If I am playing a NG Cleric with a NG deity, can I use spells of school necromancy? In the CRB, it notes this:
Chaotic, Evil, Good, and Lawful Spells: A cleric can't cast spells of
an alignment opposed to her own or her deity's (if she has one).
Spells associated with particular alignments are indicated by the
chaotic, evil, good, and lawful descriptors in their spell
descriptions.
and this:
Channel Energy (Su): Regardless of alignment, any cleric can release a
wave of energy by channeling the power of her faith through her holy
(or unholy) symbol. This energy can be used to cause or heal damage,
depending on the type of energy channeled and the creatures targeted.A good cleric (or one who worships a good deity) channels positive
energy and can choose to deal damage to undead creatures or to heal
living creatures. An evil cleric (or one who worships an evil deity)
channels negative energy and can choose to deal damage to living
creatures or to heal undead creatures. A neutral cleric who worships a
neutral deity (or one who is not devoted to a particular deity) must
choose whether she channels positive or negative energy. Once this
choice is made, it cannot be reversed. This decision also determines
whether the cleric casts spontaneous cure or inflict spells (see
spontaneous casting).Channeling energy causes a burst that affects all creatures of one
type (either undead or living) in a 30-foot radius centered on the
cleric. The amount of damage dealt or healed is equal to 1d6 points of
damage plus 1d6 points of damage for every two cleric levels beyond
1st (2d6 at 3rd, 3d6 at 5th, and so on). Creatures that take damage
from channeled energy receive a Will save to halve the damage. The DC
of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the cleric's level + the cleric's
Charisma modifier. Creatures healed by channeled energy cannot exceed
their maximum hit point total—all excess healing is lost. A cleric may
channel energy a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma
modifier. This is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of
opportunity. A cleric can choose whether or not to include herself in
this effect. A cleric must be able to present her holy symbol to use
this ability.
Would that also expand to include necromancy spells?
Best Answer
Necromancy is not inherently evil
Necromancy spells are only characterized by their use of negative energy; negative energy is entropic in nature but is not a moral force. The inflict line of spells, for example, aren't evil.
But...
Necromancy does have some evil spells. Thankfully, they'll helpfully be labeled [Evil] in the spell descriptions!
Per the Cleric class description, the Cleric cannot use spells with an alignment component opposed to their own; Good Clerics can't use [Evil] spells, Evil Clerics can't use [Good] ones. When in doubt, just check the spell's description!
Further, Channel Energy does not affect non-spontaneous spellcasting. While Channel Energy determines what spells a Cleric may cast without preparing, it doesn't affect spells that the Cleric memorizes ahead of time and does not otherwise restrict their casting list, though their alignment may do so (see above).