|
It's a clause to allow the GM to step in and override a player who's trying to use their 'You can't touch meeeee, I'm Neutral' PC to opt out of interacting with the game world (see also Prot from Alignment, Holy/Unholy Word, holy blade in one hand/hellblade in the other).
The sort who claims they've covered tHemselves, by tossing a few coppers to a starving beggar, so they won't pop up on a paladin's radar when they go to burn the orphanage.
The GM can reply with "Nice try, smartarse, but it doesn't work that way..."
Evil is as evil does; having an "officially Neutral" alignment doesn't mean that you won't glow like a beacon to Detect Evil if you're walking down the street planning to rob/maim/kill someone.
The FUN part is that it's INTENT: even if someone changes their mind about committing (x) evil act, while they're planning on doing it (actively planning, not just a flash of anger or adrenalin) they will register as evil.
Which can be awfully bad, if you happen to be passing a paladin on your way to (maybe) kill someone.
Basically it requires the GM to read minds, or at least be very good at reading cues. Can you imagine being smote for "being evil" because you told someone you were going to kill them but in reality you were going to save them but you pretended like you're going to get the information?
If someone is burning down / planning to burn down an orphanage, they're just evil. I'd rule that creatures being controlled by an evil mind and those with active dual personalities where one is evil would count as having actively evil intent even if the creature itself is not evil.
Controlled by an evil mind, yes.
Having an evil personality (where do you come up with this stuff?) when the evil persona is not in control, no. There is no intent to be detected (assuming the nonevil persona isn't having an off day).
Also remeber that if they are low enough level they dont show up period