How to redeem an evil character?

[Yqatuba]

I noticed in a lot of adventures there is some good character turned evil, and it suggests you can redeem them but doesn't explain how. I assume you need more than one diplomacy check, and probably need an atonement at the end. What else?

[Davor]

Perhaps by confronting them, convincing them of the error of their ways, and finding out what their goal is and showing them that walking a righteous path can lead them to their goal in a better way?

I find talking to people helps.

[Kalindlara]

There's a subsystem for this exact thing in Pathfinder Player Companion: Champions of Purity. Might be worth your time to check it out. ^_^

[PrinceRaven]

With death

[Matthew Downie]

Narrative method:

Befriend them, learn their motivations, and show them that respecting other people, developing friendships and building a reputation is ultimately the better way to achieve lasting happiness.

Mechanical method:

Get them to drink lots of potions of Protection From Evil. You count as the caster when drinking a potion, and casting a spell with the Good descriptor is a good act and performing enough good acts will make you Good-aligned.

[JDLPF]

I always follow up Lesser Animate Dead with a Magic Circle against Evil.

It all balances out, right?

[Omnius]

Through roleplay.

There might be some rolls in there somewhere, but that's not the part that's going to be interesting or compelling. It's also difficult to integrate meaningfully without cheapening the redemption arc.

[blahpers]

Kill them and sell their corpse to a necromancer?

[Zhayne]

Roleplay, baby, roleplay.

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

You only have to get them to the point where they really, sincerely want to be your alignment. Then cast atonement, that's one of the things it's for.

[Mark Hoover 330]

Step 1. Be the evil NPC's offspring
Step 2. Refuse to agree to their overtures of collusion
Step 3. Never stop believing in the potential good in the evil NPC
Step 4. At the pivotal moment, also refuse overtures of collusion with the evil NPCs mentor-type

It also helps if you lose an extremity in a manner similar to one lost by the evil NPC.

Other than that, be a cleric of Sarenrae.

[The NPC]

Take them to the store and make sure they haven't past their expiration date?