Protection from Evil = fire?

[Nightblade]

What exactly is happening to Belkar in #969? I know the Giant doesn't always use game mechanics, but I admit that my knowledge of 3.5 is not infallible.

According to the spell, nothing should prevent Belkar from being able to benefit from the spell. It could, however, be acting as if it were a Holy weapon (Good-aligned) and bestowing a negative level.

[Steveio]

I assume it's supposed to be holy energy/fire hurting Belkar.

Yes, Protection from Evil doesn't work that way in D&D, but the comic hasn't really been bound by D&D RAW in a long time.

[Douglas]

Whatever is happening to Belkar there is 100% a houserule. By the official rules, Protection From Evil would not harm Belkar at all in any way.

[Quild]

Note that he doesn't appear to lose any HP.

[MrMercury]

Note that he doesn't appear to lose any HP.

Indeed, he appears to be merely in extreme discomfort/pain

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I believe that a suggested explanation was that since the item itself was homebrewed, it has effects besides Protection from Evil when an Evil person wears it.

[Boost]

Belkar is evil. The spell grants protection from evil. Which means it's trying to protect him from himself. Kind of like an effect that makes your body start to reject itself.

Think about what might happen if you cast Protection from Fire on a fire elemental. While RAW might not say it does anything, it makes a kind of intuitive sense that it would harm you. The protection spell in some way suppresses or douses the fire that is attacking you, so if your body were made of fire, it would be like it's trying to douse you.

[Anarion]

Clearly, Belkar was 100% correct, the item was malfunctioning and he did the gnome a kindness by taking it off her hands at a discount.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Clearly, Belkar was 100% correct, the item was malfunctioning and he did the gnome a kindness by taking it off her hands at a discount.

That Belkar. What a thoughtful little soul he is.

[Bulldog Psion]

Homebrewed, 100%.

Probably purely for the sake of communicating to the forum, "yes, he's still evil."

[Reboot]

Probably purely for the sake of communicating to the forum, "yes, he's still evil."

Give him SOME credit. If it was purely for shutting down speculation, it could never have any effect on the plot in earnest.

[martianmister]

Fire is a very popular form of ridding evil. Just ask minister Frollo.

[littlebum2002]

It could, however, be acting as if it were a Holy weapon (Good-aligned) and bestowing a negative level.

I'm pretty sure this is it. Since there are no items which bestow Protection from Evil, the item has to be homebrewed, but it makes sense that such an item would be Good aligned, which does have stats and does act similar to how the ring is seen to act.

[SiuiS]

It is entirely likely that the object which bestows protection from evil is itself a holy object. It would thus function similar to a holy weapon.

I mean think about it. It's basically the defense version isn't it? Holy weapon deals extra damage to evil and also irritates evil which holds it. Holy armor would have more protection against evil and have the same irritation factor against evil wielders.

[INoKnowNames]

That interpretation makes sense, but makes me question how... or rather, why, it seems relatively simple in universe to craft Holy Equipment, such that any adventurer, including those who are evil unlucky enough to pick up malfunctioning variants can just walk into a store and snag one with a handful of platinum.