I think it's safe to say the player will say something along the lines of "My character says 'surrender or die' -- I will now roll Intimidate versus Will." Is the option really there for the baddie to offer secret information or do something against its will?
It's also safe to say that it isn't "continue fighting as if nothing happened". What actions under "cow a target into taking some other action" aren't effectively "fight=over"? (I'm genuinely curious.)What actions are included in the phrase "cow a target into taking some other action"?
I think it's pretty safe to say: "Quite a few, only one of which is dropping their weapon and pleading for mercy".
It's also safe to say that it isn't "continue fighting as if nothing happened". What actions under "cow a target into taking some other action" aren't effectively "fight=over"? (I'm genuinely curious.)
Good Question! Perhaps to help out all the DMs out there that are cowed by players with PCs with super-high intimidate scores, we should make a list.It's also safe to say that it isn't "continue fighting as if nothing happened". What actions under "cow a target into taking some other action" aren't effectively "fight=over"? (I'm genuinely curious.)
Others?
I like this idea Saeviomagy. However, being able to just scare minions to death is not to my liking. If you intimidate creatures I would think what would happen is that they become weakened. Maybe the it could look more like this:
...
Serioously, guys. Try Intimidate as written, before you slam it. You might find yourselves surprised... I've used it, and GMed it, and it works. Nothing breaks if you just run with it as written, as long as both you and your players are sane about it.
BTW, we really do need to put the final nail into the coffin of the "Intimidate = I win" idea:
Is "surrendered" a condition?
What are the game effects of "surrendered"?
What is the duration of "surrendered"?
Etc.
Most of those are great if you're using Intimidate to do something contained in the part of the paragraph that says "Success: you cow a target into taking some other action" (which is what I asked about, thanks). What if you're using Intimidate to "Success: force a bloodied target to surrender"?Good Question! Perhaps to help out all the DMs out there that are cowed by players with PCs with super-high intimidate scores, we should make a list.
If a PC successfully intimidates a monster:
- The monster refuses to attack the intimidating PC for 1 turn,
- The monster only attacks the PC after one of its friends successful damages the PC,
- The monster uses a move action to shift away from the PC,
- The monster uses all its actions that round to move away from the PC,
- The monster is immediately slid 3 squares, with the placement determined by the DM,
- The monster suffers a -2 to attack the PC,
- The monster suffers a -2 to attack any PC,
- The monster uses a defensive power, rather than an offensive one,
- The monster offers to surrender, but readies an attack if the PC ignores the offer,
- The monster shifts away, offers surrender, but readies an attack if attacked by any one,
- The monster offers to switch sides,
- The monster does total defence for one turn,
- The monster delays until after an ally's turn,
- Monster shifts, then readies an attack which will only go off if the PC attacks it,
- Etc.
Others?