Possession: how evil is this?

[Voadam]

Culturally, however, it could definitely be feared and open users of such black magic shunned as loathsome necromancers.

Alignment implications, no, but definite roleplay issues.

 

[guido1999]

Actually, undead are not automatically evil, nor do they detect as such. In fact, mindless undead i.e. skeletons and zombies are neutral.

 

[Voadam]

Actually, undead are not automatically evil, nor do they detect as such. In fact, mindless undead i.e. skeletons and zombies are neutral.

No one said they were automatically evil, but they do detect as evil regardless of alignment at a rate of HD/2 for the level of evil.

Similarly a neutral cleric of an evil deity detects as evil but at their full cleric level.

From the srd:

Detect Evil
Divination
Level: Clr 1, Rgr 2
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 ft.
Area: Quarter circle emanating from the character to the extreme of the range
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes/level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
The character can sense the presence of evil. The amount of information revealed depends on how long the character studies a particular area or subject:
1st Round: Presence or absence of evil.
2nd Round: Number of evil auras (creatures, objects, or spells) in the area and the strength of the strongest evil aura present. If the character is of good alignment, the strongest evil aura’s strength is "overwhelming" (see below), and the strength is at least twice the character's character level, the character is stunned for 1 round and the spell ends. While the character is stunned, the character can’t act, the character loses any Dexterity bonus to AC, and attackers gain +2 bonuses to attack the character.
3rd Round: The strength and location of each aura. If an aura is outside the character's line of sight, then the character discerns its direction but not its exact location.
Aura Strength: An aura’s evil power and strength depend on the type of evil creature or object that the character is detecting and its HD, caster level, or (in the case of a cleric) class level.
Creature/Object Evil Power
--------------- ----------
Evil creature HD / 5
Undead creature HD / 2
Evil elemental HD / 2
Evil magic item
or spell Caster level / 2
Evil outsider HD
Cleric of an
evil deity Level
Evil Power Aura Strength
---------- -------------
Lingering Dim
1 or less Faint
2–4 Moderate
5–10 Strong
11+ Overwhelming
If an aura falls into more than one strength category, the spell indicates the stronger of the two.
Length Aura Lingers: How long the aura lingers depends on its original strength:
Original Strength Duration
----------------- --------
Faint 1d6 minutes
Moderate 1d6 X 10 minutes
Strong 1d6 hours
Overwhelming 1d6 days
Remember that animals, traps, poisons, and other potential perils are not evil; this spell does not detect them.
Note: Each round, the character can turn to detect things in a new area. The spell can penetrate barriers, but 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks it.

 

[guido1999]

That's only if the undead is actually evil. An evil 10 HD fighter would have a evil level of 2 (10/5) and give off a faint aura, while a 10 HD evil undead would have an evil level of 5 (10/2) and have a strong aura.

A CG baelnorn (elven lich) would not be detectable as evil.

Nor would a neutral skeleton or zombie.

 

[Voadam]

No. Undead detect as evil at their HD/2. It does not say evil undead, it says undead.

It does specify evil elementals, evil creatures, evil outsiders, and undead and clerics of evil gods. Undead and clerics of evil gods need not be evil to detect as evil with this spell.

 

[guido1999]

It's inherent that a spell called "Detect Evil" would not allow you to detect something that is good...

 

[Voadam]

The actual text of the spell trumps implications of the spell name.

Besides, being good doesn't mean the character can not have an evil descriptor spell cast on them (protection from good) carry an evil item, or have a condition such as undeath that makes them detect as evil.

 

[guido1999]

Besides, being good doesn't mean the character can not have an evil descriptor spell cast on them (protection from good) carry an evil item

In these cases the spell or item would have the evil aura, not the person.

In any case, take the hardline view if you want. To me it sounds ridiculous to allow a good or neutral creature detect as evil. It's common sense. I'm sure that the author of the spell didn't "spell" out "evil undead" and "evil cleric" because he assumed that a little common sense would be applied by whoever was reading the spell.

 

[Voadam]

How could you differentiate between a spell like protection from good that detects as evil from the character it is cast on?

So do you think they specified evil elementals but not evil undead by mistake? or clerics of an evil deity but not evil clerics?

from the spell:

Creature/Object Evil Power
--------------- ----------
Evil creature HD / 5
Undead creature HD / 2
Evil elemental HD / 2
Evil magic item
or spell Caster level / 2
Evil outsider HD
Cleric of an
evil deity Level

 

[AuraSeer]

I'm sure that the author of the spell didn't "spell" out "evil undead" and "evil cleric" because he assumed that a little common sense would be applied by whoever was reading the spell.

You're "sure" the author meant that? How very useful.

I know a guy who's "sure" that NASA faked the moon landings.

He doesn't have any proof either.