"Dirge of Doom (Su): A bard of 8th level or higher can use his performance to foster a sense of growing dread in his enemies, causing them to become shaken. To be affected, an enemy must be within 30 feet and able to see and hear the bard's performance. The effect persists for as long as the enemy is within 30 feet and the bard continues his performance. This performance cannot cause a creature to become frightened or panicked, even if the targets are already shaken from another effect. Dirge of doom is a mind-affecting fear effect, and it relies on audible and visual components."
i'd go with a no. since this was never strong enough to cause fear higher then shaken, the only reason for them to add the bold part is to exclusively prevent it from stacking with anything else.
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The way I read it is that it would automatically make someone shaken. Then if someone casts fear, and the already shaken target makes the save, then it gets shaken again and thus moves to frightened mode.
The reverse would not work though, i.e. Dirge of Doom upon an already shakened target does not make the target frightened.
So, Dirge of Doom first, then something that makes you shaken again later, would be legit.
Now, if someone has Improved Dirge of Doom, then the reverse scenario mentioned above 'does' work (moves an already shaken victim to frightened, but cannot take the victim from frightened to panicked)
At least I think so. :)
The rules seem to be very stingy for stacking fear effects.
I can only think of a few.
The Damnation Feats and some barbarian rage powers.
The rules seem to be very stingy for stacking fear effects.
I can only think of a few.
The Damnation Feats and some barbarian rage powers.
i used to deal it with final embrace horror for a no-save stacking fear effects -until it was nurefed to be almost impossible to take as a character. now i have it used by my animal companions.
a monk with the deadhand style can also dish out stacking fear effects with his attacks, but those have a save & cost 1 Ki/round.
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As zza ni pointed out dirge of doom specifically states it cannot cause a creature to become frightened or panicked. Even if the final cause of becoming frightened or panicked is the fear spell, dirge of doom would still be a cause. But since the description states it cannot cause a higher fear effect it does not. It cannot in any way cause more than the shaken condition.
Improved Dirge of Doom
The foreboding tone of your dirge is especially effective at unsettling your enemies.
Prerequisite(s): Ability to perform dirge of doom.
Benefit: The range of your dirge of doom ability is extended to 60 feet. Additionally, if a creature is shaken from another effect, the effect of your dirge of doom is changed to frightened for that specific creature. This benefit cannot cause a creature to become panicked, even if a target is already frightened from another effect. Once affected by this feat, a creature cannot be affected by it again for 24 hours.
Normal: The range of dirge of doom is 30 feet. A creature that is already shaken cannot become frightened by dirge of doom.
Greater Dirge of Doom
The haunting sound of sepulchral intonations chills the most stalwart adversary to its very core.
Prerequisite(s): Improved Dirge of Doom, ability to perform dirge of doom.
Benefit: The effect of your dirge of doom lingers with a target for 2 rounds after the creature leaves the dirge’s area of effect. If you use your dirge on a creature that is shaken, it becomes frightened. If you use it on a creature that is frightened, it becomes panicked. Once affected by this feat, a creature cannot be affected by it again for 24 hours.
Normal: Fear effects on a creature end immediately once it leaves the area of dirge of doom. A fear effect cannot be made more extreme by dirge of doom and can be changed only to the frightened condition by the Improved Dirge of Doom feat.
If you want a supercharged Dirge of Doom, consider getting these feats.
If you want to crank this all up to 11 and break the knob off,
Disheartening Display (Combat)
Your show of prowess further demoralizes others.
Prerequisite(s): Dazzling Display, Weapon Focus, base attack bonus +6, proficiency with chosen weapon.
Benefit: When you successfully use Dazzling Display against any shaken, frightened, or panicked opponents, their fear increases by one step. An already panicked creature demoralized by this feat cowers. Once affected by this feat, a creature cannot be affected by it again (by you or anyone else) for 24 hours.
Level1: Weapon Focus (if human or half-elf, take Skill Focus: Intimidate in addition to Weapon Focus)
Level3: Dazzling DisplayLevel5: Signature Skill (Intimidate)
Level7: Disheartening Display
Level9: Improved Dirge of Doom
Level11: Greater Dirge of Doom
Round 1: Dazzling Display, anyone demoralized by 10 or more becomes Frightened (via Signature Skill)
Round 2: Dirge of Doom, anyone shaken becomes frightened, anyone frightened becomes panicked
Round 3: Maintain Dirge of Doom as Free action, Dazzling Display (this time it's Disheartening Display) Frightened becomes Panicked, Panicked becomes Cowering
Round 4: Take a full round action to set up lawn chair and eat popcorn