How does a Paladin's Detect Evil Ability work?

Question

Can a paladin's Detect Evil ability detect if there is Evil in the area, as per the spell, or is it target-only?

Answer 1

From the Core rules pdf (pg 60) Detect Evil (Sp): At will, a paladin can use detect evil, as the spell. A paladin can, as a move action, concentrate on a single item or individual within 60 feet and determine if it is evil, learning the strength of its aura as if having studied it for 3 rounds. While focusing on one individual or object, the paladin does not detect evil in any other object or individual within range.

In the Detect Evil spell it lists a Cone shaped area effect. So my reading of that is that the paladin can do either but not both at the same time. For example a paladin could be talking to three npc's and use the area effect to see if any of them are evil and then after that move is completed on their next movement action focus on one individual to get a full aura reading but then he would stop detecting evil in the area and only focus on that one npc.

Of course it doesn't seem totally clear cut from the rules explanation so individual players/DM may interpret the rule differently.

Answer 2

The description on page 60 of the core rules suggests that it does both.

• At will, you can detect evil as per the spell.
• As a move action, you can concentrate on a single item or individual and learn the strength of its aura immediately as if you had studied it under detect evil for three rounds. While doing this, you don't detect evil on anything else in range.

Answer 3

Assuming that it's the same as the 3.5 rule, the ability works exactly the same as the spell, but at will. This allows detection vs an area. This can be very useful sensing "bad guys" through walls, in crowds, etc.