Imperious Command - stunnlocking?

[Zombimode]

Is using this feat repeatedly to essentially "stunnlock" an opponent (well, "coweringlock" so to speak) possible?

There is no restriction in the feat description. And I could not find any restriction in the Intimidate skill description.


If so, this is almost a bit to strong for my tastes :smallredface:

[peacenlove]

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/intimidate.htm

Try Again
Optional, but not recommended because retries usually do not work. Even if the initial check succeeds, the other character can be intimidated only so far, and a retry doesn’t help. If the initial check fails, the other character has probably become more firmly resolved to resist the intimidator, and a retry is futile.

You get one round per opponent if successful.

[BowStreetRunner]

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/intimidate.htm

Try Again
Optional, but not recommended because retries usually do not work. Even if the initial check succeeds, the other character can be intimidated only so far, and a retry doesn’t help. If the initial check fails, the other character has probably become more firmly resolved to resist the intimidator, and a retry is futile.

You get one round per opponent if successful.




Actually, the Try Again rules only apply to failed attempts, not successful attempts. The requirement that 'you can intimidate only an opponent that you threaten in melee combat and that can see you' would still apply, but I don't see anything in the rules for Intimidate or Imperious Command that would prevent you from continuing to Demoralize them over and over again. If you have a standard action to use every round and want to use it for this, it should work.

[sleepyphoenixx]

Actually, the Try Again rules only apply to failed attempts, not successful attempts. The requirement that 'you can intimidate only an opponent that you threaten in melee combat and that can see you' would still apply, but I don't see anything in the rules for Intimidate or Imperious Command that would prevent you from continuing to Demoralize them over and over again. If you have a standard action to use every round and want to use it for this, it should work.

I don't think anyone would want to use it with a standard action.
If you're going for Imperious Command you're gonna combine it with something like Intimidating Rage, the Zhentarim Fighter sublevels or Fearsome armor and the Never Outnumbered skill trick for free/swift/move action intimidate as an AoE.

Also keep in mind the way fear stacking works. Especially this part:

When such multiple exposures occur, the worst stage of fear lasts until the duration of all the effects causing the fear expire.
Because that means if you follow up your Imperious Command with, for example, Dreadful Wrath or Fell Frighten your enemies are cowering for 1 minute instead of 1 round.

[DeTess]

If so, this is almost a bit to strong for my tastes :smallredface:

It's against a single target, requires a standard action and does not contribute (a lot) to killing the target. In other words, it's a neat little ability, but hardly broken, especially when compared to some of the crowd control abilities spellcasters have access to.

Edit: Swordsage'd, and indeed, if you optimize for it, it can become dangerous.

[sleepyphoenixx]

It's against a single target, requires a standard action and does not contribute (a lot) to killing the target. In other words, it's a neat little ability, but hardly broken, especially when compared to some of the crowd control abilities spellcasters have access to.

Edit: Swordsage'd, and indeed, if you optimize for it, it can become dangerous.

Eh, it's still subject to the limitations of demoralize, Never Outnumbered is 10ft radius and 1/encounter only and it's still a mind-affecting fear effect.
How dangerous is really is depends a lot on your intimidate check too. You can optimize that, but it'll cost you.
And any spellcaster gets equal (and better) crowd control just for showing up.

It's not a bad trick to pick up on a barbarian, fighter or bard, but it won't break anything. All it does is give you another option in combat to use, which isn't a bad thing at least for the first two imo.

[Psyren]

The cheese optimization potential of Intimidate is well known - see Shneekey's Takahashi no Oni-san (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html?id=529142) Samurai build for an example, which can reduce a room full of foes to cowering/helpless in moments.

[tiercel]

A bard using Inspire Awe ACF (Dragon Magic) and/or Haunting Melody feat (Heroes of Horror or Eberron) — even the Gnome Bard ACF (Races of Stone), though Small size hurts Intimidate — does pretty well with Imperious Command, some Fearsome armor (and sure, Never Outnumbered skill trick). You might not cower-lock the whole room, but you probably at least get all minions to Frightened while cower-locking the BBEG or any other other high value target. (Heck, get yourself a Pandemonic Silver weapon, Complete Warrior.)

....sure, you’ll want Intimidate as a class skill, but multiclassing or Martial Study or Apprentice (Soldier) feats can do it.

Yes, sure, that doesn’t address fear/mind-affecting-immune enemies but 1) you’re still a bard and have other options and 2) if you care enough, Dread Witch PrC (though its immunity-busting only affects spells).