who's made tons of lists like this in the past (for example), I'm glad you did this one so I didn't have to

Heh, heh; glad it amounts to something.

[Benoist]

Fascinating that there are no specifically LN monsters in the MM. Thank goodness that the modrons in MMII came along to fill that void . . .

- Wheggi

It is strange, in the sense that LN entries could have been both used as allies or opponents to the PCs' efforts, whether they ended up as specific retainers, or hirelings, or minions or chiefs to the opponent forces. LN seems to be such a "kill two birds with one stone" alignment as far as NPCs/Monsters are concerned that it's a bit surprising to not see ANY of them in the MM.

[Matthew]

It is strange, in the sense that LN entries could have been both used as allies or opponents to the PCs' efforts, whether they ended up as specific retainers, or hirelings, or minions or chiefs to the opponent forces. LN seems to be such a "kill two birds with one stone" alignment as far as NPCs/Monsters are concerned that it's a bit surprising to not see ANY of them in the MM.

It might actually shed some light on a developmental strand of AD&D. One of the issues with clerics is though they cannot be neutral, they can be lawful neutral or chaotic neutral, yet the DMG does not seem to give a toss for the thought when it comes to turn undead. However, if at some transitionary period Gygax envisioned only seven alignments, all of which apart from "true neutral" are aligned with good and evil, it would make some sense.

[Juju EyeBall]

Great table. I'm going to format myself a copy to print out.

[AxeMental]

Matt, you are a credit to this site. Thanks! This is something I've always wanted to see. Helpful too see who might mingle.

[Ron]

Funny the absence of LN critters. I would argue that most organized societies would at least tend to Lawful Neutral.

[Falconer]

Interesting. In 1977, the 5-alignment grid was in effect (CG, LG, N, CE, LE), but it looks like for this work Gary was starting to feel its constraints and wanted to describe many monsters that didn’t quite snap into the 5-alignment grid. A year later in the PHB he would formalize 9 alignments, with the illustration in the back showing how to designate characters with “tendencies”.

[Matthew]

Here is the table rejiggered and standardised to show exactly what is written in the Monster Manual:

Neutral	Chaotic Evil	Lawful Evil	Lawful Good	Chaotic Good	Neutral (Evil)	Neutral (Good)	Chaotic	Evil
Aerial Servant	Bugbear	Beholder	Blink Dog	Djinni	Lich	Nymph	Su-Monster	Larva
Anhkheg	Chimera	Devil	Brownie	Dragon, Brass	Night Hag	Pseudo-Dragon
Ant, Giant	Demon	Dragon, Blue	Couatl	Dragon, Copper	Nightmare	Sprite
Ape	Dragon, Black	Dragon, Chromatic	Dragon, Bronze	Elf	Octopus, Giant	Sylph
Axebeak	Dragon, Red	Dragon, Green	Dragon, Gold	Giant, Storm	Wolf, Dire	Triton
Baboon	Dragon, White	Eye Of The Deep	Dragon, Platinum	Hippocampus	Wolf, Winter
Badger	Ettin	Ghost	Dragon, Silver	Werebear	Wolverine
Baluchitherium	Gargoyle	Giant, Fire	Dwarf	Pegasus	Wyvern
Barracuda	Ghast	Goblin	Halfling	Sphinx, Andro
Basilisk	Ghoul	Hell Hound	Ki-Rin	Titan
Bear	Giant, Frost	Hobgoblin	Lammasu	Treant
Beaver, Giant	Giant, Hill	Imp	Naga, Guardian	Unicorn
Beetle, Giant	Gnoll	Kobold	Shedu
Black Pudding	Groaning Spirit	Wererat
Boar	Harpy	Manticore
Brain Mole	Intellect Devourer	Medusa
Buffalo	Ixitxachitl	Mind Flayer
Bulette	Jackalwere	Mummy
Bull	Lamia	Ogre Mage
Camel, Wild	Leucrotta	Orc
Carrion Crawler	Werewolf	Rakshasa
Catoblepas	Minotaur	Sahaugin
Cattle, Wild	Morkoth	Spectre
Centaur	Naga, Spirit	Wight
Centipede, Giant	Ogre	Wraith
Cerebral Parasite	Peryton
Cockatrice	Quasit
Crab, Giant	Roper
Crayfish, Giant	Salamander
Crocodile	Sea Hag
Dinosaur	Shadow
Displacer Beast	Sphinx, Hieraco
Dog	Spider, Giant
Dolphin	Troglodyte
Doppleganger	Troll
Dragonne	Umber Hulk
Dragon Turtle	Vampire
Dryad	Water Weird
Eagle	Will-O-Wisp
Earseeker
Eel
Efreeti
Elemental
Elephant
Eye, Floating
Flightless Bird
Frog, Giant
Fungi
Gar, Giant
Gas Spore
Gelatinous Cube
Giant, Cloud
Giant, Stone
Gnome
Goat
Golem
Gorgon
Grey Ooze
Green Slime
Griffon
Herd Animal
Hippogriff
Hippopotamus
Horse
Hydra
Hyena, Giant
Invisible Stalker
Irish Deer
Jackal
Jaguar
Lamprey
Leech
Leopard
Leprechaun
Lion
Lizard
Lizard Man
Locathah
Lurker Above
Wereboar
Weretiger
Lynx, Giant
Mammoth
Masher
Mastodon
Merman
Mimic
Mold
Mule
Naga, Water
Neo-Otyugh
Nixie
Ochre Jelly
Otter, Giant
Otyugh
Owl, Giant
Owlbear
Piercer
Pike, Giant
Pixie
Porcupine, Giant
Portugeuse Man-O-War, Giant
Purple Worm
Ram, Giant
Ray
Remorhaz
Rhinoceros
Roc
Rot Grub
Rust Monster
Satyr
Scorpion, Giant
Sea Horse, Giant
Sea Lion
Shambling Mound
Shark
Shrieker
Skeleton
Skunk, Giant
Slithering Tracker
Slug, Giant
Snake, Giant
Sphinx, Crio
Sphinx, Gyno
Spider
Squid, Giant
Stag
Stirge
Strangle Weed
Thought-Eater
Tick, Giant
Tiger
Titanothere
Toad, Giant
Trapper
Turtle
Wasp, Giant
Weasel, Giant
Whale
Wind Walker
Wolf
Xorn
Yeti
Zombie

Notes

1) Homonculous: No alignment listed, possibly that of their master
2) Centaur: Neutral-Chaotic Good
3) Brass Dragon: Chaotic Good (neutral tendencies)
4) Efreeti: Neutral (tend towards lawful evil)
5) Cloud Giant: Neutral (good 50%, evil 50%)
6) Gnomes: Neutral to Lawful Good
7) Bandit (Brigand): Neutral (Chaotic Evil)
8) Berserker: Neutral
9) Buccaneer (Pirate): Neutral (Chaotic Evil)
10) Caveman (Tribesman): Neutral
11) Dervish (Nomad): Lawful Good (Neutral)
12) Merchant: Neutral
13) Pilgrim: Lawful Good, Chaotic Good, Neutral, Chaotic Evil, or Lawful Evil

Great table. I'm going to format myself a copy to print out.

Matt, you are a credit to this site. Thanks! This is something I've always wanted to see. Helpful too see who might mingle.

Glad to be of service!

Funny the absence of LN critters. I would argue that most organized societies would at least tend to Lawful Neutral.

I would think the same, with regard to humans Gygax said:

As a final note, most of humanity falls into the lawful category, and most of lawful humanity lies near the line between good and evil. With proper leadership the majority will be prone towards lawful/good. Few humans are chaotic, and very few are chaotic and evil.

...which I find it easy to agree with in the context even of AD&D.

Interesting. In 1977, the 5-alignment grid was in effect (CG, LG, N, CE, LE), but it looks like for this work Gary was starting to feel its constraints and wanted to describe many monsters that didn’t quite snap into the 5-alignment grid. A year later in the PHB he would formalize 9 alignments, with the illustration in the back showing how to designate characters with “tendencies”.

Indeed. It is interesting to note that these "neutral (good)" and "neutral evil" alignments begin to appear over half-way through the volume from "L" onwards, immediately preceded by the "evil" aligned Larva.

[sepulchre]

Matthew wrote:

I would think the same, with regard to humans Gygax said:

Strategic Review #6, p. 5 wrote:As a final note, most of humanity falls into the lawful category, and most of lawful humanity lies near the line between good and evil. With proper leadership the majority will be prone towards lawful/good. Few humans are chaotic, and very few are chaotic and evil.

...which I find it easy to agree with in the context even of AD&D.

I was thinking about humanity and law too, as Aristotle noted, humanity, being a political animal, 'if we are not of the city (that of laws, of politics), then we are either of beasts, or of gods' (which place us in the hold of other alignment possibilities so to speak). Here, Aristotle is talking about being and attachment, 'how' - or more appropriately 'what' one 'is' by both metaphysical and physical association. I think Gygax's thoughts on humanity and alignment fall right in line with this ancient paradigm. Thanks for the good find too!