Fast Intimidation?

[moritheil]

If your DM would allow you to take a regional feat, there is an FR feat that lets you cause fear whenever you cast a spell, charge, or attack. (I want to say it's Dreadful Wrath, but I don't have my books with me.)

Also, if you're playing a Cha fighter, don't forget Goad!

 

[Jarrod]

He's a Swordsage, actually. As an experiment we're running a Cha-based Swordsage instead of Wisdom based... working out pretty well so far.

Thanks for the replies! I was hoping to find a swift action thingie, since "make an attack" probably means "don't use one of those tasty maneuvers". But Intimidating Strike looks pretty cool.

 

[moritheil]

He's a Swordsage, actually. As an experiment we're running a Cha-based Swordsage instead of Wisdom based... working out pretty well so far.

Thanks for the replies! I was hoping to find a swift action thingie, since "make an attack" probably means "don't use one of those tasty maneuvers". But Intimidating Strike looks pretty cool.

IIRC there's also something in Dcn that lets you cause fear whenever you attack, charge, etc. - but I generally dislike it because it only works on things with fewer HD.

I would ask your DM for his or her interpretation of "attack."

 

[Jarrod]

For the record: the FR feat is "Dreadful Wrath", Player's Guide to Faerun. Gives you a variant of Intimidating Presence (will save or be shaken).

The Draconomicon feat is similar, with the explicit mention that the fear only affects things with fewer Hit Dice than you. This makes it kinda tough for a PC Especially given all those 3-for-1 HD-CR progression types.

I will have to ask about Intimidating Strike... It says "as a standard action, you make a melee strike". I had been reading that as "plain melee strike", but there's no reason that a maneuver wouldn't count... maybe. Too bad, though, I would have preferred it on a charge.

 

[Iku Rex]

There's the Frightful Presence feat in Draconomicon, and the Dreadful Wrath regional feat from Player's Guide to Faerun. Both give you a frightful presence type ability.

Edit: Too slow. How embarrasing. Must preview.

 

[moritheil]

So I remembered the name right. Awesome.

I wonder if anyone has crunched numbers for the likelihood of this working and the average benefit.

 

[nittanytbone]

Also, slightly unrelated; there's a feat in CAdv that allows you to use CHA instead of WIS for will saves. I believe its called Force of Personality. Could be worthwhile for the cha-focused fighter to shore up a traditional weak point.

 

[Whimsical]

Here's a feat that I have crafted for an intimidating fighter in my game.

Dominating Presence [General]
Your mere presence turns others into a nervous, clumsy wreck.
Prerequisite: Skill Focus(Intimidate)
Benefit: You may take 10 on Intimidate checks even if stress and distractions would normally prevent you from doing so. You may intimidate to change another’s behavior as a full-round action with no penalty, as a standard action with a -5 penalty, or as a move action with a -10 penalty.
Normal: An Intimidate check to change another’s behavior requires one minute of interaction.

 

[starwed]

I'm of the opinion that intimidate in combat should be a move action. It's always worth attempting to convince your DM of the same thing... (Ask him how many times he's seen the ability used. ^_^)

For what it's worth, here's my own "make intimidate better" feat, which is a little like Mage Slayer in it's effect.

Distracting Intimidation
Your presence is so intimidating that your enemies find it hard to concentrate on anything else.
Prerequisites: Intimidate 5 ranks
Benefit: Whenver an enemy you threaten makes a concentration check, you can make an opposed intimidate check. If you're successful, your enemy fails the concentration check. Additionally, enemies you threaten take a -2 penalty on all Spot and Listen checks.

 

[argo]

Dunno if your DM will let you use third-pary material but the Conan RPG has a couple OGC feats that sound like just what you are looking for.

Steely Gaze
Prerequisites: Intimidate 8 ranks, Cha 13
Benefit: Up to once per round, you may perform the demoralise opponent action as a free action.

Note that that is basically a swift action, which aren't used in the Conan game.

Menacing Aura
Prerequisites: Intimidate 16 ranks, Cha 15, Steely Gaze
Benefit: You may make a demoralise opponent attempt as a free action against any opponent who comes within 15 feet of you, whether or not it is your turn to act. You may do this against any number of opponents each round.

Hope that helps.