Opposed-alignment cleric scrolls

[AuraSeer]

Fair enough.

Now, do any of you change your answer if we're talking about a wand? Say a LN cleric using a wand of protection from law?

 

[Tiberius]

Fair enough.

Now, do any of you change your answer if we're talking about a wand? Say a LN cleric using a wand of protection from law?

Wands and staves are spell trigger items, which function dissimilarly from scrolls and cast spells. Given the description below, clerics are able to use oppositely-aligned staves/wands IMO.

Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it’s even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken. Anyone with a spell on his or her spell list knows how to use a spell trigger item that stores that spell. (This is the case even for a character who can’t actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin.) The user must still determine what spell is stored in the item before she can activate it. Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

 

[frankthedm]

Using some spells could be an alignment violation, or might upset the cleric's deity, but that's a subjective determination for the DM to make. At the moment I'm just wondering if the magic would work.

I say automatic mishap! The Cleric should have been wiser than to even try.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Wands and staves are spell trigger items, which function dissimilarly from scrolls and cast spells. Given the description below, clerics are able to use oppositely-aligned staves/wands IMO.

While this is true by the RAW, and not mechanically unbalancing, I wouldn't allow it any of my campaigns for flavor reasons.

 

[Vegepygmy]

Now, do any of you change your answer if we're talking about a wand? Say a LN cleric using a wand of protection from law?

Although I think the argument that activating a scroll is casting a spell is technically correct, I'd allow the use of both spell completion and spell trigger items...and treat them both as gross violations of the cleric's code of conduct.

That is to say, you're an ex-cleric until you atone.

 

[Dross]

Although I think the argument that activating a scroll is casting a spell is technically correct, I'd allow the use of both spell completion and spell trigger items...and treat them both as gross violations of the cleric's code of conduct.

That is to say, you're an ex-cleric until you atone.

Why I would have this as an option it's not something to do strait away. I'm more likely to have a "Please explain" from the PC's deity or concept.

Emergancies I can see forgiveness (with maybe some atoning).

Repeated use (even in emergancies) would have the deity/concept questioning the follower's loyalties.

 

[KarinsDad]

Why I would have this as an option it's not something to do strait away. I'm more likely to have a "Please explain" from the PC's deity or concept.

Emergancies I can see forgiveness (with maybe some atoning).

Repeated use (even in emergancies) would have the deity/concept questioning the follower's loyalties.

Err, why?

Clerics should follow the tenets of their deity's faith unquestioningly. If you were a deity, would you give spell casting ability to just anyone who said he worshipped you, or would you only give it to someone who thought in a similar vein to you and demonstrated that even in emergency situations, that creature still thought like you do.

Deities are not too concerned with how or if their worshippers die. They are concerned with how they live.

Even the thought of touching an opposed alignment item should automatically be anathama to most Clerics. And, some high percentage of them should be more interested in destroying it than using it. It is the tool of an oppossing deity.

The thought of using it just does not make sense.

 

[werk]

So, for those that would allow the cleric usage, but that said usage would breach his clerical code...what about settings like Eberron? Where the gods are removed and will continue to grant spells regardless of the cleric's actions, including alignment change and opposition.

 

[KarinsDad]

So, for those that would allow the cleric usage, but that said usage would breach his clerical code...what about settings like Eberron? Where the gods are removed and will continue to grant spells regardless of the cleric's actions, including alignment change and opposition.

In a setting like that, why bother to even have evil and good spells? The concept of segregating them makes little sense if the Deities hand out spells like candy and are basically oblivious.

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

In a setting like that, why bother to even have evil and good spells? The concept of segregating them makes little sense if the Deities hand out spells like candy and are basically oblivious.

Just because the God doesn't notice, doesn't mean the other clergy can't find out. In that case, excommunication might be the least of the offending cleric's worries.

Ken