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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WayneLigon" data-source="post: 3259976" data-attributes="member: 3649">I can't say I've ever had the situation of a Paladin standing in the marketplace doing Detect Evil, and I've never seen anyone use it as a sole justification for killing someone. If they did, in most campaigns I've run, it might or might not be remarked on. People know what Paladins are and what they can do, and that they are good people. If one draws his sword and runs Bob the greengrocer through then they assume it was for a damn good reason and they'd thank him for killing the serpent in their midst, as they should. After all, one of the direct servants of the gods (The 'no god' option for paladins and clerics is not an option in most campaigns I've run) has had this revelation. Most people know this and both love and fear seeing a Paladin in their midst. It's when you run into Evil people in power that things get tough. They have protectors, or personal power of their own. The paladin that draws steel on the king's advisor in the throne room might or might not get filled with arrows; wisdom, though, dictates that he wait and accuse the man in private audience or try to use the sure and certain knowledge that the man is Evil to find something to show others that he is evil. At least he now knows, and can plant doubt in the minds of those who need to know.And even in that scenario, it might depend on the paladin. If the paladin is a friend of the king and has been part of a group that has saved the king and his kingdom a number of times over the years then the king might well allow the advisor to be lead away in chains while they find out what he's been up to. The king, unless he's corrupt or an idiot, knows the paladin serves a higher power than his so he's going to listen to him.Neutral cleric of an evil god? Not really a problem. In most campaigns I've run, being a cleric or servant of an evil god is an automatic death sentence in the countries dominated by the Good religions, so if he's personally neutral or not makes no real difference. (It's one of the few truly automatic death sentences there is; the only reason anyone might stay their hand is to find out if there are more of them close by.) He still serves, aids and derives spiritual strength and power from an evil entity. (This is where my like of 3E's clerical alignment spread breaks down slightly; yeah, you can have a neutral cleric of an evil god - for a short time. Serving something like that, though, will turn you evil sooner than later.) In most cases, in games I've run, finding out someone is Evil via Detect Evil, is a strong sign that they Bear Watching. They'll note the person and see what they do. Bob the greengrocer may have evil dwelling in his heart but he might well not have acted on it. Yet. There may be some lesson that can be taught there to turn Bob back to the path of good, or the local priests can be warned so they can pay closer attention to the man and his family.</blockquote>

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