How do LG characters intimidate

[Valesin]

Whenever I think of a good character intimidating someone, I think of Batman. I mean, the bad guys in Gotham have to know by now that 1) Batman has never killed anyone and 2) that Batman will risk his life to make sure a bad guy doesn't die.

Yet when he drags them up to the top of the clocktower and holds them over the side, telling them that THIS time he really intends to do it, THIS time he has been pushed past his breaking point, THIS time only death will satisfy his sense of justice...they buy it. Every time.

One time the Justice League caught some perp and Superman said "We're wasting our time, he'll never tell us anything." Batman grabbed the guy, walked halfway down the block and started whispering to him. The perp starts spilling his guts at the top of his lungs.

Wonderwoman asks Superman "What did he say?" Superman, looking incredulous, says "You really don't want to know."

Now THAT is Skill Focus: Intimidate.

 

[Rabelais]

Please gods... absolve me for my sins as I cut tiny pieces of your enemy's flesh from its wretched bones.

LG doesn't mean you can't do some seriously whacked out stuff... You can, you just have the ability to apologize and really mean it.

You want ethics? Read Immanuel Kant

How many questions about Moral Objectivism can one out-moded game mechanic bear before it breaks down?

Apparently many.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Lawful means you believe that a systemic approach to the world and society is best.

Good means that you believe the good of the many is the most important thing.

Neither of those suggests that you're a nice person. Intimidate in any lawful way that you want. Watch a few cop shows where they threaten the maximum penalties unless a subject cooperates.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Like that.

Damn it, you beat me to it, I had to do a scan of the responses to see if anyone quoted Corporal Carrot and damn it you did. Saved me a load of transcribing though.

What Firelance quoted is an excellent example of LG intimidation... one of the funniest things I have read too!

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Trickstergod]

Nonsense. There's nothing about being lawful that means you have any compunction about lying. Less likely to break your promises or cheat on a deal or skirt the law, sure. But make a few exagerated threats to intimidate a prisoner into confessing to their crimes? That's just peachy.

There is, actually. It's right in the rules. It's not lawful specifically, but it is part of being lawful good - the line "She tells the truth." Now, that might not mean "No lying" to you, but it certainly does to me.

Of course, only paladin's have an alignment extreme. Most other characters are only their alignment most of the time, potentially as low as 51% of the time (perhaps not quite that low, as that's a bit closer to neutrality...but that's about the gist of things).

I'd also comment, in general to the thread: most of the individuals in those cops shows are probably neutral. What with it being the standard alignment for humans.

Someone else mentioned Batman, though, and while I disagree with any assessment pegging him as lawful, I think the scene from Batman Begins where he interrogates Flass is a good example of something that's scary as hell but also within the realm of something a lawful good character could do.

A few pointed questions about the persons life might also help - particularly if the one getting interrogated doesn't know much about the character interrogating him. As one example: "Have any kids? How are they? It'd be a shame if something happened to them." There's no lie in there - it would be a shame if something happened to them - and while it might have an implied threat of harm, you're good...so...not like anything actually will happen.

Implied threats can work wonders.

 

[eyebeams]

"Bring out the comfy chair!"

 

[Sejs]

Okay. I have five ranks in intimidate. I'm looking to use the skill in social situations, not to impose a combat penalty. Let's say we've got a captive/potential criminal into confessing their crimes. How do I have my LG character get the confession?

By standard interrogation techniques? Language, threats, lying, etc?

Just because you're LG doesn't mean you're Pollyana Purebread or anything. You're still allowed to be mean and lie and stuff.

It's all about how and why you do it that counts.

Don't go ripping the guy's teeth out until he talks, but put the pressure on and convince him that unless he willingly confesses what he's done ( ... you already know, he just has to admit it ... ) then you'll have to cut chunks off of him until he talks.

Trick is you don't actually plan on carving him up. That's the intimidation. He just needs to -think- you mean it.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I am not sure about Admiral Adamas alignment, but I guess Lawful Good is pretty close. He just has the appearance, the manners and the voice to make you think that it is better not to provoke him. Or be in the same room if you just told him that you were responsible for the death of his son (Act of Contrition)... (Okay, he said that you should better leave, but would he have _really_ done? I wouldn't want to find out, and that's Intimidation at its best)

In an interrogation scene, it helps to pretend to know everything already or make clear that you have no doubts that you will find it out anyway, but not giving the information now is worth then having you have to work hard for it.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Like that.

That's exactly what I wanted to post. Carrot is the ultimate example of a LG character you don't want to go up against.

 

[Jesus_marley]

Command Presence.

Staring the person in the eye without blinking. Speaking in a calm, controlled and measured way. Explain in vivid detail the consequences of the persons decision. Do not smile. do not joke.