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I stumbled across what I believe to be a really good combo in the APG but I'm not sure if the abilities can actually be used in conjunction. Any input would be appreciaed.
Thug
Frightening
Whenever a thug successfully uses Intimidate to demoralize a creature, the duration of the shaken condition is increased by 1 round. In addition, if the target is shaken for 4 or more rounds, the thug can instead decide to make the target frightened for 1 round .
Enforcer (Combat)
You are skilled at causing fear in those you brutalize.
Prerequisite: Intimidate 1 rank.
Benefit: Whenever you deal nonlethal damage with a melee weapon, you can make an Intimidate check to demoralize your target as a free action. If you are successful, the target is shaken for a number of rounds equal to the damage dealt. If your attack was a critical hit, your target is frightened for 1 round with a successful Intimidate check, as well as being shaken for a number of rounds equal to the damage dealt.
By RAW I can't find a problem as both abilities state "manke an intimidate check to demoralize". The intent is clear here. Deal at least 4 nonlethal damage with an attack make a free intimidate check and frighten the creature for 1 round and povoke it to flee. What disturbs me a bit is that this is easily accomplished at level 1. Also with multiple attacks and combat reflexes and unarmed/reach weapon it could easily get out of hand.
I built an NPC monk 1/rogue 2 with this combo to throw at my PCs. Worked extremely well thanks to heavy Intimidate specialization. PO'd one of the players a fair bit as his character was running scared much of the fight. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have allowed multiple batches of shaken rounds to convert to multiple batches of frightened (10 damage = 2 rounds of frightened, for example), but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
It's an effective schtick for reducing opponent's numbers, but in a dungeon, folks are going to run for backup.
In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have allowed multiple batches of shaken rounds to convert to multiple batches of frightened (10 damage = 2 rounds of frightened, for example), but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Yeah reading the wording again it seems like getting multiple rounds of frightened is not possible since it states "shaken for 4 or more rounds, the thug can instead decide to make the target frightened for 1 round "
That makes it a bit less scary I guess...
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I stumbled across what I believe to be a really good combo in the APG but I'm not sure if the abilities can actually be used in conjunction. Any input would be appreciaed.
Think that's bad, check out thug with Dazzling Display.
Dazzling Display (Combat)
Your skill with your favored weapon can frighten enemies.
Prerequisite: Weapon Focus, prof iciency with the
selected weapon.
Benefit: While wielding the weapon in which you have
Weapon Focus, you can perform a bewildering show of
prowess as a full-round action. Make an Intimidate check to
demoralize all foes within 30 feet who can see your display.
I have a rogue/fighter that has these and focuses on Intimidate. He was able to frighten a dozen or so enemies in one round into dropping their weapons and running.
I just hope he never gets the idea of making his heavy flail merciful and taking Enforcer... He's currently doing something like 1d10+7 before power attack.
Think that's bad, check out thug with Dazzling Display.
I have a rogue/fighter that has these and focuses on Intimidate. He was able to frighten a dozen or so enemies in one round into dropping their weapons and running.
I just hope he never gets the idea of making his heavy flail merciful and taking Enforcer... He's currently doing something like 1d10+7 before power attack.
You need to beat the DC by 15 to frighten them with the Thug ability, so it' probably not so bad after all.
You need to beat the DC by 15 to frighten them with the Thug ability, so it' probably not so bad after all.
Think that's bad, check out thug with Dazzling Display.
I have a rogue/fighter that has these and focuses on Intimidate. He was able to frighten a dozen or so enemies in one round into dropping their weapons and running.
I just hope he never gets the idea of making his heavy flail merciful and taking Enforcer... He's currently doing something like 1d10+7 before power attack.
...Correction, you need to beat it by 10, which is a lot more doable.
@Eric
A character that becomes frightened does not drop their weapons. That is only listed for the Panicked condition which is not inducible through this combo.
They would still run in terror.
Half-elf character with Skill Focus intimidate (or half-orc with Intimidating Prowess!!!), Bludgeoner, Enforcer, Weapon Focus in a bludgeoning weapon, and Dazzling Display seems like a fun combo.
Would work with a fighter or rogue of 4th level or so with the right bonus feats or rogue talents.
Yeah, unfortunately as written, it's only 1 round frightened even if you shaken them for 40. I think that's bogus and would houserule it to be a 1 per 4 dealie, oh well....
And Thug + Enforcer (or just use Rake and save the feat, but I like thug better) + Shatter Defenses is one of the few reliable ways to keep getting SA left in pathfinder, so yeah, nice little combo.
Yeah, unfortunately as written, it's only 1 round frightened even if you shaken them for 40. I think that's bogus and would houserule it to be a 1 per 4 dealie, oh well....
And Thug + Enforcer (or just use Rake and save the feat, but I like thug better) + Shatter Defenses is one of the few reliable ways to keep getting SA left in pathfinder, so yeah, nice little combo.
What is the SA that you are refering to in this post? is it sneak attack?
I think that combo can be very effective with low to mid level enimies, but might be very hard to use at higher levels, but I have not checked teh rules yst on this.
Half-elf character with Skill Focus intimidate (or half-orc with Intimidating Prowess!!!), Bludgeoner, Enforcer, Weapon Focus in a bludgeoning weapon, and Dazzling Display seems like a fun combo.
Would work with a fighter or rogue of 4th level or so with the right bonus feats or rogue talents.
Can't go wrong multi-classing a Fighter/Rogue it seems.