Rules Question: Non-Good Half Celestial

[Xath]

One of the NPCs in our campaign is a non-good fairly high level half-celestial. The party is about to enter into a combat with him (not everyone in the party has a G in their alignment either) so I'm wondering:

Can he even use his Holy Word spell like ability? If so, does he deafen himself?

 

[ThaDium]

Because he's half-celestial, I'd be inclined to say he can't use it. But if he does, definitely have him deafen himself. But let him be aware of that fact and act accordingly, using it as a last resort and such.

 

[delericho]

Can he even use his Holy Word spell like ability?

Depends. By non-Good do you mean Neutral or Evil? If he's Neutral then he can use it. If he's Evil, he cannot.

Note: that's my ruling, not RAW. Basically, I'm applying the same restriction as for a Cleric trying to use a spell with the Good descriptor. Per RAW, I think even an Evil half-celestial should be able to use the ability.

If so, does he deafen himself?

Yes.

 

[Empirate]

He will deafen himself, but there's nothing in the rules preventing even an evil caster from using Holy Word. Or a good Cleric from Creating Undead etc.

 

[delericho]

Or a good Cleric from Creating Undead etc.

In 3e, at least, this is incorrect. A good-aligned Cleric cannot cast spells with the Evil descriptor. And both create undead and animate dead have said descriptor.

 

[Empirate]

In 3e, at least, this is incorrect. A good-aligned Cleric cannot cast spells with the Evil descriptor. And both create undead and animate dead have said descriptor.

Oh, that's true! I somehow always read over "his own" in the rules text: "A cleric can’t cast spells of an alignment opposed to his own or his deity’s (if he has one)." I apologize!

 

[Nezkrul]

under Half Celestial:
Alignment

Always good (any).

Can't be non-good and be a half-celestial. Can't. If the DM wants him to have the stat adjustments and abilities of a Half-Celestial he either needs to make him good or create his own template (and therefore give it different spell-likes). RAW can't have the template without ALL of the template.

 

[Dandu]

If you can have succubus paladins...

 

[delericho]

Can't be non-good and be a half-celestial. Can't. If the DM wants him to have the stat adjustments and abilities of a Half-Celestial he either needs to make him good or create his own template (and therefore give it different spell-likes). RAW can't have the template without ALL of the template.

Actually, that's incorrect. The SRD doesn't say it, but the MM does: an entry of "always" for alignment doesn't actually mean always - there remains the possibility allowed for individual creatures to have a different alignment.

(Plus, of course, Eberron takes a much more flexible view of alignment. And, indeed, an individual DM is always entitled to do what she likes. )

 

[Dandu]

Actually, that's incorrect. The SRD doesn't say it, but the MM does: an entry of "always" for alignment doesn't actually mean always - there remains the possibility allowed for individual creatures to have a different alignment.

Basically, it depends on what your definition of "is" is.