Paladin's Detect Evil

[Doug McCrae]

We ran it by the book. As written it's a handy ability but easily thwarted by magic if the DM needs to preserve mystery. Being blocked by stone means it's not that useful in a dungeon, only for knowing if there's a threat behind a door.

 

[Doug McCrae]

In no way is it proof of wrongdoing or a signal to start smiting.

I like the idea that for some paladins, it *is* a signal to start smiting. These are the extremist, fundamentalist Miko types who give the rest of the paladins such a bad rep.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

I would much prefer a passive detect evil ability for paladins and similar for any character/creature with an allignment subtype. Kinda a cross between a spidey sense and the touch based guilt detection from Unbreakable. But I haven't bothered to house rule it yet.

One issue with detect evil is that it does not measure how evil a person is, only how supernaturally powerful their evil connection is. Make no mistake, a serial killer without a divine casting class will radiate a lower level of evil than a lawful neutral cleric serving his tribe whose LE deity takes on a protective role in the pantheon (apparently the case in some Olman tribes in STAP.) To say nothing of emancipated spawns and fallen celestials...

(darn, mostly scooped by shilsen while typing.)

 

[Nifft]

Also, only supernatural evil resonates, not simply an evil alignment. Demons you sense, run-of-the-mill badguys you don't.

This is what I do as well.

Your conduct is not tied to your nature or your sponsorship (though conduct can cost you sponsorship); detect foo detects nature and sponsorship, not conduct.

Sponsorship means "cleric of evil god" and the like. Casting spells with the [Evil] descriptor does count as invoking Evil sponsorship, so be careful casting too many of those.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Aeric]

In my game, it only detects supernatural evil. However, there are two versions: passive and active. The passive, jokingly referred to as "spider sense", gives the paladin a general idea of the level of evil near him. It manifests as a feeling of discomfort, sensation of pinpricks, up to a severe headache. It has no fixed radius, but the detected strength varies according to the inverse square law. The paladin can also sense great disturbances in the force, so to speak.

That's how I run it, too.

I prefer to only have it work on undead, extraplanar beings such as demons, particularly ancient dragons, and highly devout worshippers of evil gods. These are the enemies the paladin needs to fight. Leave the pickpockets and wife-beaters to the town guard. This is not to say that a paladin will overlook such behavior should he come across it, but these are threats that lesser men can handle.

 

[delericho]

I use it as-is, in terms of time required to use and amount of information gained. The only caveat (that might not be spelled out in the RAW) is that the use of spell-like abilities is pretty obvious (though not precisely which spell-like ability), so one can't casually scan everyone in the bar for Evil - they'll know, and be rightly angry.

 

[Kurotowa]

Those are some good assumptions, but are still giving the spell a little more weight than it can bear, I think. As an example of the imprecision I mentioned above, note that these characters will show up under Detect Evil as follows:

Well, of course. It's not a substitute for actual roleplaying, you know? Apply a little common sense to situation, engage the NPCs in conversation, even put some work into investigating things. But if you're debating if you should give someone the benefit of the doublt, it's a helpful piece of info. If you're expecting supernatural trouble in the area, it's a good early warning. If you're going into an unfamiliar situation, it's a nice heads up. What I'm trying to point out is that the strength of the aura is just as important as the presence of Evil at all, and it can help you refine your reaction.

(Ob rules quibble, I'm not that sure about your last example. Rakshasa don't have the Evil subtype, so wouldn't a LG Rakshasa Paladin not ping on Detect Evil?)

 

[shilsen]

Well, of course. It's not a substitute for actual roleplaying, you know? Apply a little common sense to situation, engage the NPCs in conversation, even put some work into investigating things. But if you're debating if you should give someone the benefit of the doublt, it's a helpful piece of info. If you're expecting supernatural trouble in the area, it's a good early warning. If you're going into an unfamiliar situation, it's a nice heads up. What I'm trying to point out is that the strength of the aura is just as important as the presence of Evil at all, and it can help you refine your reaction.

Agreed.

(Ob rules quibble, I'm not that sure about your last example. Rakshasa don't have the Evil subtype, so wouldn't a LG Rakshasa Paladin not ping on Detect Evil?)

Good point. I forgot about that. Edit coming up.

 

[Derren]

Also, only supernatural evil resonates, not simply an evil alignment. Demons you sense, run-of-the-mill badguys you don't.

So Detect Evil only detects the obvious evil things like demons? Why do you need a detect when everyone can see it anyway?

Imo too many people use "too weak" alignments. With that I mean that only being not nice makes you evil. That is not the alignment D&D uses. To be evil in D&D you have to be hardcore evil (murder, rape, demon summoning to do one of the former things, etc) and not simply kick a dog once a week.

With that in mind, I use Detect Evil as in the book. It also means that someone detecting evil is enough for paladins to start smiteing as everyone who is evil is a real bastard who deserves to be dead. Likewise anyone who is good is (nearly) a saint. All the other people (99%) are simply neutral.

 

[Nifft]

So Detect Evil only detects the obvious evil things like demons? Why do you need a detect when everyone can see it anyway?

Everyone can see demons and devils? Aside from the many who can cast invisibility, there are the many who have alternate forms.

With that in mind, I use Detect Evil as in the book. It also means that someone detecting evil is enough for paladins to start smiteing as everyone who is evil is a real bastard who deserves to be dead. Likewise anyone who is good is (nearly) a saint. All the other people (99%) are simply neutral.

I don't think the book actually says that anywhere...

Not my book anyway, -- N