Need a rules interpretation, and searching hasn't shown anything, so I'm probably missing something obvious. :-\
Corrupting Touch says "Multiple touches do not stack, but they do add to the duration", but it doesn't say what happens if a subject of the ability was already shaken by another effect.
Grave Touch is specific on this, saying, "If you touch a shaken creature with this ability, it becomes frightened (see page 567)", but it is also slightly different in effect so that might be something it has in place of radiating evil.
Anyone know the official ruling on this: Does Corrupting Touch escalate an existing shaken condition to frightened?
Thanks!
Russ
I´m pretty sure it would ´stack´, and escalate the condition to Frightened.
Generally, THE SAME EFFECT/SOURCE cannot escalate or stack (Corrupting Touch allows stacking duration only as an exception) but DIFFERENT SOURCES *DO* ESCALATE Fear category.
Some abilities e.g. Dazzling Display essentially offer alternate means to apply an Intimidate Check, and these would not escalate Fear Condition on top of other Intimidates done by the same character, as it is still an Intimidate Check in essense.
I´m pretty sure Paizo will be doing a FAQ explaining this more clearly.
If they aren´t planning to right now, It´d be a good idea, as this is a common question.
Well, the language "does not stack" probably means that it won't upgrade fear because I can't imagine it meaning anything else. Considering that it's a low-end power, I don't expect it to upgrade.
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Hard to say. Since it's spell-like, perhaps it should follow the general rules for Fear effects, including those created by spells, in Appendix 1, to which the designers have said Intimidate is a specific exception.
However I can also sympathise with the argument that since it's printed directly alongside grave touch, the designers intended grave touch to have the special ability of stacking to make a creature frightened, but corrupting touch to have the parallel but different mechanic of imparting an evil aura and extending the duration with multiple touches.
Many thanks, folks - greatly appreciate the thoughts. For now, I'll go forward with our interpretation that it stacks, and I'll keep my eyes out for a FAQ/official answer.
Have a better one!