On Intimidation

[Jawsh]

Sekret_One wrote:

I've always been very much for letting dice be a driving random element- but I think the 'report to the authorities' line may be a bit over-generalized.

Sure, a merchant might well report you to town guards if you threaten to burn down his shop if he doesn't give you a discount. But I think the phrase makes more sense that the target has a 50% chance of responding to or reporting to someone/something. This could well be the local authorities, or a merchant guild, or heck even pray to a god.

I can get behind that interpretation.

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Looking at the guy's example of the jerk parties that go into a crowded restaurant and intimidate for a table- yeah it'd be silly to call the cops on them, but I'd easily give it a 50% chance that the waitress informed the chefs and they did something to the food.

Yikes! I guess it depends on what country you're in, and how fancy the establishment. I would not expect that kind of thing in most restaurants in Canada, even some of the cheap ones.

I am, however, sticking by my basic opinion that intimidate is equivalent to assault, so the waiter would be within his rights to call security, or the owner, or just attempt to kick them out himself, after his minute of being scared is over.

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Oh and I lol'd at the diplomacy guard example with "I'm here to kill the king" line. If you can pass the check with all those penalties, clearly that guard has some grudge against the king and would like to see him dead.

I think the Epic Level Handbook had some interesting uses for impossible Diplomacy checks. Turning a creature from hostile to fanatic is a DC 150.

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This game uses dice, and getting your imagination to keep pace with the unexpected is a bigger part than any power-gamy nonsense. Put bluntly, this game is about rolling with it.

Can I get a hallelujah?

I'm an atheist, but I can still give you an Amen.

[Majestic8705]

Jawsh wrote:

Yikes! I guess it depends on what country you're in, and how fancy the establishment. I would not expect that kind of thing in most restaurants in Canada, even some of the cheap ones.

I am, however, sticking by my basic opinion that intimidate is equivalent to assault, so the waiter would be within his rights to call security, or the owner, or just attempt to kick them out himself, after his minute of being scared is over.

It was my example XP

Hillariously enough, I am in Canada - Toronto, specifically. And the restraunt was a Keg Steakhouse and Bar.

Dealing with that kind of threat just kinda comes with the territory of working in higher end restraunts. The patrons who come in have a certain expectation that they're kings and queen of the universe who can get what they want when they want it. What they fail to realize is that reality doesn't support this worldview.

Granted, the Keg isn't the most high class restraunt out there...but of the chain restraunts in Canada, its certainly one of the higher end names.

If the guest had physically threatened me, I would have probably gone and gotten the GM to deal with it (I always hated that GM anyways XP). But because it wasn't a physical threat, the odds of me involving anyone else to resolve the matter go down significantly.

[redcelt32]

I think its rather silly if you are a GM to roll dice to see if the authorities get involved. Like its been said on this thread, back in medieval era, getting the authorities involved was often like asking the mob to settle a dispute for you... you ended up worse afterwards that the worse case scenario without them. The most I can ever recall doing from a failed intimidate check was the victim hated the PC and sicced his older brother on him, who was 1st level. Older brother took one look at the PC, promptly went back and kicked his younger brothers butt for getting him into that mess.

This is what should happen, unless of course you are stupid enough to use it on a general, high priest, or ruling noble in a country. Then you have to apply the "You can't fix stupid" label to your forehead and take whats coming to you.

[Purplefixer]

So when the authorities appear, give them the stink eye and intimidate them too...

"My my, officer. Are you coming to the defense of this shady individual? Hmmm... perhaps YOU need to be investigated as well. You don't seem to be quite as -lawful- as you should be for a town guard. And you don't seem quite -good- enough to be a trusted enforcement officer in this township. Have you been taking graft? Bribes? Perhaps you're REALLY an agent for the Big Bad Evil Guy On The Mountain! CONFESS! CONFESS TRAITOR!"

[Dolanar]

-Jake walks into the Bar & takes a few steps towards Johnny, a known information Broker, now Jake has never been too good with words since he was a youngster growing up in the streets, but he's always known how to get the information he needs. Jake places a large meaty fist over Johnny's shoulder, squeezing just enough to make Johnny feel very nervous. Jake states "You have information I would like, now...how about we talk about how you're going to give it to me."-

This seems like a perfect example of intimidate, it has a minor physical aspect, & am implicated threat of violence, but nothing more than that, Diplomacy would be much more subtle than this. Just my opinion on the matter.

[Ingenwulf]

Dolanar wrote:

-Jake walks into the Bar & takes a few steps towards Johnny, a known information Broker, now Jake has never been too good with words since he was a youngster growing up in the streets, but he's always known how to get the information he needs. Jake places a large meaty fist over Johnny's shoulder, squeezing just enough to make Johnny feel very nervous. Jake states "You have information I would like, now...how about we talk about how you're going to give it to me."-

This seems like a perfect example of intimidate, it has a minor physical aspect, & am implicated threat of violence, but nothing more than that, Diplomacy would be much more subtle than this. Just my opinion on the matter.

and?