[Aerich]

With regard to the Turn Undead skill, all clerics turn undead. When a cleric reaches a certain level in relation to the undead he/she is turning, something else happens that depends on the cleric's alignment. Good and neutral clerics can destroy undead outright, and evil clerics control them (exactly as if they were summons - although it is only for a limited period of time, after which they will become enemies again, like charmed creatures). In a large party, your cleric, no matter the alignment, is much more likely to turn undead than to destroy them - the level of the cleric relative to the undead you encounter will usually not be high enough to destroy/control undead.

For spells, I'd still give the advantage to good clerics, but it depends what you intend to use the cleric's spells for. Evil clerics have more offence-oriented spells (the reversals of heal, raise dead, and resurrection come to mind), but the disadvantage to these is that they are touch attacks.

Good clerics have access to the "higher" healing spells (cure critical wounds and heal) but cannot cast their reverse; as well, good clerics have access to a few other protection spells (the shield of lathander spells - very very useful, although of a short duration). Neutral clerics have access to some of the evil-oriented offensive clerical spells (and healing spell reverses), as well as the higher healing/resurrection spells. However, they do not have access to the shield of lathander spells.

To sum up my advice, if you only are taking one cleric, take a good one. If two, have the second be neutral or evil.

[ 05-13-2005, 05:16 PM: Message edited by: Aerich ]