Intimidate Skill

[trentonjoe]

INTIMIDATE (CHA)

Demoralize Opponent: You can also use Intimidate to weaken an opponent’s resolve in combat. To do so, make an Intimidate check opposed by the target’s modified level check (see above). If you win, the target becomes shaken for 1 round. A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws. You can intimidate only an opponent that you threaten in melee combat and that can see you.

Is this a free action? If it is a standard action what good is it?

 

[Saeviomagy]

INTIMIDATE (CHA)

Demoralize Opponent: You can also use Intimidate to weaken an opponent’s resolve in combat. To do so, make an Intimidate check opposed by the target’s modified level check (see above). If you win, the target becomes shaken for 1 round. A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws. You can intimidate only an opponent that you threaten in melee combat and that can see you.

Is this a free action? If it is a standard action what good is it?

It's a standard action. It's complete garbage.

Suggestions have been: The target is shaken for 1 round, plus 1 round per 5 (or 2 or whatever) points of difference, make the check a move-equivalent or free action, the target is shaken until he manages to beat the original intimidate roll on a modified level check etc.

 

[EPRock]

Demoralize Opponent

Action: Varies. Changing another's behavior requires 1 minute of interaction. Intimidating an opponent in combat is a standard action.

PHB: 76 or http://www.wizards.com/d20/files/v35/SkillsII.rtf

 

[nimisgod]

I can think of one use: it's a fear effect and thus cumulative with other fear effects in creating a greater effect. I believe the hierarchy was shaken -> frightened -> panicked.

Combine it with cause fear and you have a cute (but not too powerful) combo to make most creatures run away.

 

[Nik_the_Pig]

It may not be the best combat use of a skill but it does make a good roleplaying opertunity.

Think of a bar room fight, rather than lay into the drunk who has picked you intimidate the poor sap and slap him a bit, when it finaly gets threw his head that he is out classed and bugs out you have suddenly gained more respect (fear) from the other patrons without totally wiping the floor with one of their drinking buddies.

 

[Saeviomagy]

It may not be the best combat use of a skill but it does make a good roleplaying opertunity.

Think of a bar room fight, rather than lay into the drunk who has picked you intimidate the poor sap and slap him a bit, when it finaly gets threw his head that he is out classed and bugs out you have suddenly gained more respect (fear) from the other patrons without totally wiping the floor with one of their drinking buddies.

Except for the fact that you may as well have just used the non-combat version of intimidate from the get-go, treating the target as "friendly" (aka - he backs down).

Combat intimidate sucks.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I can think of one use: it's a fear effect and thus cumulative with other fear effects in creating a greater effect. I believe the hierarchy was shaken -> frightened -> panicked.

Combine it with cause fear and you have a cute (but not too powerful) combo to make most creatures run away.

Except for the fact that a frightened creature would run away anyway.

 

[pawsplay]

About the only use is to gang up someone (probably about to be the victim of a nasty spell), or to use Intimidate repeatedly against someone who is about to do something you don't want them to do. If you were a fighter, you could use it repeatedly against a caster, hoping they will either try to cast while you threaten them, or cast on the defensive with a -2 penalty.

There is little Feat support for it, either. Most fear based Feats, like Daunting Presence or Kiai, use Cha-based DCs. There is no equivalent to Improved Feint for the Intimidate skill.

EDIT: It just occured to me to mention that since Familiars have their master's skills, they could Intimidate on behalf of their boss while he casts against the now demoralized opponent.