The intimidate skill has the following under 'demoralize':
Success: If you are successful, the target is shaken for one round. This duration increases by 1 round for every 5 by which you beat the DC. You can only threaten an opponent this way if it is within 30 feet and can clearly see and hear you. Using demoralize on the same creature only extends the duration; it does not create a stronger fear condition.
Intimidate Unchained adds the following ability:
5 Ranks: If you exceed the DC to demoralize a target by at least 10, it is frightened for 1 round and shaken thereafter.* A Will save (DC = 10 + your number of ranks in Intimidate) negates the frightened condition, but the target is still shaken, even if it has the stalwart ability.
I'm unsure what happens when you succeed on an Unchained demoralize on the same creature twice. Does it have to save against the frightened effect to prevent a second round of being frightened, or does it only extend the duration of the shaken effect?
Also, is the round of frightened in addition to the shaken rounds, or does it replace the first round?
Demoralize does not allow you to further increase the level of fear. Since the skill unlock does not mention it can override this limitation it does not. Also since further demoralizing a creature only extends the duration it does not become frightened again. So all that happens with the second use of demoralize is the shaken condition is extended.
The frightened takes the first round and does not extend the duration. Keep in mind you have to beat the target by at least 10 for the skill unlock to take affect so you will get a minimum of 3 rounds. You get one round for beating the target plus an extra two for beating it by 10.
Wow, thank you, Mysterious Stranger. That's the ruling I lean toward.
Odd...I would have ruled it otherwise. Yes, in the core rulebook, it does state clearly that demoralize does not create a stronger fear condition. But would that not be bypassed by the skill unlock, which simply imposes X condition regardless of what their last fear condition (or lack thereof) was? It's not going through a progression like many other fear effects... It's applying that condition. period. And it's specific > general. You've unlocked that capability.
It does not make sense to me that the skill unlock would force you to wait out the 3+ rounds before attempting to frighten again. What if they were shaken due to another source? Would this skill unlock not make the Enforcer feat a liability, if it were ruled that way?
I'd rule that you'd never get more than 1 round of Frightened, naturally, but that each successful demoralize exceeding the DC by 10 Will grant the chance to impose it again (With another Will save).
I'm with Bane Wraith. The 2nd (or Nth) time you pull it off you both extend the shaken condition and turn one round of shaken into frightened.
Keep in mind that this is only the 5 rank skill unlock. The latter skill unlock allows for not only longer duration but more intense fear conditions. It also imposes the shaken condition on a character with the stalwart ability even if they make the saving throw. Below is the full skill unlocks for intimidate.
With sufficient ranks in Intimidate, you earn the following. An asterisk (*) indicates the total duration cannot exceed 1 round plus 1 round for every 5 by which you exceed the DC.
5 Ranks: If you exceed the DC to demoralize a target by at least 10, it is frightened for 1 round and shaken thereafter.* A Will save (DC = 10 + your number of ranks in Intimidate) negates the frightened condition, but the target is still shaken, even if it has the stalwart ability.
10 Ranks: If you exceed the DC to demoralize a target by at least 10, it is panicked for 1 round or frightened for 1d4 rounds (your choice) and shaken thereafter.* A Will save (DC = 10 + your number of ranks in Intimidate) negates the frightened or panicked condition, but the target is still shaken, even if it has the stalwart ability.
15 Ranks: If you exceed the DC to demoralize a target by at least 20, it is cowering for 1 round or panicked for 1d4 rounds (your choice) and frightened thereafter.* A Will save (DC = 10 + your number of ranks in Intimidate) negates the cowering, panicked, and frightened conditions, but the target is still shaken, even if it has the stalwart ability.
20 Ranks: If you exceed the DC to demoralize a target by at least 20, it is cowering for 1d4 rounds and panicked thereafter.* A Will save (DC = 10 + your number of ranks in Intimidate) negates the cowering and panicked conditions, but the target is still shaken, even if it has the stalwart ability.
If you have the enforcer feat and score a critical on a target and succeed in your demoralize the target gains the frightened condition even if he is already shaken. If you exceed the roll to demoralize by 10 or more the target gains whatever condition your skill ranks grant you. These conditions do not stack they overlap. So if you have only 5 ranks in intimidate and roll a critical hit, and exceed your demoralize roll by 10 the target is frightened for only one round. If the target is already shaken and you score a critical hit it gains the frightened condition and the duration of the shaken condition is extended.
Wouldn't it be too strong of a level 5 ability if it's renewable? Combine it with dazzling display and it seems to me like you have an ability that can dominate every encounter that isn't with mindless creatures - all day long.
That said, the 'stalwart' thing doesn't seem like an upgrade so much as a balance issue. 'Stalwart' allows you to ignore partial effects if you succeed at a fort or will save. Since unchained intimidate adds a save, without this clause it could make 'demoralize' worse if your enemies have 'stalwart'. Demoralize simply functions as it would without the feat if you use it on an enemy with 'stalwart' and they make the save.