Stacking Fear Effects

[carrdrivesyou]

So I reluctantly admit that I have not messed around with fear effects much in the years that I have played the grand old game. So I have a few questions that I am hoping the Playground can help me with.

1. Do fear effects stack, progressing them from shaken to frightened to panicked (or is there a different order)?

2. Can a Dragonfire Adept use both the Frightful Presence Invocation in conjunction with the Frightful Presence Feat (Draconomicon) to stack fear?

I really appreciate the help in advance guys and gals!

[Necroticplague]

1. Yes

Becoming Even More Fearful

Fear effects are cumulative. A shaken character who is made shaken again becomes frightened, and a shaken character who is made frightened becomes panicked instead. A frightened character who is made shaken or frightened becomes panicked instead.

2. No, because a DFA will not trigger the conditions for the feat (which requires an attack or charge).

[carrdrivesyou]

1. Yes


2. No, because a DFA will not trigger the conditions for the feat (which requires an attack or charge).

So Shaken + Frightened in any combination = Panicked?

[Crake]

So Shaken + Frightened in any combination = Panicked?

Many abilities specify that they do not escalate fear (since escalation is the rule, not the exception), so double check to make sure, but otherwise yes (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#fear).

[Necroticplague]

So Shaken + Frightened in any combination = Panicked?

Unless it specifically says otherwise, or would be subject to some other rule that prevents it (such as the magic stacking rules), yes.

[gorfnab]

This may help you further if you plan to build a fear based character: The Fear Handbook (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=8759)

[carrdrivesyou]

Delightful! Thanks everyone!