Is casting a spell with the Evil descriptor an Evil act?

[Infiniti2000]

I agree that an evil aura is present, but I don't agree that evil is present. The evil aura is possessed by the wizard (not a spell on the wizard, or an item held by the wizard), and the wizard is not evil; therefore, the evil aura does not indicate, in this case, the presence of evil.

This is provably not true. An evil aura explicitly indicates the presence of evil, specifically "creatures, objects, or spells." There is no other definition for "evil aura" outside of detect evil.

 

[Artoomis]

I believe so; I think that's the reason that the non-neutral summonable creatures all have alignments listed in the spell description... so that clerics know which ones they are incapable of summoning.



I agree that an evil aura is present, but I don't agree that evil is present. The evil aura is possessed by the wizard (not a spell on the wizard, or an item held by the wizard), and the wizard is not evil; therefore, the evil aura does not indicate, in this case, the presence of evil.

-Hyp.

Apparently the very form the wizard has taken is evil.

Evil is present.

 

[Neverwill]

I believe so; I think that's the reason that the non-neutral summonable creatures all have alignments listed in the spell description... so that clerics know which ones they are incapable of summoning.

I used to think that, but a more careful reading pushed me the other way. A different justification for the table would be to tell you the alignment of the monster since the Fiendish template doesn't - it only specifies "Always Evil (any)". How else is one to determine the alignment of a Fiendish Hawk?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Oops, nevermind. Wrong creature.

I agree that summoning a fiendish dire weasel is not an [Evil, Lawful] spell.

 

[Hypersmurf]

This is provably not true. An evil aura explicitly indicates the presence of evil, specifically "creatures, objects, or spells." There is no other definition for "evil aura" outside of detect evil.

I'm reading "Number of evil auras (creatures, objects, or spells)"; it's referring to creatures, objects, and spells that have evil auras, not stating that creatures with evil auras are evil.

To determine the aura power, we see the accompanying table, which includes entries for evil creatures and evil magic items/spells, but also for things which may not be evil - clerics of evil deities, and undead.

A Lawful Neutral cleric of a Lawful Evil deity is not an evil creature, yet he is detected by Detect Evil. A Neutral Good spectre is not an evil creature, yet he is detected by Detect Evil. Despite having an evil aura that can be detected, neither creature is evil.

A Paladin who is the subject of a Misdirection spell fixed on an Unholy sword will be detected by Detect Evil. He is not an evil creature.

The presence of an evil aura does not always indicate the presence of evil.

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I used to think that, but a more careful reading pushed me the other way. A different justification for the table would be to tell you the alignment of the monster since the Fiendish template doesn't - it only specifies "Always Evil (any)". How else is one to determine the alignment of a Fiendish Hawk?

If the fiendish hawk (somehow) attempted to wield a Holy battleaxe, would he incur a negative level?

-Hyp.

 

[Seeten]

Never argue rules with Hypersmurf. It always ends in humiliation. LOL.

 

[Xanterith]

The presence of an evil aura does not always indicate the presence of evil.

That is pretty much the argument right there. I think that statement is false, you think it's true.

My personal belief is that in the DnD multiverse Evil/Good/Chaos/Law are all measurable forces. Because of this spells,effects, creatures, etc that create a positive result in the Detect Evil spell contain a measurable quantity of this force/stuff/whatever it is. Any spell with the [Evil] descriptor uses this as a part of the spell, and therefore is an evil act, regardless of if the spell summons pink bunnies with wands of healing that spread love and happiness and healing to all who come across their path or if the spells kills a million creatures outright - if it has the Evil descriptor, casting it is evil. Now how evil, that is up to the DM.

There is more in the rules to show prove evil/good/law/chaos as an actual force than not.

Physics defines a force as an influence on a body or system, producing or tending to produce a change in movement or in shape or other effects. Evil, Good, Chaos, Law are all forces that act apon the spiritual nature of a creature or being. Opposite polls on this spectrum will repel each other or if forced to interact will cause a great disturbance - great law mixed with great chaos, evil with good, etc. Mixing has detrimental effects on the stability of a creature's spiritual nature. Again, just my opinion. As for what Wizards intended, probably what you guys are saying - it's just a spell description for what it interacts with. Maybe they should add "Bands with other Evil Spells" or some crap to it as well.

 

[Seeten]

The presence of an evil aura does not always indicate the presence of evil.

That is pretty much the argument right there. I think that statement is false, you think it's true.

A Paladin who is the subject of a Misdirection spell fixed on an Unholy sword will be detected by Detect Evil. He is not an evil creature.

I dont understand how this argument goes further, unless now we all think the Paladin is evil and loses his Paladinhood because someone misdirected an aura onto him.

 

[Neverwill]

If the fiendish hawk (somehow) attempted to wield a Holy battleaxe, would he incur a negative level?

I suppose that depends if you think Holy special ability is referencing evil alignment or the [Evil] descriptor.

In Summon Monster I, how do you know that they mean evilly aligned creature and not [Evil] subtype creature?

When you use a summoning spell to summon an air, chaotic, earth, evil, fire, good, lawful, or water creature, it is a spell of that type.

Is the spell lumping in spell descriptors with alignment categories in the same sentence? What context would you draw from if you decided the spell references [Air], [Earth], [Fire], and [Water] subtypes, but chaotic, evil, good and lawful alignment categories?