D&D General A paladin just joined the group. I'm a necromancer.

[FrogReaver]

So basically we are back to my initial argument although a lot more nuanced. That argument was that:

The rule about animating dead frequently being an evil act is an illegitimate rule

 

[Helldritch]

Nope. That act is still evil to the core. An undead is not a gun. An undead is not a sword. It is not a tool either. It is an evil creature. Creating evil creatures is an evil act. That rule is more than legitimate.

 

[Flamestrike]

Eliminating Covid-19?

You cant commit genocide on a virus, any more than you can murder a virus.

 

[Iry]

Of course, nobody knows what constitutes frequently. And it gets even more nebulous when you are repeatedly reanimating the same corpse.

You cant commit genocide on a virus, any more than you can murder a virus.

We would probably fail, but it's definitely something that can be attempted.

 

[Helldritch]

Of course, nobody knows what constitutes frequently. It gets very nebulous when you are repeatedly reanimating the same corpse.

Once is already too much. Redeem yourself or be slain! Heathen!

 

[Captain Panda]

Genocide. Give me a context whereby Genocide is a 'good' act.

Killing all the mosquitoes.

 

[Maxperson]

Of course, nobody knows what constitutes frequently.

This is true and is up to each individual DM to decide.

And it gets even more nebulous when you are repeatedly reanimating the same corpse.

This I disagree with. If you were to kidnap someone and kill them, resuscitate them, kill them again, resuscitate them again, kill them again, etc. You are committing individual evil acts. They don't become lesser just because you are killing the same person over and over.

We would probably fail, but it's definitely something that can be attempted.

Genocide is explicitly against people, so you can't even attempt it. You can try to kill all of them. You can even kill millions of them. It will never be genocide to do so, though. Unless you're killing the virus by killing the people that the virus is in, in which case you are committing genocide. Just not against the virus.

 

[Flamestrike]

Killing all the mosquitoes.

You cant murder a mosquito.

Genocide has a definition:

''the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group.''

 

[Chaosmancer]

You cant murder a mosquito.

Genocide has a definition:

''the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group.''

You know, I gave an extreme sci-fi answer a while ago, but I got to wondering.

If you accept that there is Objective Good and Objective Evil in DnD, and that all monsters with "Evil" in their statblock are guaranteed to be evil. Then I only have one question left.

Is it a Good act to remove evil from the world?

If the answer is yes, here is a list of all the Sentient races that it would be a good act to Genocide

Spoiler: The List

Aboleths
Beholders
Bugbears
Bullywugs
Chuuls
Cloakers
Any Demon or Devil
Any Chromatic Dragon
Duergar
Drow
Ettins
Fomorians
Dao Genies
Efreeti Genies
Fire Giants
Frost Giants
Hill Giants
Githyanki
Gnolls
Goblins
Grell
Grimlocks
Any Hag
Harpies
Hobgoblins
Jackalweres
Kobolds
Krakens
Kuo-Toa
Lamias
Wereboars
Wererats
Werewolves
Manticores
Medusa
Merrows
Mindflayers
Minotaurs
Spirit Nagas
Ogres
Oni
Orcs
Peryton
Rakshasa
Sahuagin
Salamanders
Troglodytes
Trolls
Umber Hulks
Yetis
Yuan-ti
Any Yugoloth
Barghest
Chitines
Cranium Rats
Firenewts
Grung
Leucrotta
Meenlocks
Morkoths
Neogi
Quicklings
Redcaps
Tlincalli
Vargouille
Xvarts
Yeth Hounds
Balhannoths
Berbalangs
Chokers
Derro
Howlers
Ooblex
Any Sorrowsworn
Any Star Spawn

That is 75 examples.

 

[Flamestrike]

Is it a Good act to remove evil from the world?

Yes it is, but not with genocide.

''Hey look - that [evil] race is using murder, slavery, torture and genocide!''

''We're the good guys. Lets murder them, torture them, enslave them and wipe them all out! It's the only good thing to do!''

If you murder, or torture, or enslave, or commit genocide or rape, or anything of that nature, it doesn't matter what your ends are. You're evil.

For what its worth, there are plenty of evil people fighting for a good cause. They're the guys and gals prepared to get their hands dirty and do what needs to be done for 'the greater good.'

Doesn't make them any less evil.