Results 31 to 37 of 37
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2020-08-10, 04:19 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2013
Re: Player is trying to intimidate every enemy they run across
I should like to echo suggestions that sometimes the DC is "nope", rather than trying to set a DC. If there is no reason for the monsters to be frightened off, at least at the point in time in which the paladin is attempting to intimidate them, the attempt fails without requiring a check.
~ Composer99
D&D 5e Campaign:
Adventures in Eaphandra
D&D 5e Homebrew:
This can be found in my extended homebrew signature!
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2020-08-10, 05:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2018
- Location
- Between SEA and PDX.
- Gender
Re: Player is trying to intimidate every enemy they run across
They don't always have to run. Maybe it acts as a challenge to the leader while the rest of the enemies avoid the Paladin.
"Intimidate" doesn't have to equal fear. I've allowed Performance bonuses on Deception Checks, or Acrobatics when climbing. Intimidate is about presenting yourself as strong and dangerous, and that can be used for encouraging allies as much as demoralizing the opponent.
You also don't have to make them run away right off the bat. Sure, the Paladin's scary, but so is running towards a group of heroes who are armed to the teeth! The enemy is already scared out of their minds, and has already decided on using violence. So maybe the Intimidate Check value is saved for when it's relevant (such as when the Paladin is about to finish off a target), to break the enemy's spirits at the point when it's most relevant.
For example, Paladin makes an Intimidate Check at the start of the fight. You say it's not relevant right now, as they've already decided to fight you, but the roll is saved for when it could be relevant. When the Paladin lands a crit and uses Divine Smite, about to finish off the target, you pull that Intimidate Check roll back in, and say that the player's blessed hammer tore the opponent's weapon in half at the guard, just before bashing in the enemy's throat with the edge of your shield. Now that the Intimidate Check is relevant, all of the other enemies see how deftly you just manhandled their guy, and fall back.
5th Edition Homebrewery
Prestige Options, changing primary attributes to open a world of new multiclassing.
Adrenaline Surge, fitting Short Rests into combat to fix bosses/Short Rest Classes.
Pain, using Exhaustion to make tactical martial combatants.
Fate Sorcery, lucky winner of the 5e D&D Subclass Contest VII!
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2020-08-10, 05:41 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Gender
Re: Player is trying to intimidate every enemy they run across
I'd personally compare this to nonlethal damage and allow something like this:
The paladin can spend his first action making an intimidation check. Then roll some die + Cha, x2 past level 5. Note both numbers.
An enemy within 5' of the Paladin, if they have a "passive insight" below the paladin's ability check roll result, will attempt to flee if their HP drops below the "damage" the paladin rolled. Every time an enemy does so, reduce the amount of "damage" left by that enemy's current HP, to a minimum of 1.
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2020-08-10, 06:54 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2013
- Location
- Somewhere
- Gender
Re: Player is trying to intimidate every enemy they run across
It's Eberron, not ebberon.
It's not high magic, it's wide magic.
And it's definitely not steampunk. The only time steam gets involved is when the fire and water elementals break loose.
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2020-08-10, 10:00 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2015
- Location
- New Zealand
- Gender
Re: Player is trying to intimidate every enemy they run across
+1 for this.
Also note that you don't have to roll. If the character's actions have to chance or cost of failure, then just say "you succeed." Same for if there is no chance of success - "you fail."
Make sure that is does succeed some of the time. The player came up with a cool idea (much better than "whack monster, roll to hit, repeat" :-). Make sure they get rewarded for this.
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2020-08-11, 12:00 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2018
- Location
- Space Australia
- Gender
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2020-08-11, 03:10 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2018