How do LG characters intimidate

[bodhi]

Torture can be both lawful and good. Personally, I'd recommend starting with a spoon.

"Why a spoon, cousin? Why not an axe?"
"Because it's dull, you twit, it'll hurt more."

 

[Kurotowa]

Have you ever watched any of the gazillion cop shows on TV? The countless scenes where they're working over the suspect in custody? Yeah, like that.

Describe how much worse things will be for them if they don't confess. Threaten to tell their criminal buddies that they DID confess. Imply that you already know the answers and just want confirmation. Lie that someone else confessed and blamed them. Suggest that things might go badly for their friends and family if they don't cooperate. Explain how much you really want to hurt them but if they confess you'll have to refrain.

Intimidation is not beating the crap out of someone or burning down their house. Intimidate is the art of convincing someone you will do that, or worse, unless they cooperate with you. If you have to lay a finger on them you're doing it wrong.

(Also, it never hurts to lay a few negative modifiers on them. Tossing a Doom spell to make them shaken and give them a -2 is handy and fitting.)

 

[FireLance]

"I just want people to tell me things," said Carrot.
"Well, if they don't, you're not to hurt them," said Colon. "Look, you can ask questions, fair enough. But if Dr Whiteface starts getting difficult, we're to come away, right? ... If he won't answer, we're to leave peacefully and, oh, I don't know, think of something else. That's an order, like I said. Are you clear about this? It's an order."
"If he won't answer my questions," said Carrot, "I'm to leave peacefully. Right."

...

"I should like you to tell me," said Carrot, "about events in this Guild House the night before last."
Dr Whiteface stared at him in silence.
Then he said, "If I don't?"
"Then," said Carrot, "I am afraid I shall, with extreme reluctance, be forced to carry out the order I was given just before entering."
He at glanced Colon. "That's right, isn't it, sergeant?"
"What? Eh? Well, yes-"
"I would much prefer not to do so, but I have no choice," said Carrot.
Dr Whiteface glared at the two of them.
"But this is Guild property! You have no right to... to..."
"I don't know about that, I'm only a corporal," said Carrot. "But I've never disobeyed a direct order yet, and I am sorry to have to tell you that I will carry out this one fully and to the letter."
"Now see here-"
Carrot moved a little closer.
"If it's any comfort, I'll probably be ashamed about it," he said.
The clown [Dr Whiteface] stared into his honest eyes and saw, as did everyone, only simple truth.
"Listen! If I shout," said Dr Whiteface, going red under his makeup, "I can have a dozen men in here."
"Believe me," said Carrot, "that will only make it easier for me to obey."
Dr Whiteface prided himself on his ability to judge character. In Carrot's resolute expression there was nothing but absolute, meticulous honesty. He fiddled with a quill pen and then threw it down in a sudden movement.
"Confound it!" he shouted. "How did you find out, eh? Who told you?"

Like that.

 

[jdrakeh]

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?

It's not illegal to act mean or suggest that bad things may happen if someone fails to cooperate.

Criminal: "Screw you, man! I'm not telling you anything!"
Hero: "Yeah? Maybe I'll let it slip that you told me about [unrelated illegal activity X]."
Criminal: "What? Man, if you do that, [potentially harmed villainous sort Y] will kill me!"
Hero: "Maybe, but that's not really my concern."

 

[Particle_Man]

Threaten to tell their criminal buddies that they DID confess. Imply that you already know the answers and just want confirmation. Lie that someone else confessed and blamed them.

Lying isn't lawful though, so not lawful good.

Batman is sometimes said to be lawful good and he seems to have max ranks in intimidate. How about just "TALK, you scum!" while holding their shirt and pulling them towards you.

Or you can do my favorite intimidate from a movie: 14 year old girl pulls a gun on a guy that tried to kill her and says: "Ok, you have to answer this question, and it is *very* important. Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?"

Hey it made the guy in the movie cry.

 

[Yttrai]

In addition to all the things that the _law_ itself might do retributively to the intimidatee, which are awesome and can be highly effective...

It might not work in your campaign, but sexuality and playing the gender card can be devastating on the right individual.

I mean, regardless of whether a character is hot or not, or the preferred gender of the subject, a few well timed compliments and darts of the eyes can go a long way towards letting that person know they are the object of sexual desire. Which is not usually against the law, or even whatever code the LG character might adhere to. And if the person putting the moves on is the desired gender of the character, or even if they are not, results can be amazing.

YMMV of course, and your game has to have established a very adult theme. Or be totally ready for one. I recommend not being "that guy" who always hits on the interrogation subject when the rest of the group is frustrated with the overtones that all of a sudden showed up!

 

[Zaruthustran]

Er, you roll a die?

INTIMIDATE (CHA)

Check: You can change another’s behavior with a successful check. Your Intimidate check is opposed by the target’s modified level check (1d20 + character level or Hit Dice + target’s Wisdom bonus [if any] + target’s modifiers on saves against fear). If you beat your target’s check result, you may treat the target as friendly, but only for the purpose of actions taken while it remains intimidated. (That is, the target retains its normal attitude, but will chat, advise, offer limited help, or advocate on your behalf while intimidated. See the Diplomacy skill, above, for additional details.) The effect lasts as long as the target remains in your presence, and for 1d6×10 minutes afterward. After this time, the target’s default attitude toward you shifts to unfriendly (or, if normally unfriendly, to hostile).

If you fail the check by 5 or more, the target provides you with incorrect or useless information, or otherwise frustrates your efforts.

 

[Kurotowa]

Lying isn't lawful though, so not lawful good.

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.

 

[ephemeron]

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?

With a Clint Eastwood glare.

 

[Yalius]

"You know, most of my life, I've worked hard to not be like you. It's not easy. Every day, the temptation to just give in, take the easy way out, and grind filth like you into the ground underneath my feet, it just gnaws at my mind. It'd be so easy, too, and Gods know, the world would be a better place with out you and your ilk. And now, I see you sitting here, that smirk on your face, you think you've got me beat."

(Removes holy symbol / symbol of order / badge of authority, wraps it neatly in cloth, sets it to side.)

"I'm not going to let you win, I'm not going to put up with the sickness and filth you spew. I'm tired of always fighting against the odds to do the right thing when the easy thing is staring me in the face. I know that, after I'm done here, I'm going to hate myself and everything I'm about to do. I'll have to live with that."

(Turns to companions.)

"Could you leave me alone for a few minutes? I've got some things to take care of."