Detect Evil
(Divination)
Reversible
[default: cleric, mu: magic-user]
Detect Evil
(Divination)
Reversible
[default: cleric, mu: magic-user]
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1/2 turn/level (mu: 5r*) (wj: 5r*) |
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(mu: v.s), (wj: v.s) |
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<> (wj: 1" path) |
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Explanation/Description:
This is a spell which discovers emanations of evil,
or of good in the case of
the reverse spell, from any creature or object.
For example, evil alignment
or an evilly cursed object will radiate evil, but a
hidden trap or an unintelligent
viper will not.
The duration of a detect
evil (or detect good) spell is 1 turn + 1/2 turn (5 rounds, or 5 minutes)
per level of the cleric.
Thus an Acolyte
(C1) can CAST a spell with a 1 1/2 turn duration,
an Adept
(C2) a 2 turn duration, 2 1/2 at Priest (C3),
etc.
The spell has a path of
detection 1” wide in the direction in which the cleric
is facing.
DMG.Cleric:
Basically the degree of evil (faint, moderate, strong, overwhelming) and
its general nature (expectant,
malignant, gloating, etc.)
can be noted.
If the evil is overwhelming,
the general bent (lawful, neutral, chaotic) has a 10% chance per level
of the cleric of being detectable.
DMG.MU: The magick
detects only the intensity of the evil.
(Cf. cleric spell of the
same name.)
Detect Evil: This
spell will only reveal the
intensity of the evil, and
not the alignment
involved, so it is not the
same as the 1st
level priestly version (cf,
comments on the
1st
level clerical spell detect evil -- next
issue).
(Imagine #29)
Detect Evil: The strength
of the emanating
evil will always be detected
by this
spell (in the absence of
any magickal
shielding, of course).
The DMG also
specifies that if the evil
is 'overwhelming',
there is a 10% per level
chance for the
casting priest to detect
the alignment of
the evil (LE, NE, CE).
However, despite the
PH claim that emanations
of evil from
creatures can be detected
with this spell,
such emanations will only
rarely be
detected, as the DMG
makes clear;
'Characters who are very
strongly aligned,
do not stray from their
faith, and who are
of a relatively high level
(at least 8th or
higher) might radiate evil
or good if they
are intent upon appropriate
actions.' DMs
may ignore the element of
faith, since it
suggests religious devotion;
a high-level
godless MU about to cast
death spell
should be detected! Extrapolation
to non-humanoid
monsters is not clear.
If one
equates 8th level with 8HD,
this spell is
not going to detect many
monsters.
A Paladin's
natural ability to detect evil
should be treated in the
same way, with
the percentage chance for
detecting the
alignment of the overwhelming
evil being the
same as for a priest of
the same level
(unlike the turning ability,
the paladin has
this ability naturally at
1st level).
(Imagine #30)
DMG:
It is important to make a distinction between character alignment
and
some powerful force of evil
or good when this detection function is considered.
In general, only a know
alignment spell will determine the evil or good a character holds within.
It must be a great evil
or a strong good to be detected.
Characters who are very
strongly aligned, do not stray from their faith,
and who are of relatively
high level (at least 8th or higher) might radiate evil or good if they
are intent upon appropriate actions.
Powerful monsters such as
demons,
devils,
ki-rin and the like will send forth emanations of their evil or good.
Aligned undead must radiate
evil, far it is this power and negative force which enables them to continue
existing.
Note that none of these
emanations are noticeable without magical detection.
In like fashion, powerful
magick items which have some purpose as respects alignment will radiate
evil or good --
unless they are aligned
with neutrality, which is neither, of course.
Most other magic items will
most certainly not,
even though their effect
might be for evil or good.
Likewise, items which are
not magical but which have powerful effects will probably not give any
evil or good aura.
Poison is a prime example.
It is perfectly neutral and has no aura whatsoever.
Unholy water will emanate
evil, just as holy water will radiate good.
Places sanctified to some
deity of evil or good will certainly give off an appropriate aura.
Thus, a trap, for example,
is neutral and gives no evil or good reading.
If the same trap leads victims
to the lair of Juiblex, for instance,
there will be an aura of evil about it;
while if it brings victims
into the realm of Bahamut, it will send out an aura of good.
Using these guidelines,
you should hove little difficulty
in adjudicating the attempts of characters empowered to detect evil or
good to do so.
MC: It requires the
use of the cleric’s {holy
(or unholy) symbol} as its material
component, with the cleric holding it before him or her.
Variant:
(this spell has also been botched; all creatures receive a
save
against it; if made, they do
not detect as evil if truly
evil, and if
good or neutral, they may
falsely detect
as evil)
- Shandaril's
Workbook
Sh1:
This spell detects evil,
or good when reversed.
Non-magical inanimate objects
and unintelligent creatures do not radiate evil.
Sh1.MC: The shukenja's
holy symbol.
Wu Jen: Except as otherwise noted, this spell is identical to the shukenja spell of the same name.
Wu Jen.Detect Good:
Except as otherwise noted, this spell is identical to the shukenja spell
of the same name.
Question: Will a Detect Evil spell be effective on a demon polymorphed as a man?
Answer: Yes, the spell
will reveal emanations of evil in such a case.
Some demons (Demogorgon,
Orcus,
Yeenoghu,
Types Ill-V)
have ability equivalent
to a Polyrnorph Self spell; however, that
spell does not alter the
personality and mentality of the creature
which is polymorphed. The
evil nature of a demon would be
apparent to the caster of
a Detect Evil spell even if the demon
was disguised as a lawful
good being.
<Note: Detection of Good/Evil (revise to Detection of Good or Evil?) is the psionic equivalent of the above spell and it's reverse>
Bombay wrote:
Detect Evil - It says that
it will allow you to detect Objects Evily cursed, Is that anything from
a Scarab of Death to -2 Backstabber?
Or just really potent evil
items like the Spider Statue of Lolth(In D3) or the Lich Treasure in D1?
Teh spell was written with
the capacity to detect any evilly cursed item, from minor sorts to major
ones.
If it is played as written
then it detects the whole gamut of such items.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
A few questions: 1. Does
detect evil allow the paladin or caster to detect evil NPCs, PCs, and monsters;
just what are the limits of this spell/ability?
It allows whatever the AD&D
rules says it allows. I am not going to be arbiter of WotC's property 