Taunting

[Barcode]

Our Bard has taken a liking to the following tactic: He stands near the edge of the party, sings and turns on total defense. With his high dex and five tumble ranks, his AC is up around 24. For the creatures they are fighting at second level, they pretty much need natural 20's to hit him.

Now, he wants to taunt the enemies into attacking him, drawing them away from the spellcasters. He uses Bardic Knowledge to come up with the choicest insults and hot buttons for whatever is attacking them. For delivering the taunts and getting the desired effect, what skill or attribute would he use, and what would oppose it? I was thinking diplomacy or charisma as the active check opposed by sense motive, wisdom, or a willpower save.

What do you think?

-B-

 

[CRGreathouse]

Bluff at a strong penalty (-5 or -10).

 

[Rashak Mani]

He needs to know the apropiate language too... Bluff would do nicely I think.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I'd let him Bluff without the proper language with an appropriate penalty.

It would be opposed by Sense Motive, of course.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

It could also be Perform(Taunting).
I could even imagine that this might become a Bardic Music Ability , but this would be a House Rule thing.

 

[Staldin*Freefall]

Bardic Music? And keep everyone else form having fun?

 

[Quickbeam]

I've played a PC like this myself in the not-too-distant past. Taunting can be an incredible weapon when employed by a clever character !

To answer your question, we used Bluff for most of the checks, and Sense Motive was always the counter-skill.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Fireball a spell? And keep everybody else from having fun?

Well, perhaps the Bard should just have some "specialisied" taunting effect, much more powerful than the one of "ordinary" human(oid). (Or "Perform(Taunt) 5 ranks gives a synergy bonus. I just thought that taunting sometimes fits best with Perform)

Hmm. Does anyone here know Torg (the Possibilities War?) from West End Games? Taunt was its own skill there, and it could have some severe effects on enemies. (Shooting with guns or throwing spells around is not the only way to "fight" in Torg )

 

[Vaxalon]

Does he speak with a phony French accent and have ill-fitting gauntlets and a greasy moustache?"

"Steupid English kannnnnnniggits!"

 

[Artoomis]

I think Diplomacy is probably okay to use as a skill here - a good diplomat can end OR start a war, so it seem right. Bluff could possibly work, but less as a taunt than as a threat, I think.

Sense Motive is the skill to use for sure to oppose either one.