When can a paladin use his Detect Evil ability

[dead]

Can she do it when ever she feels like it?

Or, does she have to have some grounds for *suspicion* to do it?

 

[Crothian]

Whenever she wants

 

[Vymair]

Anytime, but it is a spell-like ability so most everyone around the Paladin is going to know the Paladin is performing magic. This would often be unwelcome or even very rude in common social situations..

 

[FireLance]

Anytime, but it is a spell-like ability so most everyone around the Paladin is going to know the Paladin is performing magic.

Um, not really. By the rules, a spell-like ability has no verbal, somatic or material components, although it requires enough concentration that you can provoke an AOO if you use it in combat.

Although not strictly canon, the following quote from Rules of the Game: All About Spell-like Abilities (Part Four) on the WotC site gives an idea of what using a spell-like ability might look like:

So what does a spell-like ability look like when it's used? Well, the answer is pretty much any way the user wants it to look and can pull off. When a creature simply uses a spell-like ability without any dramatic flourishes, it still shows some sign that it's concentrating. For example, it might stop moving for a moment, or it may furrow its brow (if it has any brows to furrow) or make some incidental gesture.

Alert and knowledgable characters might spot it, but others may just assume the paladin is daydreaming or having a headache.

This would often be unwelcome or even very rude in common social situations.

This is campaign specific. Depending on the level of threat from evil in the campaign, this may even be recognised as a necessity and accepted, like screening for weapons and other dangerous devices.

 

[Olive]

This is campaign specific. Depending on the level of threat from evil in the campaign, this may even be recognised as a necessity and accepted, like screening for weapons and other dangerous devices.

Sure, but I don't think anyone would be reaching too much to say that staring at some one intently for 18 seconds is generally rude, and even more so if you do it down the pub. What you describe is probably more specific.

Anyway, the question is campaign specific. By the RAW, the paladin can use the ability at will. Some DMs may penalise such mistrust however, or change the actual mechanics.

 

[FireLance]

Sure, but I don't think anyone would be reaching too much to say that staring at some one intently for 18 seconds is generally rude, and even more so if you do it down the pub.

Sorry to nitpick, but Detect Evil covers a 60 foot radius cone-shaped emanation. The paladin doesn't even have to look directly at the person he's targeting. He could be staring at the row of bottles on the wall behind the bar and still assess the aura of evil (if any) on the guy seated 20 feet in front of him, and 5 feet to his left.

 

[frankthedm]

Detect Evil (Sp): At will, a paladin can use detect evil, as the spell.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Detect Evil
Divination
Level: Clr 1
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 60 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped emanation
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 min./ level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You can sense the presence of evil. The amount of information revealed depends on how long you study 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 power of the most potent evil aura present.
If you are of good alignment, and the strongest evil aura’s power is overwhelming (see below), and the HD or level of the aura’s source is at least twice your character level, you are stunned for 1 round and the spell ends.
3rd Round: The power and location of each aura. If an aura is outside your line of sight, then you discern its direction but not its exact location.
Aura Power: An evil aura’s power depends on the type of evil creature or object that you’re detecting and its HD, caster level, or (in the case of a cleric) class level; see the accompanying table. If an aura falls into more than one strength category, the spell indicates the stronger of the two.
———————— Aura Power ————————
Creature/Object Faint Moderate Strong Overwhelming
Evil creature1 (HD) 10 or lower 11–25 26–50 51 or higher
Undead (HD) 2 or lower 3–8 9–20 21 or higher
Evil outsider (HD) 1 or lower 2–4 5–10 11 or higher
Cleric of an evil deity 2 (class levels) 1 2–4 5–10 11 or higher
Evil magic item or spell (caster level) 2nd or lower 3rd–8th 9th–20th 21st or higher
1 Except for undead and outsiders, which have their own entries on the table.
2 Some characters who are not clerics may radiate an aura of equivalent power. The class description will indicate whether this applies.
Lingering Aura: An evil aura lingers after its original source dissipates (in the case of a spell) or is destroyed (in the case of a creature or magic item). If detect evil is cast and directed at such a location, the spell indicates an aura strength of dim (even weaker than a faint aura). How long the aura lingers at this dim level depends on its original power:
Original Strength Duration of Lingering Aura
Faint 1d6 rounds
Moderate 1d6 minutes
Strong 1d6x10 minutes
Overwhelming 1d6 days
Animals, traps, poisons, and other potential perils are not evil, and as such this spell does not detect them.
Each round, you can turn to detect evil 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.

It is the spell, not a spell like ability. One free hand is needed and divine focus has to be at the ready.

The paladin doesn't even have to look directly at the person he's targeting.

All depends on what the DM decides what studying an area entails [turning your head while looking in the cone[round 1], seeing the strongest aura [round 2]then focusing on each individual to see how strong they all are [round 3]]

I would wave the LOS requirement if the Paladin had another perception method that worked well enough [scent being a good example]

 

[FireLance]

It is the spell, not a spell like ability. One free hand is needed and divine focus has to be at the ready.

Er, no. The "(Sp)" after "Detect Evil" in the description of the paladin's class abilities means that it is a spell-like ability. The spell is referenced so that you know how it works, but you don't actually need any components to use it. Again, not canon, but the following is from Rules of the Game: All About Spell-like Abilities (Part Two):

A spell-like ability is not a spell. (If it was, it would simply be called a spell.) Important differences between spell-like abilities and spells include the following:

1) A spell-like ability has no verbal, somatic, material, focus, or XP components. Using a spell-like ability is a purely mental action, albeit one that requires enough concentration to provoke attacks of opportunity. It is quite possible, however, that a creature using a spell-like ability might add some gesture, word, or flourish just for dramatic effect.

All depends on what the DM decides what studying an area entails [turning your head while looking in the cone[round 1], seeing the strongest aura [round 2]then focusing on each individual to see how strong they all are [round 3]

As with anything, this falls under Rule 0. However, given that Detect Evil covers a 60-foot radius cone-shaped emanation, you could theoretically pack around 100 medium-sized creatures into that area (more if you squeeze). That means a paladin only needs to give each individual 0.06 seconds worth of attention to determine the strength of his aura in round 3. Of course, as a DM, you have the prerogative to rule that despite what the rules say, Detect Evil doesn't allow a person to determine the exact strength of every aura when confronted with a large number of auras, or that a humanoid brain is not capable of processing such a large amount of information, anyway.

 

[Bigwilly]

Of course, as a DM, you have the prerogative to rule that despite what the rules say, Detect Evil doesn't allow a person to determine the exact strength of every aura when confronted with a large number of auras, or that a humanoid brain is not capable of processing such a large amount of information, anyway.

Especially when the entire 'Temple of the BBEG' radiates evil. Bwuhahahah!

I might rule in the case of detecting a whole bunch of evil dudes that the Paladin gets the impression that most of the dudes are low level or whatever and that the one with blood drenched armor holding the glowing black blade has got a strong evil aura. Nothing beats stating the obvious to your party.

Bigwilly

 

[Silveras]

Can she do it when ever she feels like it?

Or, does she have to have some grounds for *suspicion* to do it?

Those are actually 2 different questions:
When can she use the power ?
When should she use the power ?

According to the rules, the "can" is "at will", whenever she wants.

The "should" part is highly dependent on the campaign world.

If the world has social restrictions, or even legal restrictions, on the use of divinations, the Paladin should respect those (generally). In a sophisticated society with access to a lot of divination magic, it is not unreasonable that privacy laws would be enacted. Paladins may be afforded greater discretion, but they may also have to justify their actions on occasion. The official religion may be exempted from the legal limitations, but may have their own rules about when to detect and when not to detect.

In the end, the DM has to make clear to the player what the "should" part is, and do so before the Paladin violates those rules. Taking away the Paladin's abilities for misuse without letting the player know what counted as misuse beforehand is bad.