True neutral (generally shortened to just neutral) is one of the nine alignments that represent a creature's general moral and personal attitudes.
The Undecided[]
A neutral character does what seems to be a good idea. She doesn't feel strongly one way or the other when it comes to good vs. evil or law vs. chaos. Most neutral characters exhibit a lack of conviction or bias rather than a commitment to neutrality. Such a character thinks of good as better than evil -- after all, she would rather have good neighbors and rulers than evil ones. Still, she’s not personally committed to upholding good in any abstract or universal way. As an example Mialee, a wizard who devotes herself to her art and is bored by the semantics of moral debate, is neutral.
Some neutral characters, on the other hand, commit themselves philosophically to neutrality. They see good, evil, law, and chaos as prejudices and dangerous extremes. They advocate the middle way of neutrality as the best, most balanced road in the long run, and sometimes find themselves forced into rather peculiar alliances. To a great extent, they are compelled to side with the underdog in any given situation, sometimes changing sides as the previous loser becomes the winner. A true neutral druid might join the local barony to put down a tribe of evil gnolls, only to drop out or switch sides when the gnolls are brought to the brink of destruction. He would seek to prevent either side from becoming too powerful.
Neutral is the alignment which means you act naturally, without prejudice or compulsion. Most animals and other creatures (like constructs) have this alignment because of their lack in mental capacity of morally right or wrong behavior (on the scale of sentient races).
Most True Neutral characters are loyal to friends, family, and themselves. Their philosophy tends to be something along the lines of "Live and let live." True Neutral is the most common alignment among Humans.
True Neutral characters are not required to "commit a good act for every evil act"; they are far more likely to simply prefer to stay uninvolved. True Neutral characters are generally more undecided or indifferent than actively committed to balance; they tend to have few strong ethical or moral opinions. Many are simply devoted to something unrelated to ethics, like magic, profit, or their own safety.
The NPC Rogue Tiefling known as Neeshka is True Neutral, but her personality comes off as chaotic neutral. PCs who refuse to let her steal or have her own way will lose influence with her.
Fictional Examples[]
- C3P0 (Star Wars)
- Raistlin Majere (Dragonlance), while wearing the Red Robes
- Tom Bombadil (Lord of the Rings)