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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Voadam" data-source="post: 2162678" data-attributes="member: 2209">In RAW objective alignment exists in the game world even though the definitions themselves are vague with little hard guidance. In the game world a paladin can commit an objectively evil act that can cost him his paladin powers. I agree with you there Sigil.However, your extrapolated definition of evil acts seems exceedingly over broad and not a natural reading of the term as used in the game. It would seem to prohibit a paladin from huting or killing others. So no fighting evil. Period. It is expressly in the srd as something implied by evil.Here are the problems I have with your extrapolated alignment definition expansions leading to your stated view of evil acts:First implied does not equal the thing itself. Your expanded definition assumes that it does. Even though evil implies killing others, killing others does not necessarily equal evil. Under your expanded implied opposites view, killing others would also be considered good if done to protect others. The killing would be evil but the protection would be good.Second you take anything implying the opposite of the implied qualities of good as defining evil while only some of those show up on the express list of qualities implied by evil. You are adding inferences and definitions that are not there in the srd. It does not say they are mirror opposites. Self interest as an opposite of altruism is not necessarily evil.Third, to take your prior argument, mean does not equal evil. I would say the same applies to defining evil acts for paladins.I would say your definition of evil acts seems a possible extrapolation of the srd guides, but it requires making unsupported inferential leaps and leads to artificial and unnecessary absurdities.Under your extrapolated definition a paladin entering his first fight against an evil foe necessarily loses his paladin powers immediately.PS my understanding of alignment descriptor spells is that there is no rule saying casting them is an aligned act, only that the spell itself detects as an aligned thing under detect alignment spells and divine casters do not have access to oppositely aligned spells. I would not say wielding an unholy sword is an evil act, nor would I say an evil summoner summoning an angel is doing a good act. In fact if he were to do so to commit heinously evil acts then I would say he is committing an evil act, though using supernatural good power to do so. And evil spells are a moot point because evil acts are only relevant in the context of paladins who do not have any evil descriptor spells on their spell list.</blockquote>

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