So I was looking over the various intimidate themed feats, and got an idea to put the best together quickly and effectively:
Half-orc Slayer
Str 18
Dex 14
Con 13
Int 10
Wis 10
Cha 12
Traits: Fate's Favored, Bully
Alternate racial traits: Sacred Tattoo and Pariah (or your flavor of racial ability that replaces only weapon familiarity)
Level 1-7 Slayer, Level 8+ Rogue (Thug, Scout)
1.Power Attack
2. Slayer Talent--Ranger Combat Style (menacing): Intimidating Prowess
3. Hurtful
4. Slayer Talent--Rogue Talent (Combat Trick): Combat Reflexes
5. Pushing Assault
6. Slayer Talent--Ranger Combat Style (menacing): Shatter Defenses
7. Cornugon Smash
Level 3 starts to show merit, as you can Intimidate then attack once, giving up essentially nothing.
Level 6 is when this tactic begins paying off, since that second attack will activate Shatter Defenses, and you're still not giving up too much (Move + Intimidate + free attack vs. iterative attacks if you're already in position).
Level 7 is the big payoff, as that's when you get to Intimidate as part of your first attack in a full attack, triggering Shatter Defenses on the Hurtful attack, allowing your iterative attack to be against flat-footed AC.
Sometimes, you'll have to choose between Studied Target and Hurtful, unless you're already within 5 ft Step range, then you can spend your Move action to Study, leaving your Swift for Hurtful, or Study on the following round.
Added to all this, I'm inclined to use a reach weapon, which, along with Combat Reflexes and Pushing Assault, provides and option for battlefield control as well: choosing between Power Attack damage & Cornugon Smash on AoOs, or Pushing Assault to keep enemies at bay.
If the AoO plan isn't your speed, or you don't like Pushing Assault, these could be swapped out for basically anything else. Skill Focus (Intimidate) isn't a bad idea.
The Rogue levels after you've finished with the Slayer stuff provide a few things:
--more Sneak Attack dice to real make Shatter Defenses valuable
--Sneak Attack on a charge, or after moving (so even your first attack will get SA damage before Cornugon)
--more rounds of Shaken, possibly causing Frightened instead
--add Sickened to the debuffing suite
Did I miss anything?
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This is my super stealthy, max intimidate, lvl 12 reach Slayer. He's probably top 3 of the funnest characters I've ever played. He has AoE Sneak Attack and can re-stealth even while being actively viewed (Hellcat Stealth).
25pt buy - Human Slayer
Str 13
Dex 20 (+2)
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 11
Cha 12
Custom Weapon is: Flying Spiked Aspergillum, 10ft reach Aspergillum on a chain, spring-loaded to reduce to 5ft as a swift action.
3dp: weapon finesse
3dp: 19-20 crit
3dp: 2d4 dmg (becomes 2d6 while large)
1dp: reach
2dp: spring loaded
Traits:
Child of the Moon: +1-4 Stealth, depending on the cycle of the Moon
Dangerously Curious: UMD as class skill
I took Focused Study instead of Skilled (free Skill Focus at 1st, 8th, 16th)
Lvl1 Weapon Finesse, Human Bonus feat: Skill Focus: Stealth
Lvl2 Ranger Combat Style: Cleave
Lvl3 Power Attack
Lvl4 Rogue Talent: Weapon Focus (Flying Spiked Aspergillum)
Lvl5 Cleaving Finish
Lvl6 Ranger Combat Style: Great Cleave & FCB1/6 Defensive Study
Lvl7 Cornugon Smash
Lvl8 Combat Trick: Dazzling Display, Human bonus feat: Skill Focus: Intimidate
Lvl9 Shatter Defenses
Lvl10 Advanced Rogue Feat: Improved Cleaving Finish
Lvl11 Hellcat Stealth
Lvl12 Twist the Knife & FCB1/6 Hellcat Pounce
Lvl13 Critical Focus
Lvl14 Hunter's Surprise
Lvl15 Blinding Critical
Lvl16 Rogue Talents: Evasion, Skill Focus: Perception
Lvl17
Lvl18 Opportunist & FCB1/6 Assassinate
Lvl19
Lvl20
Enchants:
Agile (+1)
Cruel (+1)
Culling (+2)
Skills:
Intimidate (Max)
Stealth (Max)
Spells/Items: I got Dangerously Curious for UMD so I can use wands and scrolls to buff myself
Enlarge Person
Invisibility
Cat’s Grace
Build Highlights:
Threaten 10ft (15ft with Enlarge)
Weapon Dmg 2d6+xx +2d6dmg (Culling) to everyone I cleave
Free Intimidate Check + Sicken (If successful Intimidate) for a -4 to Attack/Saves/Skills/Ability Checks and a -2 to Dmg (with Shaken/Sicken combo)
Cruel Weapon gives me 5 temp HP for each enemy I kill
AoE Sneak Attack: Shatter Defenses causes everyone I Cleave to be flat-footed