Zaq
2009-02-12, 02:46 PM
Intimidating Strike (from PHB2) and Daunting Presence (from Libris Mortis) seem to serve a similar combat role (make an opponent shaken for a long time), but I can't figure out which one works better for a Charisma-heavy debuffer (i.e. a Hexblade), particularly at low levels. I'm not interested in stacking fear effects, making the enemy frightened or panicked... I've done that in the past, and while it's fun, it tends to make the GM angry and have him throw fear-immune enemies at you. This is more just for penalties than for fear domination. (Hence why I don't have Dreadful Wrath, Imperious Command, or similar feats.)
Intimidating Strike:
Pros:
-Can deliver an attack with it, so you don't have to sacrifice (as much) damage to use it
-Gives a bonus to your Intimidate check, which can be boosted pretty high
-The penalty/bonus are chosen like Power Attack, so you can adjust the risk and reward according to the situation
Cons:
-Must be in melee range
-Intimidate uses that wonky "modified level check" nonsense, so other debuffs usually won't make them more susceptible to it, and enemies with high HD are harder to intimidate
-You have to take a penalty to your attack for it to work, so it can be hard to use against dodgy enemies
Daunting Presence:
Pros:
-Can be used at range
-Uses a Will save, so other debuffs will soften the target up first
Cons:
-Can't use as part of an attack, lowering potential damage
-The likelihood of it working depends mostly on the enemy (their save bonus) rather than on me (my Intimidate score or etc.)
Either one, if successful, will have mostly the same effect, but the way they go about doing it is different. I guess the big question is, what's more reliable, a Will save or an Intimidate check?
Of course, here's a question... can you combine Intimidating Strike with other attack options, like Power Attack? How about on a charge? The answers to those might make a difference.
Any thoughts as to which of these feats is more useful and reliable?
Intimidating Strike:
Pros:
-Can deliver an attack with it, so you don't have to sacrifice (as much) damage to use it
-Gives a bonus to your Intimidate check, which can be boosted pretty high
-The penalty/bonus are chosen like Power Attack, so you can adjust the risk and reward according to the situation
Cons:
-Must be in melee range
-Intimidate uses that wonky "modified level check" nonsense, so other debuffs usually won't make them more susceptible to it, and enemies with high HD are harder to intimidate
-You have to take a penalty to your attack for it to work, so it can be hard to use against dodgy enemies
Daunting Presence:
Pros:
-Can be used at range
-Uses a Will save, so other debuffs will soften the target up first
Cons:
-Can't use as part of an attack, lowering potential damage
-The likelihood of it working depends mostly on the enemy (their save bonus) rather than on me (my Intimidate score or etc.)
Either one, if successful, will have mostly the same effect, but the way they go about doing it is different. I guess the big question is, what's more reliable, a Will save or an Intimidate check?
Of course, here's a question... can you combine Intimidating Strike with other attack options, like Power Attack? How about on a charge? The answers to those might make a difference.
Any thoughts as to which of these feats is more useful and reliable?