Item of Opposite Apparent Alignment

[Glim]

Is it possible to have an item (a ring, an amulet, etc), that could make someone's alignment the opposite of what it is(chaotic evil to lawful good, chaotic neutral to lawful neutral, chaotic good to lawful evil)? The item im thinking of, of course, would be for the purposes of changing someone's evil/good alignment to any detection spells as long as they wear the item. This could be abused, but perhaps an OOC note should be attached to the item that this is for RP purposes only and not for doing quests.

If this was possible, how would it be coded? Would the making of such an item be allowed?

Thanks,

[Dalvyn]

Items that change things "permanently until removed" are very tricky.

The main way I could see them work would be to have a program that changes the alignment (or changes the race, or whatever else). And another program that changes the alignment (or race, ...) back when the item is removed. That's all fine, IF the item is eventually removed.

Problem is that people do not always have to "remove" them.

They could die and the item might be left in their corpse.
They could have their arm severed and the item dropped on the ground.

And that might make them end up with some permanent changes to their characters.

A good way to go about it might be to have some spells - undetectable alignment for example; and have the object affect the character with the spell while worn. But that requires the coding of a new affect flag (AFF_UNDETECTABLE_ALIGNMENT), of a new spell, and so on.

[Glim]

Perhaps instead of having it be activated when worn it could have a keyword to change the characters alignment when they type it and another to change it back? Or merely have a prog to reverse the alignment (which might possibly be able to counteract the permanent effects, maybe?)

[Dalvyn]

And you would see evil using it to bypass the wards of Silverymoon, or characters using it to change their alignment permanently and at will.

[Zach]

have it an item that when a keyword is spoken, it is a spell. One could detect the spell by 'detect magic' but that is a very broad spell from friends to bulls strength. They could pass it off as any spell while under this alighment change...

Have it castable once per week, only for a short time. Or once a day (although i still think that is quite close together and can be tweekable.). Your sole can't take that change at this time. For alignment change
Your body can't take the change at this time. For race change

Once the hand gets severed it is still a lasting spell affect that will dispel once dead.

It has some ups and downs... but are we willing to code a whole new spell for this?

[Glim]

*nods* Thats what I thought.

I just assumed it would be easier than having to code a whole new spell affect flag.

Though, unless they are using it for doing quests or to buy something from an area they shouldnt be to benefit them, I dont see why it shouldnt be possible. Whereas if someone cast a spell on them such as know alignment and it said something like "You cannot detect their alignment" would raise more suspicion than if it said an actual alignment.

Its the same thing for those characters that give a false name, then when they dont greet, whoever it is that they are talking to immediately types who to check the who list if that name actually exists. Then they are immediately suspicious.

My biggest worry would be abuse of such an item. It would purely be for the rp of thieves, spies, etc. If they used it for, I guess the easiest word would be, twinking, it would be completely against what the item is for. I am not sure exactly how to get around this, except to make the quest hard or the item rare. I suppose trust of players doesnt always work.

[Argentia]

Just my opinion, but I really don't think this item is a good idea. Alignment isn't something that's tangible or effectible by magic. It can be detected, even hidden, but if you think about it, it's not something that can be changed except through your own actions and beliefs. If your alignment is "lawful evil" then you're "lawful evil" because you like to abuse the law for your own gain, not really because you wear an item.(Unless that item is, say, a wine chalice made from a paladin's skull... Then I guess using that makes you evil, huh?)

Anyway! My point is that I don't really believe that alignment is something that can so easily be changed. If you want the item to serve the purpose of hiding alignment for thieves or whoever, then why not just have it cast a hide alignment spell? It may raise suspicions when you can't detect their alignment, but... Aren't you suspicious anyway since you had reason to hide your alignment?

Anyway, just my little ol' opinion.

[Glim]

I think you misunderstand, Argentia. This isnt ACTUALLY changing their alignment. It is masking it and making it so to all divination spells see it as something else. It is just that the only way to do this would be to actually change it codewise (I believe).