Intimidate (roll)

[drachii]

What's the counter to this? People have gotten a bit triggerhappy with it recently, and it doesn't seem entirely right that the situation is 'have a similarly high intimidate or fail'. People have suggested rolling will, which doesn't work because will mods do *not* compare to intimidate mods of similar level once you get past, say, level 5. Other people suggest spot. Eh? No. Where's that make sense? What else is out there?

[eldur(retired)]

Feb 15, 2009 18:59:15 GMT -5 drachii said:

What's the counter to this? People have gotten a bit triggerhappy with it recently, and it doesn't seem entirely right that the situation is 'have a similarly high intimidate or fail'. People have suggested rolling will, which doesn't work because will mods do *not* compare to intimidate mods of similar level once you get past, say, level 5. Other people suggest spot. Eh? No. Where's that make sense? What else is out there?

As a DM, I would require a Will check with a +5 bonus vs. the opponents Intimidate roll.

[DM mithari]

By-the-book roll is d20 + level + Wisdom bonus (yes, only a positive Wisdom modifier applies) + other modifiers vs. Fear (such as a halfling's Fearless trait). Being immune to fear or mind-affecting effects, such as via Greater Heroism or Mind Blank, makes you immune to intimidation.

This doesn't work too well for us though, since the base effect is treating the target as friendly as long as you remain in its presence and another 10-60 minutes after.

Of course, the same base rules also suggest that social skills never be used between player characters, as it's always players that decide how their character should act, not the dice...

[DM Sir Carnifex]

I tend to be a bit flexible on these things. First of all, some PCs cannot be intimidated due to character type. For instance, one person rolled an intimidate against my half-orc (6 INT). While the person rolled high, I ignored it because the orc is too stupid to react to a threat in anything other than violence on his own part.

Part two. My halfling is oblivious to the world around him most times, is always sticking his nose into others business and almost always takes things out of context. Hence, the intimidate is near worthless on him.

However, I also have a mage who is more coward than mage and even a low intimidate roll could have an effect on him.

So, it depends not only on the roll, but also on the PC type. If it is no DM event, you could just look at the intimidate roll and go based on how high it is, too, without rolling against it.

But if you absolutely MUST roll, then do the will save +5 as has been suggested.

[DM mithari]

Keep in mind it's always your right to say "No way my character would be bullied into this". No matter how ludicrous your skill modifier, your demand/request/lie must always be reasonable. No matter how well you roll, you never have a right to demand another player's character to act a certain way.

Remember: the rolls against your Bluffs/Diplomacies/Intimidates are entitled to bonuses of +5, +10 or even +30 and beyond if you come spitting out ludicrous things.

[DEV Akavit]

I don't like will rolls at all. It's rather odd that a strong warrior should be the easiest to intimidate.

[DM mithari]

Yeah, heh, I did have a very long and wordy argument with maths and all... However, I don't think it's necessary.

The DMs have spoken! YOU decide how your character acts, not another loonie with a d20.

[DEV Akavit]

I agree. The intimidate roll merely indicates how successful the PC is at maintaining a formidable appearance or manner. How a PC reacts to such depends entirely on their own personality. I one time had a high level PC walk up to my low level warlock say "want to see something scary?" after which he spawned a skeleton and rolled intimidate. This was followed by a tell saying "with a roll of 35 you wouldn't remain standing there". Of course I pretty much ignored that.

[Zealote]

Lol, im glad Valek is imune to fear and Ujio to mind-effects.