The rule probably should have read “see or hear”...
Regardless however, it really comes down to the method through which the demoralization is delivered... a bard shouting demoralizing insults at their foes only needs them to hear them to be effective... a barbarian who makes threatening gestures requires a clear line of sight from their foe... and anyone who utilizes the Cornugon Smash feat can get away with their foe simply still being alive...
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The rule probably should have read “see or hear”...
Regardless however, it really comes down to the method through which the demoralization is delivered... a bard shouting demoralizing insults at their foes only needs them to hear them to be effective... a barbarian who makes threatening gestures requires a clear line of sight from their foe... and anyone who utilizes the Cornugon Smash feat can get away with their foe simply still being alive...
Based on what?
What performance is using the bard?
"Each bardic performance has audible components, visual components, or both.", so it depends on the performance you use.
Why a barbarian would get an exemption from speaking?
Cornugon smash says that "you may make an immediate Intimidate check", without changing how Intimidate works.
Closing your eyes and pretending the big scary thing isn't there is not a realistic defence.
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Closing your eyes and pretending the big scary thing isn't there is not a realistic defence.
But it isn't the presence of the "big scary thing" that demoralize you, it is the use of a skill.
It is the difference between a big guy saying: "Give me your wallet." and the same big guy saying "Give me your wallet or ..." while he draws a combat knife and points it to your gullet.If you don't see the knife it loses part of the effect.
I don't like much the idea that closing your eyes will negate Intimidate, but, while closing your eyes is a free action, it is not something you can do outside of your turn. Nor opening them.
So to defend for a possible attempt to intimidation you should close your eyes from the end of your turn to the beginning of your next turn as a minimum. Seems a step cost to avoid a -2.
To respond at the OP:
blindsight could potentially work, but it depends on the actual mechanics of the specific form of blindsight.
"Using nonvisual senses, such as sensitivity to vibrations, keen smell, acute hearing, or echolocation, a creature with blindsight maneuvers and fights as well as a sighted creature."
Echolocation gives a complete outline of things within range, so you "see" the person using Intimidate.
Vibrations, keen smell, and acute hearing don't give you the same kind of outline, so you know the spatial location but not how it moves.
It is all GM interpretation.
Isn't closing your eyes part of the demorialization?
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Closing your eyes and pretending the big scary thing isn't there is not a realistic defence.
But that's the whole design philosophy behind the "Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses". If you can't see what might stress you then it won't bother you.
But as to the OP. I don't think you can close or avert your eyes in response to something being scary. Since you would of had to of already seen and/or heard enough to realize that what's going on over there is going to be potentially disturbing to you. If anything it would probably make it worse because you'll end up imagining something instead that truly frightens you.
The only way I can see this helping is if you preemptively close your eyes. Like if you knew the room you were about to enter had a bunch of scary illusions in it so your closed your eyes before entering.
Suppose a PC had their eyes closed because there was a medusa in the room. If the medusa then whirled her scimitar around in a dazzling display of prowess, would the PC be affected by the intimidate check? I'd argue not from realism as well as rules.
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Suppose a PC had their eyes closed because there was a medusa in the room. If the medusa then whirled her scimitar around in a dazzling display of prowess, would the PC be affected by the intimidate check? I'd argue not from realism as well as rules.
Haha
The funny part is that it is her scimitars that is frightening you.She has snakes for hair!!! Imagine a grapple with her...
Suppose a PC had their eyes closed because there was a medusa in the room. If the medusa then whirled her scimitar around in a dazzling display of prowess, would the PC be affected by the intimidate check? I'd argue not from realism as well as rules.
In that case, I'd agree, because she isn't doing anything apart from showing off, and (all else being equal) you'd have no reason to believe that anything scary was going on.
Of course if your fellow PCs all get scared and start screaming and running away, that might be different.