Think Twice!

[Standur]

Considerations Before Events - In regard to this I will tell you it is very hard to prep a DM event on a busy persistent world. When I did this elsewhere I would post a notice on the forum that players were not allowed in X areas between certain time periods. It was of course a dead giveaway that a DM event was about to happen but there is the trade off. If a DM allows me the curteousy of being in that area ooc'ly then I am going to treat it like I am sitting around the table with friends shooting the breeze until the DM says go. Of course since we aren't sitting around the table if you walk in late to the party and realize too late that everyone is ooc then ooops all you can do is apologize.

[Chiangtao]

Then my only thought on that would be the required "concentration." I'm not sure how they define that for spells in DND 3.5. Can you easily carry on a conversation while concentrating? Would you think to "concentrate" on someone you just met? Does it help to rock back and forth?

[Dragor]

Something that seems to me to be forgotten in all this is the fact that not all paladins follow the same code of conduct regaurding evil beings, and not all players fully research how their charachter is supposed to react when encountering a non-hostile evil being. The same players definatly do not research the consequenses of reacting incorrectly in regards to the code of conduct they are charged to follow.

[Root]

One of these rare times I agree with Team Evil.

I houseruled Detect Evil out of existence in PnP and never looked back. If it's there, it's relied on, and I hate my Paladins looking like idiots because they refused to smite Lord Beakface the Malnourishing because he didn't ping as evil whilst proclaiming that his starving people were to deliver their wives and children to the castle for use in his cannibal buffet.

[Satoshi]

A Paladin loses nothing when they Detect Evil. They can do it at will, any time, in any situation. Evil can try to hide it's nature behind honeyed words and false pretenses, but the very Gods themselves have given the Paladin the ability to look past those pretenses into the souls of any living being. By taking roughly eighteen seconds out of their day every time they meet someone, they can potentially ensure that evil is rooted out and not allowed to fester - the very thing that a Paladin Order is designed to do. Failure to spend that inconsequential amount of time and effort could result in harm to the innocent. The most obvious choice isn't even simple - it's Duty. Failure to Detect Evil is nothing short of dereliction and gross negligence.

Detect Evil, Discern Lies, all of these forms of divination and compulsion are designed to bring the truth to light. Some are pre-emptive (Detect Evil, Discern Lies), some are not (Quest/Geas, Atonement). There are methods of getting around them (Nondetection, high Will saves, etc) - enough ways that Paladins and Clerics know that they cannot always rely on just their powers. They must be ever vigilant, and constantly on the look out for the wiles of evil and heresy lest it grow like the cancerous tumor it is in the underbelly of society.

As that is my opinion, every time I've ever played a Paladin in Pen and Paper (and notably in Baldur's Gate), I would Detect Evil EVERYTHING. And if there was an evil aura, no matter how faint, I could adjust my expectations as needed. Not take the side of evil quests, begin looking for suspicious activity that could expose ulterior motives, etc. Hell, even calling someone out on their 'suspect aura' can shake them and possibly get them to confess and fold before their plans progress. I would only consider outright assault after Detecting Evil if the aura was overwhelming and it was obvious there is festered and blatant evil that should be stopped immediately.

I honestly think the only reason most people (especially the evil people) dislike divination is because it requires effort and planning to thwart that could otherwise be spent herp derping about and cackling wildly while twisting their Snidley Whiplash mustaches.

Edit: tl;dr - Be a Helmite Paladin, Detect Evil everything because it's your duty, smite all evil auras over the age of 8, be best Paladin ever.

[Taintedglory]

I personally never use detect evil. I'd rather look at the actions of the person then the alignment. It works out for much better RP. Mostly because Alignment in D&D has lost its meaning over the years.

[roguethree]

Mostly because Alignment in D&D has lost its meaning over the years.

[Doubtful]

I wouldn't blame D&D for losing its grasp on alignments, but society.

[Taintedglory]

Thats what I meant I suppose. I meant it as using Alignments in D&D isnt much use anymore due to the society around it.

[Shedboy]

Unless a charachter has 100 on the good axis, the paladin's detect evil ability should go beep beep beep. It could be argued tha evil is in every mortal, and as such a Paladin walking through town with it on could have a hum of beeps going off.

Actually it coudl be a feedback tool Paladin use on each other "I am more holy than though etc you beep i dont (and that Paladin then looses a point for Hubris) "

Its stuff like demonic, diabolic, Sadistic and depraved evil where the Paladin's ability should probably really come into play detecting evil motive, intent and action.

Paladins probabbly shoudl get too hung up on evil or they will get depressed. It s a bit like working with certain uncivil population - a lot wont change, cant change, dont want to change, except you cant just slay the parasites because that would be evil. I am particularly thinking of my ex-wife the money grabbing hoare

Paladin on the server shoudl also not be using Banks, Lawyers or Dentists - another evil institution or necessary evil some might say.

All in good jest!

[Thief Of Navarre]

I hear you Shedboy! A paladin would likely hang himself after using detect evil in the middle of the trade tier ~ hundreds of corrupt and morally reprehensible people all in one big sleasy gaggle.

Its enough to bring a tear of joy to one's eye; the sight of a paladin hanging at the end of a yard of rope.

[Chiangtao]

So after this thread, a whole day goes by and it happens again.

Random level 16 paladin squire walks up to campfire. I have never met said paladin. He just walks up out of the blue and stares at me with golden eyes. He claims he must remove the evil.

Never going to win this. I'm just going to start ignoring this roleplay, as much as I hate to do it.

[Taintedglory]

God *Face palm* Bad Paladins is bad. Remove the evil? Really? Just a guy walking up to random people, proclaiming they are evil, and must remove them? On behalf of Paladins everywhere I apologize

[Chiangtao]

He was cool about it, it's all good. It's just the timing of this, so much in so few days.

[Taintedglory]

Well that is good he was cool about it. I'm sorry you are going through so much bad luck with this detect evil nonsense. I hope it brightens up for you