LE character and spells with the [good] descriptor

[Nostagar]

I came up against this question in last nights game.

my LE character was trying to summon a Lantern Archon with Summon Monster III as we were fighting a demon and getting our behinds handed to us as the cleric hadn't prepared 'Align Weapon' that day, something that the spell says is fully capable of doing. One of the other players pointed out that this was now a [Good] spell, and because of it, an evil character can't cast it.

I of course challenged his assertion, as I have never heard about such a thing. I do know that non-good characters can't cast Sanctified magic, and non-evil can't cast Profane magic, but never that an evil character couldn't cast spells with the [good] descriptor, or that good characters couldn't cast spells with the [evil] descriptor. Sure, they would be Good or Evil acts but nothing would prevent the character from doing it. Sufficient Good or Evil acts might see the character's alignment shifting (if there weren't ulterior motives for those acts) but shouldn't be prohibited, right?

If this isn't correct, could someone please direct me to the source material that says an evil character can't cast spells with a [good] descriptor?

[Umbral Reaver]

An arcane caster can summon aligned creatures as they please.

A divine caster can't.

[Omelite]

Nostagar wrote:

I came up against this question in last nights game.

my LE character was trying to summon a Lantern Archon with Summon Monster III as we were fighting a demon and getting our behinds handed to us as the cleric hadn't prepared 'Align Weapon' that day, something that the spell says is fully capable of doing. One of the other players pointed out that this was now a [Good] spell, and because of it, an evil character can't cast it.

I of course challenged his assertion, as I have never heard about such a thing. I do know that non-good characters can't cast Sanctified magic, and non-evil can't cast Profane magic, but never that an evil character couldn't cast spells with the [good] descriptor, or that good characters couldn't cast spells with the [evil] descriptor. Sure, they would be Good or Evil acts but nothing would prevent the character from doing it. Sufficient Good or Evil acts might see the character's alignment shifting (if there weren't ulterior motives for those acts) but shouldn't be prohibited, right?

If this isn't correct, could someone please direct me to the source material that says an evil character can't cast spells with a [good] descriptor?

That rule does not seem to exist. Evil characters can cast spells with the good descriptor.

[Starglim]

You didn't mention what class the character has.

A cleric or inquisitor can't cast spells with alignment descriptors opposed to her alignment or her deity's.

As far as I can see, an oracle can. Any arcane caster can do so.

[Evil Genius Prime]

Umbral Reaver is correct. Page 39 of the core rulebook explains it. Casting restrictions due to alignment descriptors only affect Divine Casters. Not Arcane Casters.

[Nostagar]

Starglim wrote:

You didn't mention what class the character has.

A cleric or inquisitor can't cast spells with alignment descriptors opposed to her alignment or her deity's.

As far as I can see, an oracle can. Any arcane caster can do so.

Sorry, forgot to mention, my character's a wizard.

[Starglim]

Nostagar wrote:

Starglim wrote:

You didn't mention what class the character has.

A cleric or inquisitor can't cast spells with alignment descriptors opposed to her alignment or her deity's.

As far as I can see, an oracle can. Any arcane caster can do so.

Sorry, forgot to mention, my character's a wizard.

Then he can cast [chaotic] and [good] spells without problems.

[Nostagar]

Thanks all for helping to solve this dispute for me! :)

[LazarX]

Starglim wrote:

Nostagar wrote:

Starglim wrote:

You didn't mention what class the character has.

A cleric or inquisitor can't cast spells with alignment descriptors opposed to her alignment or her deity's.

As far as I can see, an oracle can. Any arcane caster can do so.

Sorry, forgot to mention, my character's a wizard.

Then he can cast [chaotic] and [good] spells without problems.

Not any inherent problems in casting the spells themselves at least in tournament.

Doing this too often in a home campaign however can have other consequences... such as the folks who supervise the creatures you summon.