Wow, check out this rules FAQ on the WotC boards.

[Gizzard]

The point I was getting at was that while animating Undead may be debatably Evil or not, the actual mechanics of animation is always, invariably Evil.

Since you channel Negative Energy to power your Undead you are forced to deal with a raw energy that will corrupt you. Its like if the material component for some spell was a ground-up kitten. The spell itself might be used for good or evil, but the process of preparing the spell is Evil.

Probably a better example is the Red Witch in George Martins "Game of Thrones" series. Some very Lawful characters believe that the Witch's spells bring about justice, but the fact that the spell requires human sacrifice makes it an Evil spell.

 

[Kraedin]

Negative Energy

Negative energy isn't evil. There's a pelthora of spells that use it, and only those that deal with the Undead are evil. Good gods provide Inflict spells to their followers, and Harm as well. Look at the plane itself- it has a negative energy dominant trait, but no alignment. Negative energy is neutral, not evil.

EDIT: I just want to make it clear that I'm talking about negative energy in general, not Animate Dead, Create Undead, or Create Greater Undead here.

 

[Caliban]

Re: Negative Energy

Negative energy isn't evil. There's a pelthora of spells that use it, and only those that deal with the Undead are evil. Good gods provide Inflict spells to their followers, and Harm as well. Look at the plane itself- it has a negative energy dominant trait, but no alignment. Negative energy is a neutral, not evil.

I agree that Negative Energy in and of itself is not inherently evil. However, the act of animating or creating undead is inherently evil, according to the core rules. Also, the animate dead spell does have an effect on the people who have died: their cannot be raised.

If you want a campaign that has more shades of grey, you can house rule that the various undead creation spells don't have the [Evil] descriptor. Just realize that that opens the door for a host of moral and ethical questions that the Core Rules sidestep by declaring it evil.

 

[Ancalagon]

The way I've seen it, animating dead is evil because it disturbs the soul of the dead.

Ancalagon

 

[Nareau]

Sorry to add to the confusion

Spikey, you're right; I was unclear as to what I was saying.
I meant to say this: "The target is flanked" is not sufficient for a rogue to get a sneak attack. "The rogue flanks the target" is sufficient.

As to whether Animating Dead is Evil...
IMC, Animate Dead pulls the spirit back to the Prime, forcing it to provide the energy necessary to move their corpse around. This is not pleasant for the spirit. In general, it's an evil act. But it's no more evil than trapping your enemy's soul in a gem.

 

[novyet]

Like making a pact with the devil to have him do your grocery shopping.

Wow, if you did that you must really hate grocery shopping....

 

[nharwell]

IMHO, the "charm" spells are far more evil than the "negative energy" spells. Certainly villagers would fear the necromancer that animates corpses -- but I think they'd fear even more the enchanter who can seize control of their minds. It's the unknown that people tend to fear; it's awfully easy to identify necromantic magics, but charm effects are much more insidious.

 

[HeavyG]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know of any spells that animate dead that are not evil?

Yes. Animate Object.

 

[Ristamar]

Yeah, I had thought of that a few days ago, then pondered over whether or not a corpse is actually an 'object.' Seems it would work...

 

[Crothian]

IMHO, the "charm" spells are far more evil than the "negative energy" spells. Certainly villagers would fear the necromancer that animates corpses -- but I think they'd fear even more the enchanter who can seize control of their minds. It's the unknown that people tend to fear; it's awfully easy to identify necromantic magics, but charm effects are much more insidious.

Going around and just charming people against their will is an evil act. It all depends on the reasons and circumstances behind the casting of spells and what sort of spin you put on those actions. I've tripped up PCs by taking their actions that they did as good PCs and twisted the view by a society so they were on trial for what they did. Fun type of adventure.