detecting evil and flesh to stone

[Gundark]

my group recently defeated a beholder. one of the party died and 2 others where turned to stone. There were other advetnures/theives/etc. that were turned to stone before the party arrived. My party wants to turn back to flesh the good npcs. The Paladin wants to know whether or not she can use her detect evil ability on a person that is turned to stone? Can she?

 

[hong]

According to the DMG, being petrified is basically like being mostly dead. And as we all know, mostly dead is very different to all dead. So there's no reason detect evil wouldn't work.

 

[hammymchamham]

I think this falls under DM call, but I personally would rule the same as Hong

Hammy "Almost as cool as Hong" HamHam

 

[Dr_Rictus]

You know, I'm almost sure the DMG does not use the phrase "like being mostly dead." Let's see what it really says...

What it really says is that you cannot move or take actions, even purely mental ones, and that your senses do not operate. I don't see any indication that you stop having an alignment any more than you do at any other time when you are not conscious.

 

[Artoomis]

Petrified
A petrified character is not dead as long as a majority of his body remains intact. He cannot move or take actions of any kind, not even purely mental ones. His Strength and Dexterity scores are effectively (but not actually) 0. He is unaware of what occurs around him, since all of his senses have ceased operating. If a petrified character cracks or breaks but the broken pieces are joined with him as he returns to flesh, he is unharmed. If the character's petrified body is incomplete when it returns to flesh, the body is likewise incomplete.

Seems like detect evil would still work.