diff --git a/doc/Guidebook.mn b/doc/Guidebook.mn
index 5176c7ad8..5d17fd53c 100644
--- a/doc/Guidebook.mn
+++ b/doc/Guidebook.mn
@@ -3671,12 +3671,16 @@ applies only to new games.
 Enable messages about what your character hears (default on).
 Note that this has nothing to do with your computer's audio capabilities.
 Persistent.
-.lp align
-Your starting alignment (align:lawful, align:neutral, or align:chaotic).
+.lp alignment
+Your starting alignment (\f(CRalign:lawful\fP, \f(CRalign:neutral\fP, or
+\f(CRalign:chaotic\fP).
 You may specify just the first letter.
-The default is to randomly pick an appropriate alignment.
-If you prefix the value with \(oq!\(cq or \(lqno\(rq, you will
-exclude that alignment from being picked randomly.
+Many roles and the non-human races restrict which alignments are allowed.
+See
+.op role
+for a description of how to use negation to exclude choices.
+.lp ""
+Default is random.
 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
 Persistent.
 .lp autodescribe
@@ -3877,14 +3881,21 @@ You should set this to something you find more appetizing than slime mold.
 Apples, oranges, pears, bananas, and melons
 already exist in NetHack, so don't use those.
 .lp gender
-Your starting gender (gender:male or gender:female).
+Your starting gender (\f(CRgender:male\fP or \f(CRgender:female\fP).
 You may specify just the first letter.
 Although you can
-still denote your gender using the \(lqmale\(rq and \(lqfemale\(rq
-options, the \(lqgender\(rq option will take precedence.
-The default is to randomly pick an appropriate gender.
-If you prefix the value with \(oq!\(cq or \(lqno\(rq, you will
-exclude that gender from being picked randomly.
+still denote your gender using either of the deprecated
+.op male
+and
+.op female
+options, if the
+.op gender
+option is also present it will take precedence.
+See
+.op role
+for a description of how to use negation to exclude choices.
+.lp ""
+Default is random.
 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
 Persistent.
 .lp "goldX   "
@@ -4287,23 +4298,50 @@ It does not affect the clairvoyance spell where pausing to examine revealed
 objects or monsters is less intrusive.
 Default is off.  Persistent.
 .lp "race    "
-Selects your race (for example, \(lqrace:human\(rq).
+Selects your race (for example, \f(CRrace:human\fP).
+Choices are \f(CRhuman\fP, \f(CRdwarf\fP, \f(CRelf\fP, \f(CRgnome\fP, and
+\f(CRorc\fP but most roles restrict which of the non-human races are allowed.
+See
+.op role
+for a description of how to use negation to exclude choices.
+.lp ""
 Default is random.
-If you prefix the value with \(oq!\(cq or \(lqno\(rq, you will
-exclude that race from being picked randomly.
 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
 Persistent.
 .lp rest_on_space
 Make the space bar a synonym for the \(oq.\(cq (#wait) command (default off).
 Persistent.
 .lp "role    "
-Pick your type of character (for example \(lqrole:Samurai\(rq);
-synonym for \(lqcharacter\(rq.
-See \(lqname\(rq for an alternate method of specifying your role.
-Normally only the first letter of the value is examined; \(oqr\(cq is an
-exception with \(lqRogue\(rq, \(lqRanger\(rq, and \(lqrandom\(rq values.
-If you prefix the value with \(oq!\(cq or \(lqno\(rq, you will
-exclude that role from being picked randomly.
+Pick your type of character (for example, \f(CRrole:Samurai\fP);
+synonym for
+.op character.
+See
+.op name
+for an alternate method of specifying your role.
+.\" Normally only the first letter of the value is examined; \(oqr\(cq is an
+.\" exception with \(lqRogue\(rq, \(lqRanger\(rq, and \(lqrandom\(rq values.
+.lp ""
+This option can also be used to limit selection when role is chosen
+randomly.
+Use a space-separated list of roles and either negate each one or negate
+the option itself instead.
+Negation is accomplished in the same manner as with \fIboolean options\fP,
+by prefixing the option or its value(s) with \(oq!\(cq or \(lqno\(rq.
+.BR 0
+Examples:
+.sd
+.ft CR \" constant-width Roman
+OPTIONS=role:!arc !bar !kni
+OPTIONS=!role:arc bar kni
+.ft \" revert to previous font
+.ed
+There can be multiple instances of the
+.op role
+option if they're all negations.
+.\" Only one positive value is allowed, and if present, it overrides any
+.\" negations.
+.lp ""
+Default is \f(CRrandom\fP.
 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
 Persistent.
 .lp roguesymset
diff --git a/include/optlist.h b/include/optlist.h
index 678878cf8..f992fa9f7 100644
--- a/include/optlist.h
+++ b/include/optlist.h
@@ -115,16 +115,16 @@ static int optfn_##a(int, int, boolean, char *, char *);
                 No, Yes, No, No, NoAlias,
                 "your character's name (e.g., name:Merlin-W)")
     NHOPTC(role, Advanced, PL_CSIZ, opt_in, set_gameview,
-                No, Yes, No, No, "character",
+                Yes, Yes, No, No, "character",
                 "your starting role (e.g., Barbarian, Valkyrie)")
     NHOPTC(race, Advanced, PL_CSIZ, opt_in, set_gameview,
-                No, Yes, No, No, NoAlias,
+                Yes, Yes, No, No, NoAlias,
                 "your starting race (e.g., Human, Elf)")
     NHOPTC(gender, Advanced, 8, opt_in, set_gameview,
-                No, Yes, No, No, NoAlias,
+                Yes, Yes, No, No, NoAlias,
                 "your starting gender (male or female)")
-    NHOPTC(align, Advanced, 8, opt_in, set_gameview,
-                No, Yes, No, No, NoAlias,
+    NHOPTC(alignment, Advanced, 8, opt_in, set_gameview,
+                Yes, Yes, No, No, "align",
                 "your starting alignment (lawful, neutral, or chaotic)")
     /* end of special ordering; remainder of entries are in alphabetical order
      */
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index ee251a183..036186b32 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -575,7 +575,12 @@ check_misc_menu_command(char *opts, char *op UNUSED)
  */
 
 static int
-optfn_align(int optidx, int req, boolean negated, char *opts, char *op)
+optfn_alignment(
+    int optidx,
+    int req,
+    boolean negated,
+    char *opts,
+    char *op)
 {
     if (req == do_init) {
         return optn_ok;
@@ -7463,38 +7468,84 @@ count_menucolors(void)
     return count;
 }
 
+/* parse 'role' or 'race' or 'gender' or 'alignment' */
 static boolean
-parse_role_opts(int optidx, boolean negated, const char *fullname,
-                char *opts, char **opp)
+parse_role_opts(
+    int optidx,
+    boolean negated,
+    const char *fullname,
+    char *opts,
+    char **opp)
 {
     char *op = *opp;
+    boolean ok = FALSE;
 
-    if (negated) {
-        bad_negation(fullname, FALSE);
-    } else if ((op = string_for_env_opt(fullname, opts, FALSE))
-                                        != empty_optstr) {
-        boolean val_negated = FALSE;
+    /*
+     * Accepts multiple forms
+     *  role:priest       -- play as priest
+     *  race:!orc         -- any race other than orc
+     *  role:!cav !mon    -- any role other than caveman/cavewoman or monk
+     *  !role:tour        -- any role other than tourist
+     *  !role:tou rog wiz -- any role other than tourist or rogue or wizard
+     * TODO: add support for
+     *  role:arc bar kni  -- only role archeologist or barbarian or knight
+     * Rejected:
+     *  role:sam !val     -+ invalid; need either positive or negative subset
+     *  !role:!sam        +- not a mixture of the two and not dual negation.
+     */
+    if ((op = string_for_env_opt(fullname, opts, FALSE)) != empty_optstr) {
+        char *sp;
+        boolean val_negated, prev_negated = FALSE, first = TRUE;
 
-        while ((*op == '!') || !strncmpi(op, "no", 2)) {
-            if (*op == '!')
-                op++;
-            else
-                op += 2;
-            val_negated = !val_negated;
-        }
-        if (val_negated) {
-            if (!setrolefilter(op)) {
-                config_error_add("Unknown negated parameter '%s'", op);
+        while (*op) {
+            val_negated = FALSE;
+            while ((*op == '!') || !strncmpi(op, "no", 2)) {
+                val_negated = !val_negated;
+                op += (*op == '!') ? 1 : (op[2] != '-') ? 2 : 3;
+            }
+            if (!*op) {
+                config_error_add("Negated nothing for '%s'", fullname);
                 return FALSE;
             }
-        } else {
-            if (duplicate && !allopt[optidx].dupeok)
-                complain_about_duplicate(optidx);
-            *opp = op;
-            return TRUE;
+            if (!first) {
+                if ((val_negated ^ prev_negated)
+                    || (negated && val_negated)) {
+                    config_error_add("Invalid mixed negation for '%s%s'",
+                                     negated ? "!" : "", fullname);
+                    return FALSE;
+                } else if (!negated && !val_negated) {
+                    config_error_add(
+                    "Multiple role values only allowed when list is negated");
+                    return FALSE;
+                }
+            }
+            first = FALSE;
+            prev_negated = val_negated;
+
+            sp = strchr(op, ' ');
+            if (sp)
+                *sp = '\0';
+            if (val_negated || negated) {
+                if (!setrolefilter(op)) {
+                    config_error_add("Invalid '%s'", fullname);
+                    return FALSE;
+                }
+            } else {
+                if (duplicate && !allopt[optidx].dupeok)
+                    complain_about_duplicate(optidx);
+                *opp = op;
+                ok = TRUE;
+            }
+
+            if (sp) {
+                *sp = ' ';
+                op = sp + 1;
+            } else {
+                op += strlen(op); /* break; */
+            }
         }
     }
-    return FALSE;
+    return ok;
 }
 
 /* Check if character c is illegal as a menu command key */