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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silveras" data-source="post: 1530412" data-attributes="member: 6271">I have noted such observations myself, but I chalk them up to errors on the DM's part. In a town or city, some proportion of the population is going to be "evil". These are the "kick the dog" people, or the "thumb on the scale" dishonest merchant types of evil. Something like 1/3 of the population will fit this category, and will be leaving little "dim" fading auras everywhere they go. The ones that are standing still within the area of effect will radiate "Faint" auras. The few evil clerics in town will have left "Faint" auras fading behind them. And so on. In the dungeon, many draw pencil lines for walls. 1 foot of stone blocks the effect; likewise, a thin sheet of lead or three feet of wood/dirt. Architecturally sound dungeons are going to have walls that meet those requirements, most of the time. Also, most such abuses tend to happen when the DM forgets to make the Paladin take 2-3 rounds to finish reading the auras. Plus, some powerful evil creatures will stun the scanner. A couple of can make a Paladin reluctant to use the ability all the time. And, of course, there are rules of conduct. I maintain that a society with access to such magic will create limits on its use. Just as today investigators are required to show a reason why they should be allowed to search someone's home, or tap their telephone, a society with access to such magic would create rules about the proper use. Paladins are, in some campaigns, the law. Still, in general, there would be social limits. Knowing that the merchant is inclined to cheat his customers does not prove he has. He may never have; he may have been too afraid of being caught. The ability to detect evil might help you know to keep an eye on the merchant, but by itself it would not be evidence of any wrongdoing.</blockquote>

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