Replace -detect evil with -detect taint

[Rei_Jin]

The detect evil system, as it functions at the moment, is very binary. It checks someone's alignment, IF they fail the Will save. And unless someone cheeses this (by making say, a paladin/shaman/monk with maxed wisdom and all the relevant feats), the odds of a badguy failing said Will save is minimal, meaning that not only is it binary, it's useless most of the time.

Suggestion: Replace detect evil with detect taint.

What is taint?

Building off the idea in the D&D 3.5 book "Heroes of Horror", taint is accumulated by characters who either commit acts that taint them (summoning undead or evil outsiders, casting evil descriptor spells, killing "innocents", using poisons, etc.), spending time in tainted areas (defiled grounds where undead roam, the nine hells, the abyss, etc.), and other acts at DM discretion. I would also suggest praying at shrines of evil gods would cause a character to accumulate taint.

Taint could be cleansed by praying at shrines of good gods, undertaking rituals of cleansing, and other acts at DM discretion. Taint would also dissipate over time.

Because this system is not binary (in being all or nothing), and it is not based on alignment, it doesn't necessarily just pick up on bad guys. A paladin could stink of taint because they spent several days cleansing the Endless Battlefield of undead, and haven't had time enough to pray it away. A blackguard could have no taint on him, because he undertook a ritual of cleansing and has been restraining himself for the last RL week or two. The outcome it gives is based on recent actions, and so allows for more grey rather than black or white.

By moving to this system, it allows for more roleplay interaction, more tools, and less need for DM involvement around "alignment" issues.

This would also allow the "Detect Taint" spell to become more widely available (if such was desired), and for the DCs to actually be meaningfully high (Say, DC = 10 + 1/2 CL + Cha Mod + SF/GSF/ESF) without it instantly outing a badguy and ruining their day. It would also be good to give it to Blackguards, so that they can look for those who AREN'T tainted as a marker for good guys trying to infiltrate, or something similar.

[The GrumpyCat]

Approved sorta - as something a bit like this is already being considered by some members of staff. That said it may not take the exact form of the above, so don't expect this ad verbatum to come to light.