Dragon totem barbarian (Unearthed Arcana errata?)

[Davelozzi]

In my game, we're using the dragon totem variant barbarian from Unearthed Arcana as the basis for a dwarven battlerager. At 5th level, this variant gets the Frightful Presence ability, and you're directed to page 309 of the Monster Manual for details. Unfortunately, the description there is the generic version, just as in the SRD:

Frightful Presence (Ex): This special quality makes a creature’s very presence unsettling to foes. It takes effect automatically when the creature performs some sort of dramatic action (such as charging, attacking, or snarling). Opponents within range who witness the action may become frightened or shaken. Actions required to trigger the ability are given in the creature’s descriptive text. The range is usually 30 feet, and the duration is usually 5d6 rounds. This ability affects only opponents with fewer Hit Dice or levels than the creature has. An affected opponent can resist the effects with a successful Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 frightful creature’s racial HD + frightful creature’s Cha modifier; the exact DC is given in the creature’s descriptive text). An opponent that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to that same creature’s frightful presence for 24 hours. Frightful presence is a mind-affecting fear effect.

The note in Unearthed Arcana notes how to calculate the DC, but it doesn't go into any specifics about what actions cause the effect, whether or not its frightened or shaken, and what the range is. Now "charging, attacking, or snarling" seems good enough to me, and I can live with the default range of 30', but I'm not sure about where the effect should be frightened or shaken. Any thoughts or opinions?

Also, I can see that there's no official errata file at WotC, is anyone aware of anything semi-official from the Sage, a FAQ, or something similar.

 

[Wormwood]

Your SRD text differs from mine (3.5):

Frightful Presence (Ex): A young adult or older dragon can unsettle foes with its mere presence. The ability takes effect automatically whenever the dragon attacks, charges, or flies overhead. Creatures within a radius of 30 feet x the dragon’s age category are subject to the effect if they have fewer HD than the dragon. A potentially affected creature that succeeds on a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 dragon’s HD + dragon’s Cha modifier) remains immune to that dragon’s frightful presence for 24 hours. On a failure, creatures with 4 or less HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds. Dragons ignore the frightful presence of other dragons.

Emphasis mine. Panicked under 5HD, otherwise shaken.

 

[Davelozzi]

Your SRD text differs from mine (3.5)

Actually, I'm using the 3.5 SRD too, it's just that you're taking the specific frightful presence ability from the dragon entry, not from the general description of the ability in the Types, Subtypes, and Special Abilities section.

The ability varies a bit by creature type so the dragon info is not necessarily accurate. You could make the argument that it was since it's a dragon totem barbarian, but the pointer to the page 309 of the Monster Manual is to the general description that's the same as the one I posted, which references either frightened or shaken, but not panicked.

 

[Darklone]

I'd say either during fighting or while making an Intimidate Skill check.

 

[Marius Delphus]

Without any official ruling on the matter, as DM I'd decide the ability causes the "frightened" condition in affected creatures having fewer HD than the barbarian, otherwise it causes the "shaken" condition.