Walking the line of LN and LE, HELP!

[pallandrome]

Hate to break it to you homey, but you are playing an evil character, what with your willingness to sacrifice your closest friends to achieve your own ends and all. Out of game, there is nothing particularly wrong with this, just as long as you understand that getting found out may well result in your character's demise. I'd suggest not using any questionable powers in the presence of others, with the possible exception of building your herd exclusively out of evil beings. Explain it away as an attempt to get the herd used to performing good acts. A ring of undetectible alignment is probably a darn good idea, at your soonest availibility.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Yes, it does. Just not quite yet.

Evil creature (HD)---10 or lower---11 to 25---26 to 50---51 or higher​

At 7 HD, you won't blip on a Detect Evil spell. You will once you hit 10 HD however, though your Evil Aura will be a faint one.

That depends on how you read "Evil Creature".. either "alignment of evil" or "type/subtype of [Evil]". The Eberron settting leans toward the latter option as there are high level characters working in 'good' organizations while being wholly sold over to 'evil'.

I prefer to follow the latter reading myself as it makes the paladin-crux much less annoying
{Ya know.. the 'I detect Evil and slay' approach to things... with this reading only those truely [Evil] trigger the spell and subsequent slay attempts...}

...what with your willingness to sacrifice your closest friends to achieve your own ends and all.

Not that this can't work out, given the right group... one of my longest running characters is a SW Bounty Hunter who fits that description very well, and has adventured with a group of idealistic Jedi for many years now..
Just make sure that the groups interests coincide with the characters best interests...and if that means 'leading' them to the 'right' choices, so be it.
{and yes, the Young Jedi did have occasional talks with him...but could never prove anything .worked out great! }

 

[Felix]

That depends on how you read "Evil Creature".. either "alignment of evil" or "type/subtype of [Evil]".

I would think the type/subtype definition would have to be read into the rules.

Is it Evil? Yes.
Is it a creature? Yes.

It's not necessary to introduce the subtype into the discussion.

The Eberron settting leans toward the latter option as there are high level characters working in 'good' organizations while being wholly sold over to 'evil'.

Evil people can do Good. They simply go about it in Evil ways. Simply working for a Good organization doesn't mean you have to subscribe to the underlying morality; you just need to do your job.

I prefer to follow the latter reading myself as it makes the paladin-crux much less annoying

*shrug*. If being Evil warrants death from a paladin, then *that's* your problem, not whether he can detect folks as Evil. If instead your paladins use Detect Evil as something akin to Probable Cause, then your problem evaporates: Detect Evil helps find people to investigate and keep an eye on, it doesn't provide sufficient evidence to execute.

This way you can detect Evil Creatures with Detect Evil; Paladins don't go Smiting willy-nilly; you don't need to read rules into the rules text.

 

[ManicMidget]

We have had a evil character within our party before who was in fact best friends with our paladin. It was played rather well and had a superb ending that we all talk about even now, 4 years later.
I am working on a way to have undetectable alignment made permanent on myself since I have some rather paranoid people around.
As for making my entire herd evil, that would just make things a hell of a lot easier to slip on the evil slope. My Thrall is in fact a CG Valenar Scout who has set upon an honorable mission on behalf of her ancestors memories. I believe its going to lead to some interest RP. I just need some advice about how to use these new powers without having them use the character. Suddenly its become all too easy to get what I want despite what it would cost the character morally.
Is there some way of hiding my actions from the group or do I simply have to hope that they will see the benefits and start to slip with me? I mean, 2 are LG Kalashtar with a nightmare spirit living inside them, 1 is a Valenar Warrior who is selfish and blood crazy. The final member of our team however is a LG cleric warforged who worships the god of truth and justice.
Choices, Choices

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

I would think the type/subtype definition would have to be read into the rules.
...
This way you can detect Evil Creatures with Detect Evil; Paladins don't go Smiting willy-nilly; you don't need to read rules into the rules text.

And I think that the alignment definition would have to be read into the rules as well. The text of the spell clearly defines 'good alignment' in a latter portion.

I just prefer a world were all the BBEGs don't shine with an Evil Aura...{unless supernaturally [Evil]} ... Easiest nerf that allows the players to use thier Smites as well as know exacly what the spell effects are saying is to limit the aura to those supernaturally [Evil]

YMMV, and I admit it is my reading of an admittably vague piece of rules.
However, the Eberron world is cast with a larger level of alignment melding. If the spell identified evil alignments than it would be more difficult for evil characters to muck around in 'good' organizations ... or vice versa.

 

[Felix]

The text of the spell clearly defines 'good alignment' in a latter portion.

Do you refer to this?

If you are of good alignment, and the strongest evil aura’s power is overwhelming...​

Where do you draw a "clear definition" form this which includes the [Evil] subtype as applied to "Evil Creatures"?

And how is it any more simple than: "Is it a creature? Yes. Is it Evil? Yes."

Assuming simplicity is our guide here, of course.

I just prefer a world were all the BBEGs don't shine with an Evil Aura

That's easy; here's the formula:

Main Antagonist =/= Evil.

He can be. His henchmen can be. But he doesn't have to be.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

My apologies for mangling the english language,

When I stated 'clearly defines' I mean something completely different..
Never try posting while tired and half-way through reading college textbooks on marketting!

What I was trying to point out was that the spell text uses 'evil creature' in a vague way, but specifically calls out 'good alignment' in the portion you quoted.

Hence my reasoning that if the author had meant 'evil aligned creature', they would have stated it that way.

And how is it any more simple than: "Is it a creature? Yes. Is it Evil? Yes."

Actually.. thats the same statement for both of our approaches. The difference is that you check the 'alignment' block and I check the type/subtype block

"Main Antagonist =/= Evil."

Agreed, however the trope of 'BBEG who is really CN' gets as boring as 'BBEG who is a blood sucking fiend'. Some BBEG should be [Evil]...and some of those will be the sneaky kind of manipulators who would prefer to not glow whenever a 'Detect Evil' goes off nearby {like the OP's character}
One option is permanent non-detection.. but that leaves tell-tales as well.

But, I think we have wandered off the path of the OP to a point where I agree with your viewpoint but will run game to my preference.

 

[Felix]

Never try posting while tired and half-way through reading college textbooks on marketting!

Serves you right for studying marketing; you're missing out on the exciting, thrill-a-minute textbooks of Accounting!

But, I think we have wandered off the path of the OP to a point where I agree with your viewpoint but will run game to my preference.

Agreed. At least ManicMidget will know what ruling the DM has to make when Detect Evil comes into play, eh?

 

[roguerouge]

As far as the role playing goes, develop a rationale that justifies your actions and stick to it. And remember George Costanza's advice for beating the lie detector: it's not a lie if you believe it's true.

Lie #1: What? I took the Leadership feat. Back off!

 

[Maldor]

My DMs reply was simply 'dont count on it, you've made your bed.' I think this is the perfect response though because the character has spent all her life developing an 'I want revenge' mentality. The other players are not aware of the class because of issues and conflicts that the developments could cause. Myself and my DM want the revelations to be a surprise and decisions based on it to be instinct rather than fully thought out plans by players rather than characters.

Im still trying to find a way of playing a character with thralls and followers while making sure the other PCs remain unaware of it. My DM is remaining very unbiased on that part, he believes that I should puzzle it out but I dont want to destroy the adventures he has planned because of my inexperience.

Pay them give your fallowers a small wage then have them give it back later out of veiw of the other PC's or let them keep it you can't be blamed if your employes or very very devoted.