Detect Evil

[HaveLuteWillTravel]

I just feel the need to say that the counter to DE isn't really feasible until you get to about 6th level because the duration is way too short, and even then a single long conversation in a public place can mean you get pinged. Potions are absolutely no good for this outside of a rather quick encounter.

That said, I don't have a problem with DE on EfU. The thing a visual animation would likely do would be to cause the paladins use it a bit more discretely, as in they'd only use the ability before heading out with people to see who might be evil, or to see who they might trust in a certain situation. They maybe wouldn't just spam it standing in the public square at every passersby.

I personally don't see a problem with it either way, spamming it is unnecessary in order to keep true to your vows, since it can simply be used it when the proper situation arises and the paladin needs to know. However, there's no problem with spamming it either, since it's considered an active ability on EfU, which is different from how DE is in PnP...but then we're not playing PnP.

[xXCrystal_Rose]

If it did have a visual cue it might inspire people to (oh, the horror!) actually roleplay the ability. That suggestion has been flamed and shot down so many times in the past though already.

[Calixto]

There's a ubiquitous counter to DE that everyone knows.

The players? Maybe. But what about characters? Not every character is supposed to know about it. Wouldn't that be metagaming?
 
I currently play as a paladin, and DE bothers me, honestly. I only use it because I must. I find it a cheap way to ruin evil pc's plots.

[Paha]

Don't metagame. You have no idea other than that person is "evil". What it means is a whole other story. You do not know what they have done, what they are doing, or what their intentions are, other than by finding it out IC. Detect evil is as it's meant to be, in my opinion. Players are responsible for playing the class properly.

Some paladins may have be extremely wary of evil people, and warn everyone around them, but they still cannot fall into slandering without having something to base their words on. They cannot judge without proof. They cannot lie, cheat or use cheap tricks.

The class demands a lot from player. Mechanically they must have that ability as that's how paladins were made to be. They detect evil, and it's the first step for them.. Perhaps to keep their eyes open. They still cannot jump on that guy and slice his head off just for that. Paladin may very well cause problems for evil plots, that's their job, but it is also a class that easily gets left out if these evil people are more desired/useful in the world around us.

To common man, evil and good are not always so black and white when it comes to survival.

[The Beggar]

Caddies FTW, nails home yet again.

[TurboTax]

DE doesnt ruin someones plot, if they are playing an evil character, they shouldnt be acting good, and if they do. They would have some BS excuse to why they are evil or something. DE in my opinion is a great tool for a paladin. As, 1.. It allows you to stay true to you vows, 2.. It protects you from walking around with an evil person and then getting killed or something, 3.. It doesnt need to be role played, other than if you are put into a situation where you are asked to go out on some adventure with an evil person, or helping them.

[Aethereal]

DE doesnt ruin someones plot, if they are playing an evil character, they shouldnt be acting good, and if they do. They would have some BS excuse to why they are evil or something.

There is also the case of an inherently good or even neutral aligned character who was forced into an act of evil. Which invalidates your point about "shouldn't be acting good." Characters can possess complexity you know, there should be room to grow!

[HaveLuteWillTravel]

Father Michael was RPed horribly.

[9lives]

The players? Maybe. But what about characters? Not every character is supposed to know about it. Wouldn't that be metagaming?
 
I currently play as a paladin, and DE bothers me, honestly. I only use it because I must. I find it a cheap way to ruin evil pc's plots.

You may as well say that your PC does not know that Magic Weapon will make your weapon Magic, then.

[9lives]

The players? Maybe. But what about characters? Not every character is supposed to know about it. Wouldn't that be metagaming?
 
I currently play as a paladin, and DE bothers me, honestly. I only use it because I must. I find it a cheap way to ruin evil pc's plots.

You may as well say that your PC does not know that Magic Weapon will make your weapon magic, then.

[Spiffy Has]

lol ninelives double posted.

[Ommadawn]

This old chestnut, again.

[siriusdogstar]

If your alignment is Evil and no one knows you are evil IC, perhaps that alignment is not for you.

Father Michael was RPed horribly.

Good point.

[Calixto]

You may as well say that your PC does not know that Magic Weapon will make your weapon Magic, then.

Maybe I expressed my point incorrectly.
 
What I really mean is... Supposing every evil pc knows paladins can DE, know how DE works, and supposing every evil pc considers himself evil (which is not always the case);
 
Why would they all know a PfG pot/spell protects them from DE? Obviously they would know it grants some kind of protection, but they wouldn't know what the protection is, exactly. Just as nobody is supposed to know a PfE grants immunity from mind spells, bonus to ac and saving throws unless they have ranks in lore, are a spellcaster or were told so by someone else.
 
Anyway, as it was told before, it is rather unpractical. Eventually the pc will be known to be evil.
 
There should be other means to avoid DE, like having a high bluff... Unless it's already implemented.

[Spiffy Has]

There is. It's called applying for immunity to DE.