Question about using Disheartening Display feat

[mechaPoet]

So I've seen a couple of other rules question threads about this feat, but I didn't see my specific question addressed.

Link to Disheartening Display

Feat text:
Benefit: When you successfully use Dazzling Display against any shaken, frightened, or panicked opponents, their fear increases by one step. An already panicked creature demoralized by this feat cowers. Once affected by this feat, a creature cannot be affected by it again (by you or anyone else) for 24 hours.

I've seen some suggestions of how to use this feat that involve getting opponents to some fear-level through various means, and then using Dazzling Display to activate Disheartening Display.

However, is it possible to trigger this ability by just using Dazzling Display twice? Like so:

Round 1: Enemy is not affected by a fear effect. PC uses Dazzling Display.
Round 2: If Dazzling Display was successful in Round 1, enemy is shaken. PC uses Dazzling Display, so the shaken enemy is now frightened.

It seems like this should work.

Additionally, what is the duration of Disheartening Display's escalated fear effect? Does it use the duration of the initial fear effect?

[LeesusFreak]

Really interested in the results of this...

[Dolanar]

I think it would. Demoralize actions do not stack shaken effects to get further levels of fear, however this is not stacking, it is just staging up. However it would take 2 actions on your part of course as you stated.

The Duration goes all the way back to the original Intimidation roll.

DC= 10 + the target’s Hit Dice + the target’s Wisdom modifier.

Duration: 1 round +1 round for every +5 you beat the DC by.

[gigyas6]

I think that's how it's intended to work. At least that's how I saw it when I first saw the feats.

I agree with Dolanar that the fear lasts as long as the first fear effect, without stacking duration. After all, Disheartening Display does not add a new fear effect, it increases the effect of an already existing fear effect.

Just keep in mind that you're using two full-rounds, here.

[HectorVivis]

1. It seems they stack. I think it would be a little lame if it wasn't. Remember you take an additional -5 for each attempt after the first.

2. It's tricky. I think there are 2 interpretation.

-> When you make your second attempt, the foe was already shaken for 4 rounds. Your second roll would make him shaken for 1 round, but you use Disheartening display. He is then frightened for 1 round, and then he will be shaken for 3 rounds.

-> One could think you keep the idea that new demoralization keep adding to the duration, and disheartening display gives another bonus.
Then in our scenario our target would be frightened for 1 round and shaken for 4 rounds.

IMHO, I would say the former interpretation is the true one.