Intimidate Skill [Archive] - Wizards Community

Intimidate Skill [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kaleanae en'i Mori
01-10-05, 07:27 PM A question on this skill? Should it be just a skill? Being skilful at trying to intimidate someone is okay but the general look of someone could be as just as intimidating.

My female Bard/MstInq has a better chance of intimidating someone because I have a high Cha and some skill then the fighter that stand behind me who is butt ugly in full masterworked plate and leaning on his greatsword. Surely he is pretty intimidating?

I just see something a little wrong here.
fizzbang
01-10-05, 07:37 PM Believe me, actual intimidation is definitely a skill. It's much more than just being big and having a big weapon. It's a matter of knowing exactly what will make a person crack, and getting under their skin with as little as a signle word or look.

Now, the fighter may indeed be able to pound the person into paste, and a good GM may give a circumstance bonus for a particularly brutal looking fighter (and a victim who actually fears death or pain, which isn't always the case), but remember that Charisma is the stat that affects a person's presence and impact. If the fighter has a low Charisma, it means they just don't stick out or make as much personal impact as the bard, and if they haven't put any practice into how to get under a person's skin, then they're just a big thug in the background.

A fighter can be a great intimidator, but they have to practice the skill, like anyone else. That's why they've got it in-class.
hiryuu
01-11-05, 01:14 AM Goretax snarled and hefted his weapon at the noble.

"Tell me where your lord is, now!" he roared, "or this sword will sheath in your gut!"

The noble frowned.

"You and what army, you drooling lackwit?"

______________

The bard grinned, lips curling severly.

"You see that man there?" she alluded, "the one with the big, rusty piece of metal?"

"Y-Yes?" the noble stammered.

"Well, he's not used it in several days, and I imagine he's getting mighty tired of not seeing it washed in the blood of his enemies. Now, all you've got to do is just tell me where to find Lord ir'Tannen, or I'll have to find somewhere else he could put it, and I'd really hate that. I kind of like your coat in green."

"Um, right. Sure thing."

....see how that works?
Thyrwyn
01-11-05, 06:16 AM As the other posters have pointed out - Intimidate is not simply a matter of threatening the subject: anyone can do that. It is a matter of eliciting a specific, desired response. Intimidation is the art of getting what you want without the subject getting violent/calling the guard/slitting their own throats just to deny you the satisfaction/ or forcing you to beat them up.

Besides, Goretax wouldn't look all that threatening to a dragon. . .
KathyNoland
01-11-05, 06:47 AM It's up to your DM.

In my group of players there's a druid/fighter that usually tries to intimidate some of the NPC's. He usually dresses with leathers and has some fangs (not all of them from animals) around his neck. He also wears a really big weapon with some strange design on it. He's not bad at intimidating people and his appearance usually gives him some bonus but when he's trying to be diplomatic or just trying to make some new friends he has a malus because of his aspect :waits: :ahem: :rant: :headexplo:
DJDave
01-11-05, 07:06 AM I think it's a skill. In real life I'm a pretty big bloke but I'm about as intimidating as a doe-eyed labrador.

Whereas the short tatooed guy in the pub looks plain scary
MarkB
01-11-05, 07:28 AM The best example of intimidation-as-skill I've read is from Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. Mr. Teatime is an insane assassin, and is nothing special to look at - but he can quickly and easily convince you that he's capable, and very willing, to go to just about any extreme to get what he wants, or simply to entertain himself, and that he's already anticipated your responses before he even met you. He has big thugs and smart thieves doing his bidding quite easily.
Streamweaver
01-11-05, 07:54 AM This is an often discussed topic. The DM should apply situational modifiers to intimidate checks.

Sure a huge half-orc leaning over some stable hand in the middle of nowhere is worth a bit intimidation bonus. That same half-orc wont get the bonus if he's doing it to a noble protected by many guards. A bard with high charisma in that same situation though is better able to convince any person they have something to worry about regardless of the actual facts. It really isn't that complicated of a gaming issue.
Just another user
01-11-05, 08:20 AM A question on this skill? Should it be just a skill? Being skilful at trying to intimidate someone is okay but the general look of someone could be as just as intimidating.

My female Bard/MstInq has a better chance of intimidating someone because I have a high Cha and some skill then the fighter that stand behind me who is butt ugly in full masterworked plate and leaning on his greatsword. Surely he is pretty intimidating?

No, he is threatening. Probably in some situation that could give him a +2 circustance bonus on intimidate checks, but the two things are actually different, for example if you _threaten_ someone in public you could get arrested, if you intimidate him, you don't have this problem.

edit: and another difference, if you threaten someone you scare him, but is not actually afraid of you, if ask for info he could lie, you ask for food he have no problem to poison you, if you actually intimidate him then he is too afraid of you to try something so direct.
Laskaw
01-11-05, 05:15 PM I agree with the basic gist that Intimidate is best left to cha, and that in certain situations being strong can give a circumstancial modifier. However, also keep in mind that that other stats can be used to get a circumstancial modifier.

A smooth, dexterous character can throw a dagger or two precisely so that it just barely misses an NPC's neck, promising better aim next time if the NPC doesn't give in.
A knowledgeable, intelligent character can bring up every tactic the NPC could try to escape, but showing how each one would just be futile. Alternatively, she can reveal all that he knows about the NPC to show that if the NPC doesn't do what the PC wants, she can make his life a living hell.
A perceptive, wise character (particularly one with ranks in Sense Motive) could carefully watch the NPC's eye and body movements to get ideas as to what the NPC is thinking and feeling and make adjustments in what she is saying appropriately. If it's good enough, she may be able to further intimidate the NPC by showing him that she knows exactly what he is thinking. (OK, not exactly, but combine it with a good charisma and you could fool the NPC.)

With con you could... drink poison? I dunno, the other examples are better. But anyway, the basic point is that Intimidate is best suited for Cha, since all the other attributes could also be used to help with the intimidation. It's all in how you execute it.
Streamweaver
01-11-05, 07:19 PM With con you could... drink poison?

Well in DnD.......

"What is that little man, a dagger?"
*swipes dagger from person*
"I scoff at your one to four points of damage, hahahaha!"
*stabs self a few times for fun and throws the dagger back*
"now do as I say, or we will see what your bonus hit points are!"

:D
Gurv
01-11-05, 07:25 PM Well in DnD.......

"What is that little man, a dagger?"
*swipes dagger from person*
"I scoff at your one to four points of damage, hahahaha!"
*stabs self a few times for fun and throws the dagger back*
"now do as I say, or we will see what your bonus hit points are!"

:D
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kaleanae en'i Mori 01-10-05, 07:27 PM	A question on this skill? Should it be just a skill? Being skilful at trying to intimidate someone is okay but the general look of someone could be as just as intimidating. My female Bard/MstInq has a better chance of intimidating someone because I have a high Cha and some skill then the fighter that stand behind me who is butt ugly in full masterworked plate and leaning on his greatsword. Surely he is pretty intimidating? I just see something a little wrong here.
fizzbang 01-10-05, 07:37 PM	Believe me, actual intimidation is definitely a skill. It's much more than just being big and having a big weapon. It's a matter of knowing exactly what will make a person crack, and getting under their skin with as little as a signle word or look. Now, the fighter may indeed be able to pound the person into paste, and a good GM may give a circumstance bonus for a particularly brutal looking fighter (and a victim who actually fears death or pain, which isn't always the case), but remember that Charisma is the stat that affects a person's presence and impact. If the fighter has a low Charisma, it means they just don't stick out or make as much personal impact as the bard, and if they haven't put any practice into how to get under a person's skin, then they're just a big thug in the background. A fighter can be a great intimidator, but they have to practice the skill, like anyone else. That's why they've got it in-class.
hiryuu 01-11-05, 01:14 AM	Goretax snarled and hefted his weapon at the noble. "Tell me where your lord is, now!" he roared, "or this sword will sheath in your gut!" The noble frowned. "You and what army, you drooling lackwit?" ______________ The bard grinned, lips curling severly. "You see that man there?" she alluded, "the one with the big, rusty piece of metal?" "Y-Yes?" the noble stammered. "Well, he's not used it in several days, and I imagine he's getting mighty tired of not seeing it washed in the blood of his enemies. Now, all you've got to do is just tell me where to find Lord ir'Tannen, or I'll have to find somewhere else he could put it, and I'd really hate that. I kind of like your coat in green." "Um, right. Sure thing." ....see how that works?
Thyrwyn 01-11-05, 06:16 AM	As the other posters have pointed out - Intimidate is not simply a matter of threatening the subject: anyone can do that. It is a matter of eliciting a specific, desired response. Intimidation is the art of getting what you want without the subject getting violent/calling the guard/slitting their own throats just to deny you the satisfaction/ or forcing you to beat them up. Besides, Goretax wouldn't look all that threatening to a dragon. . .
KathyNoland 01-11-05, 06:47 AM	It's up to your DM. In my group of players there's a druid/fighter that usually tries to intimidate some of the NPC's. He usually dresses with leathers and has some fangs (not all of them from animals) around his neck. He also wears a really big weapon with some strange design on it. He's not bad at intimidating people and his appearance usually gives him some bonus but when he's trying to be diplomatic or just trying to make some new friends he has a malus because of his aspect :waits: :ahem: :rant: :headexplo:
DJDave 01-11-05, 07:06 AM	I think it's a skill. In real life I'm a pretty big bloke but I'm about as intimidating as a doe-eyed labrador. Whereas the short tatooed guy in the pub looks plain scary
MarkB 01-11-05, 07:28 AM	The best example of intimidation-as-skill I've read is from Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. Mr. Teatime is an insane assassin, and is nothing special to look at - but he can quickly and easily convince you that he's capable, and very willing, to go to just about any extreme to get what he wants, or simply to entertain himself, and that he's already anticipated your responses before he even met you. He has big thugs and smart thieves doing his bidding quite easily.
Streamweaver 01-11-05, 07:54 AM	This is an often discussed topic. The DM should apply situational modifiers to intimidate checks. Sure a huge half-orc leaning over some stable hand in the middle of nowhere is worth a bit intimidation bonus. That same half-orc wont get the bonus if he's doing it to a noble protected by many guards. A bard with high charisma in that same situation though is better able to convince any person they have something to worry about regardless of the actual facts. It really isn't that complicated of a gaming issue.
Just another user 01-11-05, 08:20 AM	A question on this skill? Should it be just a skill? Being skilful at trying to intimidate someone is okay but the general look of someone could be as just as intimidating. My female Bard/MstInq has a better chance of intimidating someone because I have a high Cha and some skill then the fighter that stand behind me who is butt ugly in full masterworked plate and leaning on his greatsword. Surely he is pretty intimidating? No, he is threatening. Probably in some situation that could give him a +2 circustance bonus on intimidate checks, but the two things are actually different, for example if you _threaten_ someone in public you could get arrested, if you intimidate him, you don't have this problem. edit: and another difference, if you threaten someone you scare him, but is not actually afraid of you, if ask for info he could lie, you ask for food he have no problem to poison you, if you actually intimidate him then he is too afraid of you to try something so direct.
Laskaw 01-11-05, 05:15 PM	I agree with the basic gist that Intimidate is best left to cha, and that in certain situations being strong can give a circumstancial modifier. However, also keep in mind that that other stats can be used to get a circumstancial modifier. A smooth, dexterous character can throw a dagger or two precisely so that it just barely misses an NPC's neck, promising better aim next time if the NPC doesn't give in. A knowledgeable, intelligent character can bring up every tactic the NPC could try to escape, but showing how each one would just be futile. Alternatively, she can reveal all that he knows about the NPC to show that if the NPC doesn't do what the PC wants, she can make his life a living hell. A perceptive, wise character (particularly one with ranks in Sense Motive) could carefully watch the NPC's eye and body movements to get ideas as to what the NPC is thinking and feeling and make adjustments in what she is saying appropriately. If it's good enough, she may be able to further intimidate the NPC by showing him that she knows exactly what he is thinking. (OK, not exactly, but combine it with a good charisma and you could fool the NPC.) With con you could... drink poison? I dunno, the other examples are better. But anyway, the basic point is that Intimidate is best suited for Cha, since all the other attributes could also be used to help with the intimidation. It's all in how you execute it.
Streamweaver 01-11-05, 07:19 PM	With con you could... drink poison? Well in DnD....... "What is that little man, a dagger?" swipes dagger from person "I scoff at your one to four points of damage, hahahaha!" stabs self a few times for fun and throws the dagger back "now do as I say, or we will see what your bonus hit points are!" :D
Gurv 01-11-05, 07:25 PM	Well in DnD....... "What is that little man, a dagger?" swipes dagger from person "I scoff at your one to four points of damage, hahahaha!" stabs self a few times for fun and throws the dagger back "now do as I say, or we will see what your bonus hit points are!" :D :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: