Neutral alignment

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Well, because it's not possible for an evil cleric to summon a good creature.

In which case, you summon a lawful, chaotic, or neutral (elemental) one to taste.

If the only means of doing something good that you have, is through the use of an "evil" spell, is the act good, or evil?

The act may, overall, be Good - but that doesn't mean each and every part of it was Good. For instance, this Evil cleric may have genuinely wished to do Good in this particular instance, and been limited to accomplishing that Good end through Evil means.

The means are still Evil, however - not "evil." There is always a more Good option than resorting to Evil.

Consider that according to RAW, if a Paladin were able to and did cast Deathwatch, they would instantly lose their Paladin abilities.

Yeah? So?

He should sit down with his god[dess] and work out a similar spell which doesn't rely on the "foul sight granted by the powers of unlife."

Or, in other words, have a DM who houserules Deathwatch to be a non-Evil necromancy.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Our group see alignment as what a character is more apt to do. A Lawful Good person is more apt to follow orders and respect life. It doesn't mean that always happens.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Consider that according to RAW, if a Paladin were able to and did cast Deathwatch, they would instantly lose their Paladin abilities.

Likewise if the Paladin were to ever purposefully drink a Potion of Protection from Good, which could plausibly be righteous and advantageous for the greater good under extreme circumstances.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Likewise if the Paladin were to ever purposefully drink a Potion of Protection from Good, which could plausibly be righteous and advantageous for the greater good under extreme circumstances.

Is it stated outside of the BoVD/BoED that casting a spell with an Evil/Good descriptor is an Evil/Good act?

Not a 'forbidden for clerics' act, but an Evil/Good one?

-Hyp.

 

[calypso15]

Is it stated outside of the BoVD/BoED that casting a spell with an Evil/Good descriptor is an Evil/Good act?

Not a 'forbidden for clerics' act, but an Evil/Good one?

Hmm... not that I can see, now that you mention it. I don't have time to peruse the PHB right now. Maybe someone else can find it, or, more likely, I'm confusing my sources.

Calypso

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Is it stated outside of the BoVD/BoED that casting a spell with an Evil/Good descriptor is an Evil/Good act?

No, that's really the only place it's mentioned.

I like it as a rule, however. Similarly, casting a [Chaos] spell is a Chaotic act, casting a [Fire] spell is a ... Firey ... act, etc.

 

[reanjr]

I generally view neutral as doing evil for the purpose of good. Balancing things out I would personally consider as an evil person doing good to clear their own conscience.

 

[BlackSeed_Vash]

ive noticed that the 'neutral' players who intentially do the whole balancing act usually preforms their evil act(s) out of sight of the PCs and the goods one(s) where everyone can see them. That is an 'evil' alignment just trying to look 'good'

 

[Nac_Mac_Feegle]

If you do good, because you want to do good, thats good.

If you do an act "percieved as good" to balance an evil act, thats evil, your commiting evil and expecting to get away with it on the karmic balance of life by commiting a good act. But your not doing good because you want to, your doing it as a sort of bribe on the universe.

The universe, or the gods, know your inner motivations. You cant blag them by doing good to cancel evil, when you do good, its because you actually want to do good, you care about doing good, you dont "do good" because you did evil a little earlier.

And as a side note, wouldnt it be a good thing to summon an evil entity and force it to do good work? Make a demon rebuild the orphanage, you might not physically hurt the demon, but you sure a hell would piss it off, score one for the good guys. Especially if you make a habit of summoning demons to carry out trivial tasks, taking them away from the planning they are doing in hell. Thats got to be worth some kudos with the big guy

Feegle Out

 

[Quasqueton]

I sometimes wonder if neutral alignment should be removed and replaced with “unaligned”.

You are either aligned with Good or Evil, or you are not aligned.

You are either aligned with Law or Chaos, or you are not aligned.

Notice how there are no detect neutrality spells. And notice how most spells that act on alignment refer to “neutral” alignment by not mentioning it. "Those that are neither good nor evil . . ."

Might clear up some misunderstandings.

Quasqueton