Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post

hal · 09-16-2017, 05:13 PM

Adding to the answer already given...

That comes under group intimidation. It wasn't specious because he's saying the first one who comes within reach, he will kill. He didn't say that they'd all die, just the first one (so to speak). Chances are good he has a reputation to start off with - otherwise, they probably wouldn't have believed him to be capable of his threat. If there were 12 or so, then the intimidation skill roll would have been penalized by a -3. If he had a +2 reputation as a very skill swordsman, then he would have been rolling at Intimidation-1. Looking at the rules for "influence", it states that a successful intimidation roll is treated as a Good Reaction. The results for a Good reaction state:

"In a potential combat situation, the NPCs find the PCs likeable, or else too formidable to attack. The PCs may request aid or information; roll again at +1. (If a fight is in progress, the NPCs flee.)"

Note too - page 561, bottom left paragraph discusses when one should be using reaction rolls. In general, if the GM already knows how the NPC is going to react ahead of time, then all the reaction roll attempts in the universe won't change what is about to happen. The reaction roll is largely for the faceless masses etc. The mooks - not the Named Henchmen.

Just a thought. ;)

09-16-2017, 05:13 PM	#3
hal Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Buffalo, New York	Re: Intimidation, both individual and group Adding to the answer already given... That comes under group intimidation. It wasn't specious because he's saying the first one who comes within reach, he will kill. He didn't say that they'd all die, just the first one (so to speak). Chances are good he has a reputation to start off with - otherwise, they probably wouldn't have believed him to be capable of his threat. If there were 12 or so, then the intimidation skill roll would have been penalized by a -3. If he had a +2 reputation as a very skill swordsman, then he would have been rolling at Intimidation-1. Looking at the rules for "influence", it states that a successful intimidation roll is treated as a Good Reaction. The results for a Good reaction state: "In a potential combat situation, the NPCs find the PCs likeable, or else too formidable to attack. The PCs may request aid or information; roll again at +1. (If a fight is in progress, the NPCs flee.)" Note too - page 561, bottom left paragraph discusses when one should be using reaction rolls. In general, if the GM already knows how the NPC is going to react ahead of time, then all the reaction roll attempts in the universe won't change what is about to happen. The reaction roll is largely for the faceless masses etc. The mooks - not the Named Henchmen. Just a thought. ;)