Shadow-aligned vs. Lunar-aligned vs.... need at least a 3rd side

[Uncrushed]

Preamble

Once again, there was interesting discussion on Legokirbytwin's twitch stream.  With the conflict accelerating between the Shadow Creatures and the Lunar ones, which character would align with which side?  They felt Maxwell was definitely Shadow-aligned, but were less sure about Woody being Lunar-aligned because the moon hadn't really done him any favors.  Good points, but Maxwell kind of defected (or was dethroned) and one does not necessarily love the master they serve (Woody).

Suggestion 1

I want to suggest that you have at least 3 sides.  I don't know if the 3rd side is "nature" or daylight, or seasons, or pigs-and-merms united by a common enemy...  A conflict is much more interesting if there are more than 2 sides.  That's my suggestion.  It also fits with a major theme of the game: "Let's you and them fight!"

Suggestion 2

I really like that D&D 5e seems to be doing away with alignment in favor of Ideals and Bonds.  The whole good and evil spectrum is too simplistic to be interesting.  IRL, my good is sometimes your evil and vice-versa.  I love what you're doing in the game with pigs and merms having a feud, and many monsters seem to get along or aggro on other monsters differently.  So maybe having the sides less clear-cut is even better.

Also

I don't think the characters should be aligned in general - I'd rather leave it up to the player.  Alliances are best if they are changing anyway.  Setting them in stone would mean fewer hard choices for the character/player.

[Dr.Webber]

I was thinking something similar where Webber’s two sides would pick different alignments and they would synchronize and create a new power and maybe a couple of the other survivors would be like, “there on to something” and back them up for a share of this new power

[bloopah]

Can't the so-called third side just be "neutral/none"? Having an additional side with whatever along with the other established sides would just make it extremely confusing.

[Dr.Webber]

It can be neutral and stay  out  of the conflict when possible the third wife is a fusion of the other so it’s more adding on to  what’s pre established  rather then adding something new entirely 

[goodguythatguy]

I'm thinking the concept of Science Aligned could be a nice fit for a 3rd "side".
The forces of Science aren't friends or enemies with Lunar/Nightmare.
The forces of Science keep their feet firmly on the ground, they do not favor the darkness of the caves, nor the light of the moon. 
The forces of Science will utilize whatever is available to them, as long as it will produce consistent, repeatable results that achieve their goals. 

[NNOUS]

i think the lore could be much deeper then that. we dont know the nature of constant yet. only visible is there are lunary and shadow force. which are guided by enlightenment and fear.  they are power of emotion takes shape*. thus socall science is just a mere comment layer between both. 

[JJ0264]

Which side the characters benefit the most/easier path to get to (neutral being neither side)

Lunar-side: Wilson, Wicker, Woodie, Wortox, Wormwood, Wurt, 

Shadow-side: Willow, Wendy, Maxwell, Webber, Winona, Wonky, Wx-78

Neutral-side: Wolfgang, Wes, Wigfrid, Wanda, Walter, Warly

[Moongo]

i personally like to think of the players as the third side
i think the 3 chesspiece colors represent those 3 sides; players being the white pieces, shadows being the black pieces and the moon being the moonglass pieces

this chess dynamic is kind of confirmed in maxwell's animatic, where charlie shows white pieces of the players, while placing a black maxwell piece on the board. the moonglass pieces weren't included, but it's pretty obvious what side it represents.