Shattered Kingdoms

Why do sorcs have detect aura? We aren't exactly 'sacred' magic users.

Furthermore, the game generally needs more RP, and less of that spell.

I propose, therefore, that everyone who isn't a priest, shaman, hellion or paladin lose daura.

Discuss.

Have you deleted Sakamoto yet?

Priest need detect aura likely more than anyone, why would they lose it?

Double paladin! What does it mean?

Since paladin was mentioned twice in the original post I'm thinking one of those times is supposed to read 'priest.'

I'm not sure who all has the ability to detect alignments but I do think that, in general, an over-reliance on detect aura or similar spells weakens RP and is responsible for the "red vs blue" frag (PvE and PvP) fest that I loathe. Some of my favorite RP in the past across multiple games and systems has come from characters who were of a particular alignment but secretive about it quietly working towards their goals. Then there was the big reveal of their true intent. Or people who would play their alignments in interesting ways.

I've caught myself casting detect aura a few times then starting to rationalize while shwacking a certain individual/NPC for having a dark aura would be okay even though that person had done nothing wrong.

They have done something wrong, or they wouldn't be evil: Just because your character wasn't present for all their "wrong deeds" doesn't mean they still aren't intrinsically evil. There's nothing written in SK about when or where a NPC gains it's "permanent" aura, as far as the game is concerned, even the most restrictive viewpoint can't say that alignments are "locked in" any earlier than maturity, which is when all of the PC races become playable.

In SK, being a deep-elf doesn't mean that you might be bad, it means that you're bad, wicked bad, plain and simple, and everyone is completely justified in hating everything about you because you're a deep-elf. Same with alignments, except that instead of your aura being worn on the outside, it's worn on the inside and only some people can see it as opposed to everyone.

Just because some darkies want to be like "oh come on I know I have a dark-aura but I'm really not evil!" doesn't mean that ICly all lighties should be like "awww, okay you poor little guy, come on over here and let me coddle you because I'm a nice person and that's what nice persons do." Sort of like Sam and Gollum in the Lord of the Rings: Sure, Sam was a total jerk to Gollum and never let him have a chance to be "good," but in the end he was right and Frodo got himself all spider-webbed up because he trusted the evil SoB.

Detect aura doesn't detract from RP, it just prevents lighties from having to be completely paranoid about whether the dude they're mentoring is going to grow up and kill them while laughing maniacally and spitting over their corpse.

Would be some good RP though there.

I agree. I think this would be a good change.

But I'm not really passionate about it.

Isn't this like the 1 millionth time that this has been brought up for discussion here.

The problem isn't the spell it is the (some) players use it. Certain characters you know are apt to be evil or good no matter how they try to act otherwise. Deep-elves, Elves, Griffons. Their aura's are set, everyone else though we don't necessarily know and that creates some fun. The problem lies when someone gets ganked or over harassed over it. Yes, deep elves are evil, yes they are apt to kill you eventually. But there are tons of avenues for evil vs. good rp that does not involved PK, or "omg you are dark aura/light aura I keels you." It just takes imagination. Which is why we are playing a role playing game right guys?

In the three years I played Thyki I only ever had one character kill me just because I was a deep elf and with no other RP. But I had a ton of great conflict RP and some additional RPed PKs on her as well.

Someone's aura isn't necessarily a god given thing either, being able to see things that others cannot is a specialty of mages, I think it is perfectly fitting that they could see into a person in that fashion. This is magic we are talking about.

Long story short, I think it is fine.

EDIT: For the record, this is not because I use it. If you look at Thyki's spells, I didn't even learn detect aura with her because it did not fit her RP.