Normally clerics must be within 1 alignment step of their deity. Being a cleric gives you an aura class feature, which basically increases when you detect as that alignment based on who your deity is.
Is it correct that a LG cleric of a NG deity would detect as good (faintly) at level 1, thanks to their class aura? And At level 5 they would detect strongly as good and faintly as lawful?
And so, if somehow the rule restricting alignment steps between cleric and deity didn't exist, you could then have a CG cleric of LG deity which would detect as Lawful and Good at level one, and start detecting as Chaotic at level 5?
I just want to make sure I have a correct understanding of the way the aura class feature granted to clerics interacts with their own actual alignment for the purposes of detection spells.
All of those scenarios are correct
It's analogous to creatures who have an alignment subtype and a personal alignment different from that subtype, except that it also extends on effects based on alignment beyond detection in that case.
Alright, then would you also agree that clerics (and paladins, and anyone with the aura class feature) effectively have two sets of detectable auras, one based on their own alignment and one based on the alignment of their deity?
Basically, that the aura class feature just grants an additional detectable aura (the same as your deity's) that has no impact on the existence of the aura detectable based on your own alignment.
I always thought that the aura from your deity replaced your own aura, but I can see how that's not the case. I thought a Lawful Evil Cleric of Abadar simply detected strongly Lawful, but yeah, I'd guess they'd detect strongly of Lawful, and one step less strong Evil. So a LE level 3 Cleric of Abadar detects moderately Lawful, but not Evil (yet).