Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
B/X D&D’s three-alignment system — Law, Neutral, and Chaos — is the original 1974 alignment system Gygax and Arneson shipped with, restored by Moldvay and Cook’s 1981 Basic/Expert rules after Holmes’ five-alignment patch and AD&D’s full nine-alignment grid came and went.
🔥 JOIN THE MINIONS: youtube.com/@TenkarsTavern/join
Everyone assumes B/X only having three alignments — Law, Neutral, Chaos — is the stripped-down version of Dungeons & Dragons. It's the opposite. Three alignments is what Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson actually shipped in 1974, built on the Law-versus-Chaos cosmology of Poul Anderson's Three Hearts and Three Lions and Michael Moorcock's Elric novels. Good and Evil didn't show up until 1976. Holmes' 1977 Basic Set grafted on an unfinished five-alignment patch. AD&D's 1978 Player's Handbook finished the full nine-alignment grid everyone pictures today. Moldvay and Cook's 1981 B/X went back to the original three — and this video walks through the actual rulebook mechanics (alignment languages, reaction rolls, Protection from Evil, Know Alignment) that prove three alignments still does everything nine never earns its keep doing.
This video is one leg of a three-way, independent-takes collab — no rebuttals, just three OSR creators making their own case for their preferred alignment system this week.
DM Angelo: youtube.com/watch?v=wcYMAUmX5qk
Greyhawk Grognard: youtube.com/watch?v=pnMTaKIYPfc
The Tavern Rules: We’re here for B/X and OSR gaming. I use AI as a tool to help organize and format my notes, but every ruling and opinion is 100% Tenkar. Keep it civil, keep it old-school, or the bouncer will show you the door.
Basic Rules (Moldvay) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110274/d-d-basic-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?src=newest_print&affiliate_id=1446
Expert Rules (Marsh/Cook) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110792/d-d-expert-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?affiliate_id=1446
00:00 - The 10-Minute Alignment Argument
01:19 - Why B/X Reverted to 3 Alignments
02:18 - The Evolution of Alignment (1974–1981)
04:33 - Poul Anderson & Michael Moorcock’s Influence
06:23 - How 3 Alignments Actually Function in Play
09:21 - The Problem with Holmes Basic & 9-Box Grids
11:32 - The OSR DM Round-Table Challenge
Join The Tavern’s Discord Server (It's Free):
discord.gg/fReGmuD
Buy me a Beer!
ko-fi.com/tenkar
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The Tavern uses Restream for its livestreams and its long-form videos. You can too! restream.io/join/g5Qpgr
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Master Minion: mortgagemike77, Randt Chrockett, Eric Fox, The Veteran DM, Cathulhu17, Don Bakke, DoubleDeuce, skink, Kore44, Louis Feurino, Craig Aylward, Anthon Kron, Ijimisan, Terry Taylor, blahlbinoa, Arbiter's Archive, Dean Salsberry, DM Angelo, Douglas Pearson, James Spahn, Mathew Sherman, Agile Monk
Companion Minions: Andrey Zharinov, Brett C, Spode Racing, Tacoloco787, Adam Lovell, Plush Cthulhu, DM_Sahrenyth, Gabe Guerrero, Chris Charlton, Chris Blatnick, Nicodemus ShadowCaster, Christopher Beattie, No one, Stephen Klow, Mark the Shark, Eupolemos, Jay, Martin Penny, tim cafferty, Rubens Barrichello, Curt Gould, Estaban Vasquez, Glen K. Amo
youtube.com/channel/UCIdpAASpAI7vu-bZx6pP_mQ
#OSR #DnD #BXDnD #TTRPG #TenkarsTavern #DnDHistory #Alignment
B/X D&D’s three-alignment system — Law, Neutral, and Chaos — is the original 1974 alignment system Gygax and Arneson shipped with, restored by Moldvay and Cook’s 1981 Basic/Expert rules after Holmes’ five-alignment patch and AD&D’s full nine-alignment grid came and went.
🔥 JOIN THE MINIONS: youtube.com/@TenkarsTavern/join
Everyone assumes B/X only having three alignments — Law, Neutral, Chaos — is the stripped-down version of Dungeons & Dragons. It's the opposite. Three alignments is what Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson actually shipped in 1974, built on the Law-versus-Chaos cosmology of Poul Anderson's Three Hearts and Three Lions and Michael Moorcock's Elric novels. Good and Evil didn't show up until 1976. Holmes' 1977 Basic Set grafted on an unfinished five-alignment patch. AD&D's 1978 Player's Handbook finished the full nine-alignment grid everyone pictures today. Moldvay and Cook's 1981 B/X went back to the original three — and this video walks through the actual rulebook mechanics (alignment languages, reaction rolls, Protection from Evil, Know Alignment) that prove three alignments still does everything nine never earns its keep doing.
This video is one leg of a three-way, independent-takes collab — no rebuttals, just three OSR creators making their own case for their preferred alignment system this week.
DM Angelo: youtube.com/watch?v=wcYMAUmX5qk
Greyhawk Grognard: youtube.com/watch?v=pnMTaKIYPfc
The Tavern Rules: We’re here for B/X and OSR gaming. I use AI as a tool to help organize and format my notes, but every ruling and opinion is 100% Tenkar. Keep it civil, keep it old-school, or the bouncer will show you the door.
Basic Rules (Moldvay) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110274/d-d-basic-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?src=newest_print&affiliate_id=1446
Expert Rules (Marsh/Cook) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110792/d-d-expert-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?affiliate_id=1446
00:00 - The 10-Minute Alignment Argument
01:19 - Why B/X Reverted to 3 Alignments
02:18 - The Evolution of Alignment (1974–1981)
04:33 - Poul Anderson & Michael Moorcock’s Influence
06:23 - How 3 Alignments Actually Function in Play
09:21 - The Problem with Holmes Basic & 9-Box Grids
11:32 - The OSR DM Round-Table Challenge
Join The Tavern’s Discord Server (It's Free):
discord.gg/fReGmuD
Buy me a Beer!
ko-fi.com/tenkar
The Tavern uses affiliate links - using our affiliate links supports the channel without costing you anything extra.
Humble Bundle: humblebundleinc.sjv.io/da4WJ2
The Tavern’s Amazon Storefront: amzn.to/41Jm0oG
DriveThruRPG: drivethrurpg.com/en/?affiliate_id=1446
Fantasy Grounds VTT: affiliates.fantasygrounds.com/388855/15958
The Tavern uses Restream for its livestreams and its long-form videos. You can too! restream.io/join/g5Qpgr
The Tavern also uses VidIQ: vidiq.com/TenkarsTavern
Master Minion: mortgagemike77, Randt Chrockett, Eric Fox, The Veteran DM, Cathulhu17, Don Bakke, DoubleDeuce, skink, Kore44, Louis Feurino, Craig Aylward, Anthon Kron, Ijimisan, Terry Taylor, blahlbinoa, Arbiter's Archive, Dean Salsberry, DM Angelo, Douglas Pearson, James Spahn, Mathew Sherman, Agile Monk
Companion Minions: Andrey Zharinov, Brett C, Spode Racing, Tacoloco787, Adam Lovell, Plush Cthulhu, DM_Sahrenyth, Gabe Guerrero, Chris Charlton, Chris Blatnick, Nicodemus ShadowCaster, Christopher Beattie, No one, Stephen Klow, Mark the Shark, Eupolemos, Jay, Martin Penny, tim cafferty, Rubens Barrichello, Curt Gould, Estaban Vasquez, Glen K. Amo
youtube.com/channel/UCIdpAASpAI7vu-bZx6pP_mQ
#OSR #DnD #BXDnD #TTRPG #TenkarsTavern #DnDHistory #Alignment
