Comments on: Alignment Detection http://d21-gaming.com/blog/2007/06/21/alignment-detection/ Five veteran gamers, plus special guests, share their insights, rants, and raves about all things gaming, especially board games and RPGs. Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:41:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: A. Nonymous http://d21-gaming.com/blog/2007/06/21/alignment-detection/#comment-51481 A. Nonymous Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:07:38 +0000 http://d21-gaming.com/blog/2007/06/21/alignment-detection/#comment-51481 <p>Good catch, d...but you took what I was gonna say! :-(</p> Good catch, d…but you took what I was gonna say! :-(

]]> By: d21 Gaming » False Readings http://d21-gaming.com/blog/2007/06/21/alignment-detection/#comment-13477 d21 Gaming » False Readings Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:00:52 +0000 http://d21-gaming.com/blog/2007/06/21/alignment-detection/#comment-13477 [...] First off, I would like to apologize for my ramblings on last post. I must have been on some good drugs that night…. But this isn’t the first time this [...] [...] First off, I would like to apologize for my ramblings on last post. I must have been on some good drugs that night…. But this isn’t the first time this [...]

]]> By: MetalJim http://d21-gaming.com/blog/2007/06/21/alignment-detection/#comment-13276 MetalJim Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:03:01 +0000 http://d21-gaming.com/blog/2007/06/21/alignment-detection/#comment-13276 Here's my answer - Read the description of the "detect evil" spell in the 3.5 PH. This is a spell that takes a standard action to cast. It has verbal, somatic, and dive focus as casting requirements. You only get a slight evil "buzz" after one full round of concentration, a general sense of direction and evil "power level" after two full rounds, and you can pick the specifically evil character out of a group of five or six people only after three full rounds of concentration. I point out to players who are running paladins/ clerics that most "neutral" townsfolk consider it extremely rude to have someone walk up to them, start chanting, and waving a holy symbol at them for 30 seconds before even bothering to say hello. Evil characters, of course, sort of give the game away if they suddenly pull out a sword and attack the person doing the chanting, but they should at least get in one good "surprise round" action, such as running away, in response to the paladin's chanting. It's not like the paladin can stand in the back of the party and softly hum to himself while the bard makes small talk. But yes, however, that one spell/ ability has a real impact on a GM's story-telling - it's very hard to set up "not quite completely evil" but still helpful NPCs given the situation described above. Here’s my answer - Read the description of the “detect evil” spell in the 3.5 PH. This is a spell that takes a standard action to cast. It has verbal, somatic, and dive focus as casting requirements. You only get a slight evil “buzz” after one full round of concentration, a general sense of direction and evil “power level” after two full rounds, and you can pick the specifically evil character out of a group of five or six people only after three full rounds of concentration.

I point out to players who are running paladins/ clerics that most “neutral” townsfolk consider it extremely rude to have someone walk up to them, start chanting, and waving a holy symbol at them for 30 seconds before even bothering to say hello. Evil characters, of course, sort of give the game away if they suddenly pull out a sword and attack the person doing the chanting, but they should at least get in one good “surprise round” action, such as running away, in response to the paladin’s chanting. It’s not like the paladin can stand in the back of the party and softly hum to himself while the bard makes small talk.

But yes, however, that one spell/ ability has a real impact on a GM’s story-telling - it’s very hard to set up “not quite completely evil” but still helpful NPCs given the situation described above.

]]> By: KarasDjun http://d21-gaming.com/blog/2007/06/21/alignment-detection/#comment-13016 KarasDjun Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:38:45 +0000 http://d21-gaming.com/blog/2007/06/21/alignment-detection/#comment-13016 Hmm. That's rather depressing news. Here I thought WotC had finally done something I could applaud, and here I am back to square one with them again. Maybe the rumored 4th edition will correct this. I don't mind having alignments, but I find its use and abuse appalling. No matter how you try and correct the problem, it only makes it worse. Oh well.... Hmm. That’s rather depressing news. Here I thought WotC had finally done something I could applaud, and here I am back to square one with them again. Maybe the rumored 4th edition will correct this. I don’t mind having alignments, but I find its use and abuse appalling. No matter how you try and correct the problem, it only makes it worse. Oh well….

]]> By: d http://d21-gaming.com/blog/2007/06/21/alignment-detection/#comment-13001 d Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:19:00 +0000 http://d21-gaming.com/blog/2007/06/21/alignment-detection/#comment-13001 Well, it's true that detect evil identifies and locates evil auras, rather than evil creatures. However, if you look at the table, all evil creatures radiate an evil aura. Those with an inherent evilness, such as evil outsiders, undead, or clergy, will radiate a more powerful aura relative to their hit dice, but all evil creatures still radiate an evil aura. So, no, you were playing it right all all along (unfortunately). Well, it’s true that detect evil identifies and locates evil auras, rather than evil creatures. However, if you look at the table, all evil creatures radiate an evil aura. Those with an inherent evilness, such as evil outsiders, undead, or clergy, will radiate a more powerful aura relative to their hit dice, but all evil creatures still radiate an evil aura. So, no, you were playing it right all all along (unfortunately).

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