Divine Casters and Alignment Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Divine Casters and Alignment Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
LonePaladin
04-06-06, 07:43 PM Clerics, druids, and most other divine spellcasters have a restriction on spells with alignment descriptors (such as protection from evil, holy word, and others). Does this restriction apply to other spell lists? In other words, is a lawful good cleric/sorcerer prohibited from casting protection from good as a sorcerer?
Minister_for_Moral_Truth
04-06-06, 08:15 PM Nope. No restriction.

Although it is the case that casting an aligned spell is an act of the apropriate alignment, and so casting lawful spells regularly will cause a shift towards Lawful alignment, good spells will shift to Good alignment and so-on.
Lord_Canius
04-06-06, 09:13 PM A. This should have been posted either in the Magic forum or the Classes and Prestige Classes forum.
B. No restriction on alignment spells. The alignment of the spell detirmines what it can affect, and what spells can counter it.
C. Minister_for_Moral_Truth, while it may be your opinion that alignment spells cause a shift in alignment, as far as my knowledge of the DMG and PHB goes, nowhere does it say, as a hard fact, that casting a spell with an alignment causes you to shift in that direction, alignment wise. It is implied that such is logical, but there is no rule stating that such an alignment shift actually occurs. I would advise not slinging your opinions around like facts, as you are likely to start a flame-war.
Minister_for_Moral_Truth
04-06-06, 10:08 PM I will concede the point. However, it is strongly implied and commonly interpreted that casting a spell constitutes an act in line with the spell's alignment, and "If your character acts in a way appropriate to another alignment, your DM may decide that his alignment has changed to match his actions." (PHB, p104)
runestar
04-06-06, 10:45 PM Clerics, druids, and most other divine spellcasters have a restriction on spells with alignment descriptors (such as protection from evil, holy word, and others). Does this restriction apply to other spell lists? In other words, is a lawful good cleric/sorcerer prohibited from casting protection from good as a sorcerer?

Nothing is stopping him from casting, say, animate dead as a sorc, though I expect his deity will have something to say about/to him very soon... ;)
LonePaladin
04-12-06, 04:19 PM Thanks for the quick answers. It's always nice to know there are other rules-lawyers I can call on for a second opinion.

I must admit, though, I have considered making the alignment-restriction universal, even applying it to arcane casters. Maybe if I ran a game that made alignments more of an issue...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LonePaladin 04-06-06, 07:43 PM	Clerics, druids, and most other divine spellcasters have a restriction on spells with alignment descriptors (such as protection from evil, holy word, and others). Does this restriction apply to other spell lists? In other words, is a lawful good cleric/sorcerer prohibited from casting protection from good as a sorcerer?
Minister_for_Moral_Truth 04-06-06, 08:15 PM	Nope. No restriction. Although it is the case that casting an aligned spell is an act of the apropriate alignment, and so casting lawful spells regularly will cause a shift towards Lawful alignment, good spells will shift to Good alignment and so-on.
Lord_Canius 04-06-06, 09:13 PM	A. This should have been posted either in the Magic forum or the Classes and Prestige Classes forum. B. No restriction on alignment spells. The alignment of the spell detirmines what it can affect, and what spells can counter it. C. Minister_for_Moral_Truth, while it may be your opinion that alignment spells cause a shift in alignment, as far as my knowledge of the DMG and PHB goes, nowhere does it say, as a hard fact, that casting a spell with an alignment causes you to shift in that direction, alignment wise. It is implied that such is logical, but there is no rule stating that such an alignment shift actually occurs. I would advise not slinging your opinions around like facts, as you are likely to start a flame-war.
Minister_for_Moral_Truth 04-06-06, 10:08 PM	I will concede the point. However, it is strongly implied and commonly interpreted that casting a spell constitutes an act in line with the spell's alignment, and "If your character acts in a way appropriate to another alignment, your DM may decide that his alignment has changed to match his actions." (PHB, p104)
runestar 04-06-06, 10:45 PM	Clerics, druids, and most other divine spellcasters have a restriction on spells with alignment descriptors (such as protection from evil, holy word, and others). Does this restriction apply to other spell lists? In other words, is a lawful good cleric/sorcerer prohibited from casting protection from good as a sorcerer? Nothing is stopping him from casting, say, animate dead as a sorc, though I expect his deity will have something to say about/to him very soon... ;)
LonePaladin 04-12-06, 04:19 PM	Thanks for the quick answers. It's always nice to know there are other rules-lawyers I can call on for a second opinion. I must admit, though, I have considered making the alignment-restriction universal, even applying it to arcane casters. Maybe if I ran a game that made alignments more of an issue...