DM Q&A: Spell: Detect Evil, Divination spells

[Lokarn]

I was reading in the forums today and found in the rp section a thread about detect evil not working on FRC also divination spells ie. the ones to gather information. Is this correct. Rather was it ever correct and is it still correct?

This is important to me because it may affect some recent RP that has taken place with a character of mine.

[Munroe]

Here is the final post from an old thread about it:

mjolnirsbane said:

The official stance is that detect evil cannot be "used" by players. We have a system that should emerge soon that will allow players with the appropriate inate ability to do so. In the meantime, please don't attempt to detect evil.

If you are involved in a DM Quest, the DM may elect to grant you this ability at his/her discretion.

Cheers!

I don't have any recent news on the mentioned system to be emerging later.

Speaking for myself, I permit paladin PCs to use Detect Evil against NPCs I'm operating.

[Lokarn]

I should clarify my question.

Can a character use divination spells to tell who murdered another character?

The circumstances that were in place unless there was someone invis watching was that no witnessess saw the murder take place. and all of the three murderers were gone before the body was found.

[DM Richard (Retired)]

There are no divination spells such as you are describing without the aid of a DM.

Having said that don't EXPECT a DM to aid in such manner. We may do so under special circumstances (such as a DM run event) but most likely not in PvP.

This is not a free ticket to PvP. Remember you have to follow the rules or divination attempts will be the least of your worries.