Not positive this is a rule or an option question.
Necromancy spells for Clerics, usable if good alignment? They appear to be. But some say Necromancy [Evil], is that an indicator that these are usable only by evil alignments or something else?
I have a Cleric Lawful Neutral, deity Irori, healing and strength domain that wishes to pick up Necromancy spells (create undead, etc) as they level.
You can use them as long as they do not say [evil].
You can use them as long as they do not say [evil].
Ok, what is the [evil] an indication of, alignment or is that domain? Just want to explain this correctly when I tell them.
If you are good-aligned character, you cannot used spells with the [Evil] descriptor. Not all necromancy spells are evil, as they can protect a dead body from manipulation. Animate dead does have the [Evil] descriptor, so if you are a Good-aligned cleric, it would be against your (in-character) beliefs of using that spell.
OK, this was my thought as well, but since the spells appeared (Hero Lab) even when my player enabled the filter to only show valid spells, I was unsure.
If you are good-aligned character, you cannot used spells with the [Evil] descriptor. Not all necromancy spells are evil, as they can protect a dead body from manipulation. Animate dead does have the [Evil] descriptor, so if you are a Good-aligned character, it would be against your (in-character) beliefs of using that spell.
If you are a good-aligned cleric, you cannot use spells with the [Evil] descriptor. Nothing prevents an arcane spellcaster from casting spells with an opposing alignment descriptor, although some GMs may house-rule that repeated and frequent casting of spells with a conflicting alignment descriptor causes the spellcaster some alignment problems.
You can use them as long as they do not say [evil].Ok, what is the [evil] an indication of, alignment or is that domain? Just want to explain this correctly when I tell them.
It's the descriptor, which is like a subcategory of spells. So, there are evil necromancy spells, and some that aren't considered so. Here's a brief description of descriptors from the section on Magic:
[Descriptor]
Appearing on the same line as the school and subschool, when applicable, is a descriptor that further categorizes the spell in some way. Some spells have more than one descriptor.
The descriptors are acid, air, chaotic, cold, darkness, death, earth, electricity, evil, fear, fire, force, good, language-dependent, lawful, light, mind-affecting, sonic, and water.
Most of these descriptors have no game effect by themselves, but they govern how the spell interacts with other spells, with special abilities, with unusual creatures, with alignment, and so on.
And the part from the Cleric class saying that a good Cleric should use evil spells, bold emphasis mine:
Spells: A cleric casts divine spells which are drawn from the cleric spell list presented in Spell Lists. Her alignment, however, may restrict her from casting certain spells opposed to her moral or ethical beliefs; see chaotic, evil, good, and lawful spells. A cleric must choose and prepare her spells in advance.
If you are good-aligned character, you cannot used spells with the [Evil] descriptor. Not all necromancy spells are evil, as they can protect a dead body from manipulation. Animate dead does have the [Evil] descriptor, so if you are a Good-aligned character, it would be against your (in-character) beliefs of using that spell.If you are a good-aligned cleric, you cannot use spells with the [Evil] descriptor. Nothing prevents an arcane spellcaster from casting spells with an opposing alignment descriptor, although some GMs may house-rule that repeated and frequent casting of spells with a conflicting alignment descriptor causes the spellcaster some alignment problems.
Yes, you're right. I should have been more specific. Only certain classes have that restriction. Mainly classes where you draw power from a deity or nature (Clerics, Paladins, etc.)
OK, this works perfect. Thank you!
You are a LN cleric of Irori. You can not cast chaotic spells but you don't have a hard alignment restriction against evil or good spells.
Some GM's will also go by the alignment of the god since it can differ from that of the PC.
But check on your GM's ruling of the religion. I can't remember for sure, but I was thinking Irori was one of the ones that specifically hates undead. If true, most GM's would say Irori wouldn't grant create undead spells or only under the most extremem circumstances.
Also, do you channel positive or negative energy? Some GM's say if your neutral cleric chose to channel positive energy he can not create undead.
Bottom line, check with your GM.
Irori shouldn't have any problem with evil spells, being neutral. No protection rom law, however.
Irori shouldn't have a problem. But the cleric class states that it's on the Cleric's alignment; not the deity's. Now if the cleric went neutral (there's potential for some good roleplaying right there), then it wouldn't be a problem.
Oh. Yes. I missed that. Then there isn't a problem. But he asked "usable if good alignment?" in his question. That's where my assumption came from. If the cleric stays neutral, animate away. If the cleric goes good, then there might be a problem.
You are a LN cleric of Irori. You can not cast chaotic spells but you don't have a hard alignment restriction against evil or good spells.
Some GM's will also go by the alignment of the god since it can differ from that of the PC.
But check on your GM's ruling of the religion. I can't remember for sure, but I was thinking Irori was one of the ones that specifically hates undead. If true, most GM's would say Irori wouldn't grant create undead spells or only under the most extremem circumstances.
Also, do you channel positive or negative energy? Some GM's say if your neutral cleric chose to channel positive energy he can not create undead.
Bottom line, check with your GM.
CRB says that you can't cast a spell that is opposed to your alignment OR the alignment of your god.
EX: I am a LN Cleric of a LG God, I cannot cast [chaotic] spells because it is opposed to my alignment, but I can also not cast [evil] spells because it is opposed to my god's alignment. From a fluff stand point it's because if you are the ultimate embodiment of good you don't grant evil powers to your followers.
Irori shouldn't have any problem with evil spells, being neutral. No protection rom law, however.Irori shouldn't have a problem. But the cleric class states that it's on the Cleric's alignment; not the deity's. Now if the cleric went neutral (there's potential for some good roleplaying right there), then it wouldn't be a problem.
I didn't think Irori had problems with evil spells, but I thought he was one of the ones that had a specific problem with undead. I may be remembering that incorrectly though.
Also remember that even if you and your god don't have a problem with it, your group might.
I have heard of a group with a necromancer/animator and a paladin/oath against undeath in the same party. And in-party war might just wreck the campaign.
I'll keep looking into this based on some of the latest comments. Correct, I did say "good" because I though he was Neutral Good originally, before I went an saw he was Lawful Neutral.