[Basic Set] Is Intimidation only used as an Influence Roll?

[Grayscale]

Regarding the broader subject of "are Influence Skills only used as Influence Rolls", I know the answer to be "no, there are other uses for them".

But for Intimidation, specifically?
The write-up on B202 does not explicitly mention how to use the skill against a single adversary. It does, however say:

"If you rolled a critical success – or if the subject critically failed his Will roll – your victim must make a Fright Check in addition to the other results of the Influence roll!"

Does this mean that:

• Any use of Intimidation vs an individual is always an Influence Roll (to which I'm inclined to say "yes")?
• If not, what are the actual mechanics for using it against a single individual?
  

Other aspects to be taken in consideration:

• Group Intimidation explicitly calls for a Quick Contest of Intimidation vs highest Will in the group - which doesn't necessarily means it is a Influence Roll.
  
• Specious Intimidation says "goes a long way toward offsetting the high Will and Fearlessness of martial arts masters..."

[Celjabba]

Originally Posted by Grayscale

Regarding the broader subject of "are Influence Skills only used as Influence Rolls", I know the answer to be "no, there are other uses for them".

But for Intimidation, specifically?
The write-up on B202 does not explicitly mention how to use the skill against a single adversary. It does, however say:


Does this mean that:

• Any use of Intimidation vs an individual is always an Influence Roll (to which I'm inclined to say "yes")?
• If not, what are the actual mechanics for using it against a single individual?
  

Other aspects to be taken in consideration:

• Group Intimidation explicitly calls for a Quick Contest of Intimidation vs highest Will in the group - which doesn't necessarily means it is a Influence Roll.
  
• Specious Intimidation says "goes a long way toward offsetting the high Will and Fearlessness of martial arts masters..."

Originally Posted by GURPS Social Engineering p69

One-on-one intimidation is an Influence roll.

however, there is also an interesting note when discussing Social Engineering:

Originally Posted by GURPS Social Engineering p48

Skills such as Administration, Intimidation, or Sex Appeal can complement the primary skill.

So, it can be used in at least one case as a Complementary skill : an uncontested skill roll, not an Influence roll.

[Grayscale]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[Kallatari]

The various campaign framework series (e.g., Dungeon Fantasy, Action, After the End) all introduced a "blustering" mechanic to use Intimidation in combat, where if you win the Intimidation contest your target (or targets) will move away from you and not attack you (and only you; your teammates are still fair game, so long as they can get to them without going by you).

Edit: It can be found within the second volume of each of the series.

[Black Leviathan]

Sort of yes? You're employing a skill to force a reaction rather than relying on a random roll. It's actually specifically mentioned in the Influence Roll section but like all Influence Rolls it has specific exceptions and unusual effects unlike other influence skills.

[Prince Charon]

Some of my magic system ideas have Intimidation as the core skill of some styles - practitioners believe that they are intimidating 'the spirits' or 'the universe' or whatever into doing what they wish, though this is not necessarily the case (it may be just how they focus the mind on the desired result). That's probably a pretty weird outlier, though.

[Inky]

Sounds like Girl Genius.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Inky

Sounds like Girl Genius.

That's one possible way to model Sparks' "Voice of Command" power. It could also model slightly sillier game mechanics like "Maniacal Laughter" or "Glowering at Minions."

[Emerikol]

Originally Posted by Kallatari

The various campaign framework series (e.g., Dungeon Fantasy, Action, After the End) all introduced a "blustering" mechanic to use Intimidation in combat, where if you win the Intimidation contest your target (or targets) will move away from you and not attack you (and only you; your teammates are still fair game, so long as they can get to them without going by you).

Edit: It can be found within the second volume of each of the series.

What about the flip side? In some games you use intimidation to draw enemies to you. By appearing to be the most threatening, intelligent enemies might decide to try and take you out first. So I suppose if you are a weak mook, intimidation might scare you off attacking, but if you are the brute killer of a group, intimidation might draw you to the attack.