Using Detect Evil/Good

[Viktyr Gehrig]

I rule the same way-- it detects things with the Evil descriptor. That means unded, outsiders with the Evil subtype, Blackguards, and the Clerics of evil gods.

This ability is far from useless, even if it doesn't immediately implode any game based on intrigue. It does make Paladins less likely to use it constantly, so they might actually miss when one of these creatures is attempting to dupe him... unless his Sense Motive class skill (or campaign events) gives him cause to make use of it.

Remembering that powerful evil humans tend to have allies in society also gives the "Paladin SMASH!" player cause to use his powers in measured fashion-- even if the law of the land will stand behind your righteous smiting (which should never be guaranteed), powerful people, especially those who have powers, tend to have quite a few allies. (Also, if smiting was indeed righteous, the fact that the law frowns on it shouldn't risk the Paladin's abilities unless the smiting was truly, blatantly non-lawful.)

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

it really depends on the status of the paladin's church. the paladin could say, "I am a paladin of the god of truth, honor, and law [or whatever], and have sworn an oath to never tell a lie and to uphold the law and honor in all things. the holy power of my god has shown me that this person is evil. if you doubt me, you doubt my god as well." if the religion of the paladin's god has any sort of clout in the society, then i'd think something like that would have quite a lot of legal pull.

What happens if the Paladin decides to lie?

What if someone less than managed to get into the order of paladins - possibly using magic to fake out their tests? Or one of them falls to evil?

What if his clerical superior orders him to lie? Obidience vs Justice... could cause a very messy conflict of interest?

If nobles were making the laws, I'm sure that thought might occur to the more cynical of them.

It would definitely work in a theocracy... in fact I think that could be pretty good fun for a kingdom - whatever any paladin or cleric of the 'true' faith says is the truth...

 

[LightPhoenix]

Well, just because someone radiates Evil does not make it Good to kill them. Nor Lawful, depending on local laws. If we went out and killed a murderer, knowing they had killed, we'd still be tried for murder, and that's still a pretty heinous act.

 

[shilsen]

Why? Lets assume Barry is human - humans are NOT Evil creatures ergo Barry the human is NOT an Evil creature

the Spell desription says it detects 'Evil creatures' not individual alignments of humanoids (I'd expect another entry on the table for Evil aligned Humanoids for that- but it doesn't exist)

I'm pretty sure it's been clarified that "evil creatures" means "any creature with an evil alignment", whether that's a human with an evil alignment or the only CE gold dragon in existence. Can't think of a reference off-hand. Maybe the FAQ?

 

[Hand of Evil]

Well, just because someone radiates Evil does not make it Good to kill them. Nor Lawful, depending on local laws. If we went out and killed a murderer, knowing they had killed, we'd still be tried for murder, and that's still a pretty heinous act.

But you are appling modern thoughts to a fantasy game; the fantasy game takes on the medieval settings, where might makes right, where there is a manifest destiny, where evil and good are black and white.

It is why I have my soap box. If I tell my players that the only evil are monsters from MM with evil aligiments and oath-breakers, then someone detects evil and they find Ranger Bob shows evil, they now know he is an oath-breaker that is never been forgiven for his sins! Guess what, Ranger Bob alignment is CN, because that is the way he acts, the evil is the way the gods sees him and his soul when he dies is going to hell, unless he ask for forgivenesss from the gods.

 

[Vaxalon]

But you are appling modern thoughts to a fantasy game; the fantasy game takes on the medieval settings, where might makes right, where there is a manifest destiny, where evil and good are black and white.

Why does the fantasy game have to take on the medieval setting?

"Might makes Right" is a very lawful-evil idea, and if that is a theme of your campaign, then the rulers will very likely be evil. If that is true, then it is very unlikely that the fact that someone shows up on a detect evil spell will be justification to kill him.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Why does the fantasy game have to take on the medieval setting?

"Might makes Right" is a very lawful-evil idea, and if that is a theme of your campaign, then the rulers will very likely be evil. If that is true, then it is very unlikely that the fact that someone shows up on a detect evil spell will be justification to kill him.

It does not have to take on the medieval. What it does; is take on the image that the DM gives it, be it Asian, Arabic, Wild West, or some other. The problem, to me at least, is that DMs nor the rules build cultural taboos into the game. By that I mean; the rights and wrongs that we are raised with, that is built into our culture, we take these into our games and then it comes down to interpretation, the DM does not explain to the players those taboos and the player may not know them.

Some examples: slavery, the Americian Indian, eating with your left hand.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Once more, with feeling...

Detect Evil does not determine alignment!

The spell detects evil aruas, not alignment. Evil auras are exuded by undead, outsiders, clerics, blackguards, certain spells and magic items....and creatures that have the Evil subtype.

And assuming D&D has to emulate a medieval morality is dancing down a line that I don't wanna tread on.

 

[LightPhoenix]

Once more, with feeling...

Detect Evil does not determine alignment!

The spell detects evil aruas, not alignment. Evil auras are exuded by undead, outsiders, clerics, blackguards, certain spells and magic items....and creatures that have the Evil subtype.

I just want to say that font is cool.

 

[Geoff Watson]

Once more, with feeling...

Detect Evil does not determine alignment!

The spell detects evil aruas, not alignment. Evil auras are exuded by undead, outsiders, clerics, blackguards, certain spells and magic items....and creatures that have the Evil subtype.

AND evil creatures.
An evil creature has an evil aura.

No matter how many times you say it, you're still wrong.

Only outsiders have alignment subtypes. That would make either the 'evil creatures' or the 'evil outsiders' line on the table for detect evil redundant.

Geoff.