Intimidate Foe

[Khamul]

I have a question about Intimidate Foe.

Lets say you meet an enemy group of 10 orc soldiers led by a Black Uruk.
Your big beorning uses Intimidate Foe (as he is in a Forward stance) on the Black Uruk and he gets an extraordinary (-4 Hate) success thus bringing the Uruks 4 Hate Points to 0 and making him Weary would this not also have an effect on the 10 orc soldiers, when they see their leader crumble under the Intimidating beorning.

I wonder if its any meaning to use Intimidate Foe if it's to weak. If it would work on every orc (within hearing distance of cause) I can see it being used alot more (I also understand that you dont want to make it to powerful either).


/Khamul

[Rocmistro]

Khamul:

The hate point drain is determined by the Loremaster amongst all those foes he deems fit to have been affected by the Hero. (I would probably determine it based on some combination of phsyical proximity to the hero and their phsychological status)

All foes are considered to be Weary if reduced to 0 hate (unless otherwise stated).
Additionally, some foes are "Craven" meaning they will run away when reduced to 0 hate.

Those are the only "hard" conditions imposed by Hate loss. If you want to circumstantially rule that the lesser orcs would run if their leader became weary, that is certainly a logical ruling and it's at your discretion to do so.

Personally I think potentially draining 4 hate from adversaries is huge, and there's nothing to say that heroes can't combine the affects multiple times across different heroes. It's especially potent when you are faced with 1 or 2 super dangerous foes, as opposed to a score of lesser ones.

[Mytholder]

The Loremaster decides who loses the Hate points. In the case you describe, he could just have four orc soldiers flee, or take 2 Hate away from the Uruk and get rid of two soldiers. Or, better yet, the players could wait until the Uruk is down and then scatter their remaining foes by intimidating them.

Intimidate Foe is fine as it is - use it against Craven enemies, or against foes with lots of special powers like Dark Spells, or against wraiths and ghosts and other things you cannot slay with steel alone.

[Majestic]

Generally speaking, as LM I'd distribute the loss of Hate as I saw appropriate (so I might have a few of the regular Orcs flee, being Craven).

But in the dramatically appropriate circumstances, and if the Beorning player intentionally was trying to Intimidate that Black Uruk, I might have all four (being as he did so exceptional) go on that leader, and then the others would all choose to back down (after seeing their fierce and powerful commander buckle).

It's not something I'd allow a lot, as it would be a really easy way to conquer the enemy. But in the dramatically appropriate moment, it could really make for a legendary moment at the table.

[Khamul]

Thanks guys! This makes it easier, thanks!

[Blubbo Baggins]

In a game we played our LM narrated the loss of 2 Hate quite appropriately.
2 of the Craven orcs (who had been among those first to charge the company) turned and fled.

They were immediately beheaded by their leader who was coming up behind them laughing!

[Indur Dawndeath]

I don't think that I would allow a player to rout a Black Uruk and 10 Orcs with an intimidate. The Uruk may become weary if the situation justifies it, but since he is not Craven, then he will stand his ground.
On the other hand, if the players slew the Uruk and then made an intimidate, I'd let them rout all the orcs on any success.
Cheers

[Glorelendil]

I don't think that I would allow a player to rout a Black Uruk and 10 Orcs with an intimidate. The Uruk may become weary if the situation justifies it, but since he is not Craven, then he will stand his ground.
On the other hand, if the players slew the Uruk and then made an intimidate, I'd let them rout all the orcs on any success.

I would factor in the circumstances. For example, if a hero in Forward stance gets a lucky Wound on the Uruk in the first round it's very different than if the Uruk has wounded a hero before succumbing to endurance loss.

[Majestic]

Yeah, for me it would be completely dependent on many things as well. Is it early in an adventure? near the end? Would it be anticlimactic? Would it be just an incredible ending? Are the PCs nearly wiped out?

If your answer is that you'd never do it, ask yourself this: Are there any circumstances where a PC should be able to intimidate a fearsome foe? Getting an extraordinary result isn't easy to do, and if it happens at the dramatically appropriate time, then I can see this being a really cool moment for a PC. In any case, it's not something I'd do often; rather, it's the kind of deed songs and legends result from.