What does Cornugon Smash look like?

[DRD1812]

I'm GMing for buddy who took Cornugon Smash.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/cornugon-smash-combat/

I have no idea what the flavor of this ability is supposed to be. Is it just "hit them so hard they're demoralized?" If that's the case, I'm having some trouble differentiating that from "every other barbarian in the universe." I love me some fluffy battle descriptions, but I just find myself coming up blank here. Any help?

[Saldiven]

It's hit them really hard, then gloat about it and promise to do it again. (That's one example.)

Remember, the feat gives a free Intimidate check to Demoralize the opponent. The Power Attack hit throws the opponent off balance just long enough for the character to make a mid-combat Intimidate check. What the character does with that check is up to the character. Roleplaying it should be not much different than any other time a character uses Intimidate in combat.

[Cavall]

Think of it like a pro wrestler just panhandling his opponent, then throwing him into the corner and taking the time to flex or scream at him.

Or a knife fight were he stabs you and then takes the time to lick the knife clean.

Or sliding your rapier under the guard and then backing off to let them know you're not even left handed.

It's essentially a literal "insult to injury" feat.

Because it's more "power attack" based, you could describe it as tiles on the floor breaking, or sweeping along a table smashing vases before it hits them. It works this way too as an explosion of power.

While any of the top listed could be a "power attack" too with a flourish, working it as just a "dear God I'm scared to even be touched by this" works very well and is in keeping with theme

[DRD1812]

Saldiven wrote:

Remember, the feat gives a free Intimidate check to Demoralize the opponent. The Power Attack hit throws the opponent off balance just long enough for the character to make a mid-combat Intimidate check. What the character does with that check is up to the character. Roleplaying it should be not much different than any other time a character uses Intimidate in combat.

Oof. That's rough. The player in question gave me the deer in headlights look when I asked what he did to intimidate the critter. I believe that his answer was nervous chuckle plus, "Ummm... I roll dice at them?"

I guess we're both having trouble seeing the flavor past the mechanics.

[Planpanther]

Its a cool rider a martial actually gets to add on. I'd not get too crazy about shutting it down. Of course, if this were a spell, we wouldn't even be having this conversation....

[quibblemuch]

Watch video of Warren Sapp sacking Brett Favre...

[Saldiven]

DRD1812 wrote:

Saldiven wrote:

Remember, the feat gives a free Intimidate check to Demoralize the opponent. The Power Attack hit throws the opponent off balance just long enough for the character to make a mid-combat Intimidate check. What the character does with that check is up to the character. Roleplaying it should be not much different than any other time a character uses Intimidate in combat.

Oof. That's rough. The player in question gave me the deer in headlights look when I asked what he did to intimidate the critter. I believe that his answer was nervous chuckle plus, "Ummm... I roll dice at them?"

I guess we're both having trouble seeing the flavor past the mechanics.

It's really not that bad. Just think of things a rough-and-scary martial type would do to intimidate someone.

"I'm gonna pop out yer left eye and eat it while you can still watch."

"That one hurt didn't it? Here comes another!"

Lots of possibilities.

[Athaleon]

No words are even necessary. Intimidate is not language-dependent, and all social interaction depends heavily on body language. You may simply be using an expression and a demeanor that implies dominance, that says "I am in control of this fight". Rather than doing so as its own action, the feat allows you to perform it as part of a Power Attack, and the heavy blow combined with your domineering confidence makes the opponent really doubt his ability to win.

[Lunaramblings]

There are a variety of ways to play it off as others have said. The ability is named after one of the more "respected" Devils in the game, so maybe take that as inspiration.

Also the old "if he's willing to do that to himself, I don't wanna know what he's gonna do to me" joke comes to mind. Psyching your self up ala Ken Shamrock for example.

[dragonhunterq]

My very scary Nagaji's is usually "a stare that reminds them they are descended from small prey animals" - and when the GM asks why that works even on greater demons and dragons with no hint of prey animal, I reply "'cos to me, that is all they are...and they know it".

[MageHunter]

An argument could be made that acting perfectly calm would be scary.

[Cole Deschain]

I had an Isgeri monk whose signature Cornugon smash (enemy's anatomy permitting) was a vicious headbutt coupled with a cheerful grin.

It's kinda fun to tailor them to a given PC (although I prefer Gory Finish to get my Mortal Kombat on)

[DRD1812]

Cole Deschain wrote:

It's kinda fun to tailor them to a given PC (although I prefer Gory Finish to get my Mortal Kombat on)

Yah... I guess that's my trouble. Neither I nor the PC in question had any bright ideas. sometimes the imagination comes back with a 404.

Plenty to think about in this thread though. :)

[Saffron Marvelous]

I just take it as pressure most of the time, to be honest. An aggressive fighter who's able to keep you on the defensive asking yourself "what do I do" instead of doing it. It's a real skill.

Don't get me wrong; I like it when my players play something to go with it, but since it gets used a lot, it can get stale pretty quick.