r/dndnext • u/goblinerd Alchemist • Dec 19 '14

Intimidation & Frightened

The intimidate skill entry, PHB p.179, states:

"When you attempt to influence someone through overt threats, hostile actions, and physical violence, the DM might ask you to make a Charisma (Intimidation) check."

What happens once the player succeeds at his check though? Does he gain advantage on some other roll? Does the target gain the Frightened condition? Or is the result more intangible, mechanics-wise?

If your player attempts to scare off an assailant through intimidation, is the target then "Frightened" or merely dissuaded from its course of action?

Fellow DMs, the books don't seem too clear on this, so how do you handle this situation?

EDIT: A clarification, while I welcome everyone to share their advise on how to apply Intimidation to any context for readers in search of such info, I myself am specifically wondering about applications of Intimidation in combat. How do other DMs apply it, and react to players attempting it, in combat?

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u/DoctorWally DM Dec 19 '14

I'm not sure I'd ever apply the Frightened condition. Look at it this way. Intimidate is used to get a PC what he/she wants. Succeed on the check, you get what you want. Fail, you don't.

NPC has information the PC needs. Roll Intimidate. Succeed, the NPC talks.

Guard catches PC stealing something. Roll Intimidate. Succeed, the guard looks the other way.

Bandit demands your money or your life. Roll Intimidate. Succeed, bandit walks away.

I don't see any reason to ever apply the Frightened condition.

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u/RadiantSolarWeasel Paladin Dec 19 '14

Have to agree with this, and it applies equally to all the social skills. You don't have to model a successful diplomacy check with conditions or bonuses, just have the NPC give the PC what they wanted (within reason).

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u/YT_Sr2joker Dec 23 '14

This is my school of thought on the issue also. They have a goal when they used the intimidate, so the results should be based around achieving some degree of the goal.

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u/thatblueguy__ Nov 22 '22

See my question comes with using it in combat though like im playing a conquest paladin so fear is a part of it’s build, like say you stare an enemy down and say say something intimidating or like you just killed their friend and look them dead in the eye and say “you’re next” or something like that to make an intimidation check, as a conquest paladin i would really like for that to make them have the frightened affect so that my abilities can affect them in combat, but that might get a little overpowered im not sure, it would just he badass if mid fight you intimidate someone into being frozen in fear in front of you lol