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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 1549232" data-attributes="member: 177">Noting the "every campaign is different" caveat, if we attempt to go by the rulebooks...In general, a paladin probably does not have the right or duty to simply attempt to slay that which detects as evil, for a number of reasons.First off, the paladin's Detect Evil is a spell like ability, based off a low-level spell.  It can be rather easily fooled, and thus justice demands a more complete picture than the results of a single divination.Next - alignment is a siort of long-term average of past deeds and motivations.  If someone detects as evil, that means that he's done a darned sight more evil stuff than good stuff in the past.  However, it does not detect his or her current outlook, actions, and the like.  The person in question may be on the reform, may be on a quest with major Good prospects. Maybe he's evil, but has already paid his debt to society as defined by the society's legal system, and so on....Finally, there is that whole "respect for life" thing.  You don't slay unless you really have to in order to protect the innocent.  Having done evil deeds in the past is not proof positive of future acts, so the ability does not reveal "clear and present danger" to the local populace.  Anything less is generally not worthy of such harsh action.In general, it is important to remember that the paladin isn't just the paragon of good.  He's also a paragon of law and justice.  He wants the world orderly.  You don't go swiging around a sword unless you have pretty solid knowledge that the results will not make the world more disorderly.  The paladin has a method to his madness, so to speak.</blockquote>

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