Skill checks in less than ideal situations (Intimidate)

[NewJeffCT]

The book says that you can add 2 to the DC if a skill check is in a less than ideal situation, while you can add 2 if the situation is ideal.

However, that seems a pretty small modifier. For example, PC dwarf approaches ship of evil pirate... ship is crawling with pirates - at least a dozen are visible, plus more are likely below decks. Dwarf rolls his d20 and adds his Intimidate score. Not sure the dwarf's exact Intimidate score, but let's give him the max of 10, so that means his Intimidate will be between 11 and 30.

Pirate is a 4th level warrior, and his opposed roll d20, plus level (4), plus any Wisdom modifier, which is 0. The pirate is on his home turf of his boat, plus has a dozen fellow pirates with him - to me, it seems illogical that the pirate would only get a +2 bonus for that situation, and still be at a -4 disadvantage.

I could just rule that it's an impossible situation to Intimidate an opponent, but that seems a bit harsh to me. I suppose I could add the levels of the other pirates as well and come up with a +30 modifier for the dozen pirates and their levels?

Am I missing something?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

You're only intimidating the one pirate, though. And if you can kill him in an instant (not unheard of in a D&D setting), it won't really matter whether or not his friends pound the crap out of you afterward.

You could add +2 for every pirate with him, but that seems too much. Maybe let a set limit of pirates "aid" on his check, however many you normally cap the number of people that can aid on a skill check. I normally limit it to 3 people, after that I figure you'll just get diminishing returns on any given skill check. I also allow people to counter an intimidate check with an intimidate check, if that helps at all in your scenario.

And you can always assign a single larger penalty. Penalties are usually 2, 4, 5, 8, or in extreme cases, 10. At least from what I've seen of skill/ability checks. A -20 is possible in really bad situations, or to do something really extraordinary, but I don't think scaring one of a dozen pirates qualifies as that.

 

[krupintupple]

i'd probably let it happen, with no more than the 3 or 4 closest guys 'pitching in' to help him on his check. however, keep in mind that intimidate is usually quite threatening, so as soon as all of these other cads see their fellow being brow-beaten by an ocean-hating rock-eater, they'll probably try to do it right back to him, or even suggest he make himself scarce, lest he 'drown in the choppy waters'.

while it's possible, it doesn't mean that one shouldn't excercise caution when doing said option. i think you'd be fully within your rights as a DM, in an extreme situation like this, to just say 'he sneers as a dozen or so of his fellows bellow in laughter as they mostly ignore you and wave their hands in your direction'. the time to really intimidate the pirate is only one of three prowling the docks as a press-gang, or when he's heading home from the bar, or when he is otherwise alone and probably vulnerable without a huge horde of his surly pirate friends.

of course, if said dwarf is a nation-renowned 20th level fighter who has brunch with the queen on sundays and rides an ancient brass wyrm into combat, maybe they've heard of his reputation and kinda hope he doesn't stop in front of their particular boat. kinda like if you were at a bar with your mates and someone made fun of you, you might shrug it off, but if it was someone like Bas Rutten of UFC fame and you *knew* it was him and he sounded like he was about three seconds away from mopping the floor with you, you may just back down.