Indifferece vs Frightful Presence?

[Anders]

Fear, Compulsion, and Frightful Presence?

Frightful Presence (Ex): Dragons have it. Fists of Hextor have i too. But in name only, since in the latter, it is a fear effect (as stated in S&F), while in the former, there is not a single phrase indicating a "fear" descriptor or "compulsion" effect.

Now to my question.

The spell indifference makes you immune to fear effects of 3rd level or lower, and gives you a +4 morale bonus against fear effects of 4th level or higher (if I remember it correctly).

But is a dragon's Frightful Presence a "Fear" effect rules-technically, and if it is, would Indifference grant immunity, +4 save bonus, or none of the above mentioned goodies?

To me, frightful presence = a Fear type effect (like in Compulsion: Fear), but since it has got no levels as such (not being a spell, but an ability), I find it hard to judge whether a character under the indifference spell can call upon any of the spells protective bonuses or not.

Any suggestions?

 

[Geoff Watson]

It is a fear effect, as it makes the victims Shaken or Panicked, which are Fear effects.

I would treat it as a high-level fear effect, so Indifference gives +4.

Geoff.

 

[Anders]

It is a fear effect, as it makes the victims Shaken or Panicked, which are Fear effects.

I fully agree with you Geoff in the common sense of your statement, but are there rules anywhere, pointing out that Frightful Presence is a Fear-type of effect?
The reason I ask this, is to satisfy one of my overpowering, ultramunchkin, cheesy, beardy players without direct divine intervention from my own side (simply stated: page x where?).

I can't let my now epic characters also beat those last fears of theirs (the Frightful Presence of those last pure fiendish psionic great red wyrm dragons with 10+ character levels) with such a beardy stunt like a low-level indifference spell!!? I have formely made them run by just flapping intimidatingly with the Forgotten Realms map, thus indicating the presence of one of those precious last drakes flying above them (the roll-and-flee-scenario).

If they will be able to add in this 2nd-level stunt as well, I'll have to swap my Forgotten Realms map to zoomed up nudie pictures of Brittany Spears, and count the male ensemble of PCs as being stunned, and therefore making them more vulnerable to any breath weapon attempts from my pure fiendish psionic great red wyrm dragons with 10+ character levels*.

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*Loosing their DEX to reflex saves (some DM satisfaction at least).