Detect Evil, why did you leave? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 mhbjarkistef Sep 16, 2011 9:58:16	I've only ever played 4e, that is up until last week when we decided it was time to see what all the fuzz was about 3.5. So we decided to make some characters and have our first Pathfinder session. It was an interesting experience and I can't wait to for our next session. There have been a lot of changes between editions, and I can understand why most of them happened. I understand why the skill list got simplified, how much noob friendly "skill training" is instead of "skill ranks" (although I like ranks better) and why the spell mechanics got completely re-invented. What I don't understand however is why Wizards® decided to remove the paladin's most iconic spell: Detect Evil from the game. This is one of the most iconic spell in the entire game, why did they leave it out in the cold in 4e? We now actually allow divine heroes to Detect Evil using Religion checks just like a mage would use Arcana to detect magic. Is there something wrong with this?
#2 Eisenritter Sep 16, 2011 15:12:50	Not really. I think it had to do with the atrophying of the alignment system, though. Y'know, what with alignment having as little mechanical effect on the game as possible? They really should have just cut it entirely. Then again, I prefer the color wheel idea anyway, so take those 2cp as you will.
#3 slobo777a Sep 17, 2011 2:01:11	The ability to detect alignments removes some style of story from the game. Want to find the guy who is secretly murdering the villagers? Oh, Detect Evil shows it's very likley to be the mayor and perhaps a couple of his cronies. Skip straight to the battle, avoiding all RP and investigation . . . It's much tougher to run any adventure with intrigue a game world where the bad guys are identifiable. Conversely, if you want simpler plots, then there's no need for Detect Evil, because it is bleedingly obvious who the BGs are anyway. In short, the ability gets in the way of some games, and does very little for others. Hence dropped. I'd be interested to know what it did for the OP that makes it exciting again?
#4 759mages Sep 18, 2011 0:01:28	We allow a similar use for Religion, but it's not alignment we base it on, but divine favor. Basically, Detect Enemy of X God.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

mhbjarkistef

Sep 16, 2011 9:58:16

I've only ever played 4e, that is up until last week when we decided it was time to see what all the fuzz was about 3.5. So we decided to make some characters and have our first Pathfinder session. It was an interesting experience and I can't wait to for our next session.

There have been a lot of changes between editions, and I can understand why most of them happened. I understand why the skill list got simplified, how much noob friendly "skill training" is instead of "skill ranks" (although I like ranks better) and why the spell mechanics got completely re-invented. What I don't understand however is why Wizards® decided to remove the paladin's most iconic spell: Detect Evil from the game. This is one of the most iconic spell in the entire game, why did they leave it out in the cold in 4e?

We now actually allow divine heroes to Detect Evil using Religion checks just like a mage would use Arcana to detect magic. Is there something wrong with this?

Eisenritter

Sep 16, 2011 15:12:50

Not really. I think it had to do with the atrophying of the alignment system, though. Y'know, what with alignment having as little mechanical effect on the game as possible? They really should have just cut it entirely.

Then again, I prefer the color wheel idea anyway, so take those 2cp as you will.

slobo777a

Sep 17, 2011 2:01:11

The ability to detect alignments removes some style of story from the game.

Want to find the guy who is secretly murdering the villagers? Oh, Detect Evil shows it's very likley to be the mayor and perhaps a couple of his cronies. Skip straight to the battle, avoiding all RP and investigation . . .

It's much tougher to run any adventure with intrigue a game world where the bad guys are identifiable.

Conversely, if you want simpler plots, then there's no need for Detect Evil, because it is bleedingly obvious who the BGs are anyway.

In short, the ability gets in the way of some games, and does very little for others. Hence dropped.

I'd be interested to know what it did for the OP that makes it exciting again?

759mages

Sep 18, 2011 0:01:28

We allow a similar use for Religion, but it's not alignment we base it on, but divine favor. Basically, Detect Enemy of X God.