Intimidation is expensive!

[Neo2151]

Don't mind me, just sulking out loud at how many feats my Dwarven Inquisitor needs.

*sigh*
#gamewontlastlongenoughtomakethiswork

[Castilonium]

Ask your GMs to start their campaigns at level 3, 6, or higher so that you actually get a chance to play a developed mechanical character.

[Cavall]

There's a few options that can boost you at early levels. Skill focus, half orc, a handful of traits... you'll be well above 12 with even average charisma. Enough to spook a lot of folks. Or drop orc and go human with a little more feat investment. Half elf too since the skill focus is free. You could even skip inquisitor and go fighter and grab a lot of what you need right away.

[pipedreamsam]

Intimidating prowess lets you add Str to intimidate, better of the two options for a dwarf.

[Neo2151]

Well, there's no room for Cha, cuz: As a melee fighter I need Str/Con, as a med armor class I need a halfway decent Dex, and as an Inquisitor I need Wis for obv reasons. So that leaves me with nothing left for Int/Cha.

•Skill Focus and/or Intimidating Prowess obviously helps but it ticks one (or two) feat(s) off.
•Power Attack is practically a requirement for melee and also happens to be a requirement for one of the actually nice Intimidate feats - Cornugon Smash.
•And, as a Power-Attacker with a Medium BAB, it's really hard to ignore Furious Focus.
•I'm a Dwarf. I don't *need* Steel Soul... But c'mon, yes I do. :)
•Weapon Focus is the worst feat in the history of "fun," but it's required for Dazzling Display, which are then both required for the *actual* nice feat: Shatter Defenses.

So that's what I'm looking at, at the moment. A total of 8 feats (if I only go with SF:Intimidate *or* Intimidating Prowess) which puts me at level 15 before I even finish building my "one-trick-pony" combat style.

Just kinda depressing seeing how it'll take an entire adventuring career to build, assuming the game even gets to level 15, which it most likely won't even come close to. :P

[Avoron]

If you don't have the Conversion or Heresy inquisition already, you probably want to take it. Charisma? Who needs Charisma?
Str > Con/Wis > Dex > Int > Cha

You'll probably want to ditch Shatter Defenses - unless your build depends on flat-footed enemies, it's just a slight benefit for you're third attack in any given round. Furious Focus is likewise only marginally useful - just a couple of points of attack bonus for one attack/round. You should be able to shore up your attack bonus well enough with bane, judgement, and possibly divine favor/Fate's Favored.

The core of your feat progression could then be Power Attack, Cornugon Smash, and Hurtful. You can use Intimidating Prowess and/or Skill Focus to shore up your Intimidate bonus at later levels, but you should be fine for a while with a high wisdom bonus, max skill ranks, Intimidate as a class skill, a masterwork tool, and possibly a small trait bonus.

Since Power Attack isn't an option until level 3, you then have a slot at 1st level for Steel Soul if you want it. A nice alternative, however, would be Additional Traits. Many traits can help out immensely with saves (Glory of Old, Fate's Favored + headband of fortune's favor) and with Intimidate checks (Propitiation for a +2 bonus, Adopted (Fiery Gaze) to take 10 during combat), and even old standby like Reactionary are nice. But that feat slot is pretty flexible.

A cruel weapon could be very helpful, and at high levels you might even want to grab a merciful weapon and Enforcer for some extra intimidate checks.

[Darigaaz the Igniter]

half orc inquisitor, favored class bonus. combined with stern gaze you're getting +2 every other level. Saves are still pretty good if you go sacred tattoo + fate's favored.

[Firebug]

Gravelly tonic 50 gp, +5 alchemical bonus to intimidate for 1 hour.
Elixir of the thundering voice 250 gp, +10 competence bonus to intimidate for 1 hour.
Advanced class guide for both. By the time you are looking at needing the bonus, they are pretty much pocket change.

[Arachnofiend]

If Intimidation is important to you you want the Conversion Inquisition, full stop. With that you don't ever need to put any more investment into Intimidate than your ranks except MAYBE Skill Focus and even then that's something to save for later.

You have zero reason to go for Shatter Defenses as an Inquisitor. Even if you're a Sanctified Slayer. If you're looking for combat power from Intimidate skip the whole Dazzling Display nonsense and get Cornugon Smash and Hurtful.

[Darigaaz the Igniter]

I usually just go for blistering invective.

[DominusMegadeus]

You should really have the Conversion Inquisition unless there's a very specific reason that you need another one.

Conversion Inquisition = Face Inquisitor with almost no other investments.