Mislead and dectect evil?

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

My character is a Paladin/Cleric. Last night when my group was gaming, we encounted an evil mage that, while I was interacting with her and actively detecting evil, cast Mislead...

Mislead
Illusion (Figment, Glamer)
Level: Brd 5, Luck 6, Sor/Wiz 6, Trickery 6
Components: S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target/Effect: You/one illusory double
Duration: 1 round/level (D) and concentration + 3 rounds; see text
Saving Throw: None or Will disbelief (if interacted with); see text
Spell Resistance: No

You become invisible (as improved invisibility, a glamer), and at the same time, an illusory double of you (as major image, a figment) appears. You are then free to go elsewhere while your double moves away. The double appears within range but thereafter moves as you direct it (which requires concentration beginning on the first round after the casting). You can make the figment appear superimposed perfectly over your own body so that observers don’t notice an image appearing and you turning invisible. You and the figment can then move in different directions. The double moves at your speed and can talk and gesture as if it were real, but it cannot attack or cast spells, though it can pretend to do so.

The illusory double lasts as long as you concentrate upon it, plus 3 additional rounds. After you cease concentration, the illusory double continues to carry out the same activity until the duration expires. The improved invisibility lasts for 1 round per level, regardless of concentration.


Now, the spell is really really cool and, if I were a Wizard, Bard, or Sorcerer, I would cast it all the time... but, my question is, because I was actively detecting evil, would I have known about the shift between the major image and the evil mage even though she was under the affects of greater invisibility?

And that is only as a "normal" Paladin-- I have also spent the experience points in order to use my detect evil to "Fight Invisible Evil" as described in Mongoose's Quintessential Paladin. ("If the Paladin is beset by an invisible evil opponent, he can send out magical 'pings' every round to locate it with a successful Wisdom check (DC 15)...")

I was, I believe, 6 or 7 rounds into detection so, I had all of the evil within my radius pegged down-- so, couldn't I have pegged down the movement of the fleeing, cowardly evil aura?

DM says that Mislead wouldn't be impacted by the normal Palain's detect evil ability or my special ability...

What do y'all think?

Thanks!

--LizzyB

 

[MerakSpielman]

I'm not certain you can be having a conversation while concentrating to maintain the detect evil.

 

[dcollins]

Let's say you had clearly stated that you were concentrating with detect evil on the wizard while you were talking to him. It seems to me like detect evil would definitely pick up on the actual evil aura even if invisible.

However, it would be a simple matter for the wizard to move out of the arc of effect in a single round, thereby losing track of him entirely. If this happened, I wouldn't give an update on direction of movement -- just one round, the evil aura is no longer there, and trying to find it again takes another 3 rounds (by which the wizard is probably further gone).

 

[frankthedm]

paid experience points? An ability like that should be a feat slot at the minimum, but that sounds just like a way mongoose would sell a $uppliment to a feat low class.

"Low on feat slots because you have a bucket of special abillities? Pay some xp and upgrade your detect evil to detect invisible evil!"

I do feel you would percieve the evil aura as he moved away. once he left your line of sight you would only know the general direction. Once he left the area you were currently detecting you would loose him & have to start from round 1 of DE's concentration chart if you turn to the new area he moved to.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

paid experience points? An ability like that should be a feat slot at the minimum, but that sounds just like a way mongoose would sell a $uppliment to a feat low class.

"Low on feat slots because you have a bucket of special abillities? Pay some xp and upgrade your detect evil to detect invisible evil!"

Well, half of that bucket is filled with Remove Disease charges, so I don't think a paladin paying to improve an existing ability is too bad.

I do feel you would percieve the evil aura as he moved away. once he left your line of sight you would only know the general direction. Once he left the area you were currently detecting you would loose him & have to start from round 1 of DE's concentration chart if you turn to the new area he moved to.

I agree. If the paladin is actively using Detect Evil, he'd notice the evil aura move out of synch with the illusion, and get the general direction it moves until it leaves the cone of Detect Evil.

 

[Tessarael]

[..] I was, I believe, 6 or 7 rounds into detection so, I had all of the evil within my radius pegged down-- so, couldn't I have pegged down the movement of the fleeing, cowardly evil aura?

Here's how I would rule:

Round 1 after Mislead cast - is there evil present within 60'? Yes. Evil was present before, so no change, nothing noticed with Detect Evil.

Round 2 after Mislead cast - has the number of evil auras changed or the power of the most evil aura present changed within 60'? No. Nothing noticed with Detect Evil.

Round 3 after Mislead cast - is the power and location of each aura the same? No. Bingo! There is no evil where the illusory double is, and there is evil (if within 60') where the invisible Wizard is.

So I'd rule it would take you 3 rounds to notice something was wrong.