D&D 3E/3.5 Interactions Between Intimidation-related Feats (3.5)

[Captain Trek]

Hello everyone...

Hokay; right now I'm building myself an Intimidation-focused Marshal (my DM has even allowed me to replace the Skill Focus (Diplomacy) 1st level bonus feat with Skill Focus (Intimidate)) and whilst I'm going to have no trouble boosting this character's Intimidation checks to stellar levels, I was wondering how exactly some of the various Intimidation-related feats interacted, as opinions seem to differ...

1: Does Intimidating Strike work with Never Outnumbered and/or Imperious Command?

2: What happens if I successfully demoralise someone who is suffering under the minute-long shaken effect from Dreadful Wrath? (or indeed under any long-duration shaken effect) What about if I have Imperious Command while I'm doing this?

3: Normally, the Frightful Presence ability only functions against creatures who have fewer hit dice than you, something that is not reflected in the description of the Dreadful Wrath Feat. Does this caveat extend to Dreadful Wrath?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Captain Trek]

Oh and while I'm at it; given that Dread Pirate, Scarlet Corsair, Barbarian with Intimidating Rage, Zhentarim Fighter and Avenging Executioner are all inappropriate given this character's fluff and backstory, is there anything else I could mutliclass into to improve either the character's intimidation abilities or the character's Leadership abilities aside from Legendary Leader?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

1. Yes. They're all based around using the intimidate skill to demoralize an opponent. I've used all 3 together. It's beautiful. If allowing yourself to get so many foes within 10 ft of you doesn't get you killed (can only use the skill trick 1/encounter to cower-lock all of them).
Protip: The skill trick requires foes to be within 10 ft, Intimidating Strike just requires you to hit someone w/ a melee attack. If you have good reach (as simple as reach weapon + Enlarge for 20 ft reach; which is a good combo for your build anyway), use the Intimidating Strike on a foe NOT within 10 ft, and use the skill trick to mop up everyone closer to you with the cower as well.

2. Fear stacks, as long as it's from different sources (not from you or you and another guy demoralizing the same person twice, that would just make the durations overlap). So they would go to panicked and then to frightened. If you have Imperious Command, they would cower for a round, then be under their new heightened state of fear, as normal.

3. No idea, not familiar with the feat.

Not many other classes I can think of. Perhaps Warlock dip for the eldritch essence that makes the victim shaken for a minute? Not sure if Hideous Blow is considered a blast shape (and thus could be used with it) or an essence (and thus could not), but Eldritch Glaive would certainly work with it.

The Menacing Brute PrC in Races of Destiny gets some intimidate-related stuff, but is Half-Orc only and unlikely to fit with your background, either.

If you're a good guy, have you considered Nymph's Kiss exalted feat? It's a +2 on cha skills and checks, along with bonus skill points and a +1 save bonus on spells / spell-likes. Book of Exalted Deeds also has the Resounding Blow feat.

 

[Captain Trek]

So they would go to panicked and then to frightened. If you have Imperious Command, they would cower for a round, then be under their new heightened state of fear, as normal.

But would this cause them to be cowering for one round, frightened for one round and then shaken for however many rounds Dreadful Wrath's effect had left at that point, or would it boost the level of fear on them to frightened for the entireity of Dreadful Wrath's effect?