Alignment¶
Alignment is the backbone of who your character is and what they represent. In Baldur's Gate II it has less day-to-day mechanical impact than Reputation, but it sets your starting reputation and gates some classes.
The nine alignments and starting reputation¶
Your starting alignment determines your starting reputation score:
| Alignment | Starting Reputation |
|---|---|
| Lawful Good | 12 |
| Neutral Good | 11 |
| Chaotic Good | 11 |
| Lawful Neutral | 10 |
| True Neutral | 10 |
| Chaotic Neutral | 10 |
| Lawful Evil | 9 |
| Neutral Evil | 9 |
| Chaotic Evil | 8 |
Reputation is the practical application of those beliefs. If your reputation doesn't match your alignment, your character may suffer consequences. Joinable companions may agree with the current reputation based on their alignment or may decide they're unhappy with the party while you're playing.
Class restrictions¶
Several classes require a specific alignment to take or to keep:
- Paladins must be Lawful Good. If party reputation falls below 6, Paladins lose their class abilities.
- Rangers must be of a good alignment. If party reputation falls below 4, Rangers lose their class abilities.
- In either case, the character becomes "Fallen".
- Blackguards (a Paladin kit) are exempt — they may have as high or low a reputation as they desire.
Party reactions¶
Joinable companions may agree with your party's reputation based on their alignment — or decide they're unhappy with the direction you're taking. See Reputation → Effects on party members.
Source: bg2ee/original_manuals/baldurs_gate_2_ee_mastering_melee_and_magic.pdf — "Effects of Reputation and Alignment" → "Alignment".