Check your DMG for this item's full description, if needed.
The last paragraph states "Fully 50% of these horns are aligned and will summon only fighters of the horn's alignment. A radical alignment difference will cause the horn blower to be attacked by the fighters."
Now the questions:
1) If the blower is NOT of a radically different alignment (my second question gets to that point) but does differ from the instrument's alignment, does it really matter?
Ex: a Neutrally aligned horn summons Neutral berserkers. If the person blowing the horn is of a class that CAN use the horn but is NOT Neutrally aligned (but not of a radically different alignment...see question 2 below), is that an issue? Do the warriors still obey the horn-blower? Is a reaction roll required for their obedience? It really doesn't say. I'm under the impression that the berserkers STILL obey the horn-blower SO LONG as he/she is NOT of the radically different alignment.
2) What is the definition of a radically different alignment? I'm relying on my 1e knowledge on this one to mean the following:
LG vs CE, LE vs CG, NG vs NE, LN vs CN (and vice versa for all previously typed abbreviations), whereas true N is opposed by LG, LE, CG, and CE!
Or is radical alignment even more broad than that?
Purely by the rules, the horn should work for any character whose class allows them to use the horn. The only thing the blower needs to worry about is if the horn happens to be of a 'radically different alignment'.
I can't give you actual references, but I am certain I have heard that phrase used in official material. To me, it has always meant 'opposite' alignments. Thus, as you mentioned, LG vs. CE, CG vs. LE.
Whether you consider NE vs. LG/CG or NG vs. LE/CE to be radically different is your prerogative. I don't know that it is ever specifically defined, officially.
I think it would be a reasonable house rule by a DM to incorporate reaction rolls into the equation when the horn summons warriors of any alignment different than that of the blower. Adjustments to the roll would be more severe depending upon the degree of difference between alignments. _________________ SirXaris' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SirXaris?ref=hl
I think I would probably go with Good vs. Evil and to a lesser extent Chaos versus Law, making True Neutral a safe place to be to use one. So a CG person would be fine using anything other than a LN, LE, NE, and CE horn.
Going by the rules as written, the only time the beserkers don't "gladly attack anyone the possessor of the horn commands them to fight" are when the horn is blown by a class group unable to use the horn or if the alignment is radically different. So in line with the other responses, it all depends on what you class as radically different.
Generally I'd say two alignment steps away is fairly radical (so 2 steps on one axis, or at least one step on both axes). You might want to be lenient if there is a shared Good alignment though - LG and CG doesn't seem particularly radical but LE vs. CE does.
I agree, if the class is correct and alignment not radically different, all is well.
Wolfling seems to have a pretty good opinion of it. I like the two steps idea.
I still can't help but think a DM could have some fun with this item if the alignments didn't work out just right. Or the class was wrong. The ensuing encounter could be quite interesting if developed more than just warriors arrive, your alignments are wrong, they attack you.
I agree with Wolfling. Two diferential steps or more out of agreement is a good guide. That would give us the following:
Alignment: Radically Different Alignments
LG: TN, CN, Any Evil
NG: Any Evil
CG: LN, TN, Any Evil
LN: CG, CE
TN: LG, CG, LE, CE
CN: LG, LE
LE: TN, CN, Any Good
NE: Any Good
CE: LN, TN, Any Good _________________ - Moderator/Admin (in some areas)/Member -
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