Hello forumites.

Let's say a player wants to use his free manoeuvre as a skill check, an Intimidate check in particular. How is this resolved?

I'd say he has to roll Intimidate with a difficulty appropriate to the enemy's resisting characteristic (WP/Discipline). But what happens if he succeeds? The enemy is intimidated.... but I'd say making an enemy run away would require an action card. Maybe add a black die to the enemy's further attacks? What can be accomplished without an action card?

Thanks!

D

It would affect the morale track of the monsters (most combats versus multiple opponents should use a morale track in my opinion). I think the GM should only allow it when the player has just killed a foe in a spectacular way though.

If you fight with allies, maybe Leadership could be used in a similar way to bolster their morale.

Yeah, I'd probably rule that the enemy would suffer a Misfortune die on their next action vs. that player; 2 if 3 or more successes are rolled. Then I might also give the character a Fortune on his next action vs. that opponent if he also scores 2 or more boons.

i don't disagree with anything suggested. but, i might start by making the player tell me what he wants to accomplish and what his character is doing to accomplish it. if the player just says, "i want to intimidate that troll by using my intimidate skill" and he succeeds his check i might say, "the troll is completely intimidated, now he tries to eat you."

I think using any social skill in combat warrants either extra difficulty or a very minor effect. I prefer the extra difficulty, I think. But I'd award sufficiently intimidating circumstances handsomely (chopping someone's head off, killing their leader, or even just timing it so the Intidimate attempt coincides with some impressive event (a lightning flash, reinforcements arriving, a flashy spell, etc).

If successful, asses the situation and roleplay accordingly. Adjust the morale track, have them run away or surrender, or have them fight to the death, if they think that's their only chance out of this! Or have one or more opponents disengage on their next maneuver, but not actually withdraw. It might give the players a turn to breathe before the fight is on again.

isn't skill tests supposed to be actions, not manoeuvers? e.g. Perform a stunt.

Silverwave said:

Only if you are trying to use a skill in an unusual way or to attempt a dramatic or story-driven activity not covered by a specific action card. Using a skill to perform its normal function is a standard maneuver, per page 52 of the rulebook.

If the PC is mouthing off to the opponent, acting scary or deranged, or doing something else as a prelude to another action (appropriately roleplayed by the player), an Intimidate skill check as a standard maneuver that nets the PC some small advantage on his following action would be appropriate. If he is doing it as a maneuver after an action, (let's say he just landed a painful blow on his opponent and is now taunting him), then a penalty on the opponent's next action against the PC would be appropriate.

Now if the PC is trying to Intimidate the opponent in such a manner as to try to drive him away (again as appropriately roleplayed by the player) or get him to completely back down, then use Perform a Stunt. Doncha just love the flexibility?

Silverwave said:

Yes and/or no, depending taste/circumstances/you GM's ruling.

The rules are incredibly unclear on this. According to the list of maneuvers, skill use is a maneuver, but that makes little sense, because every action card also uses a skill. Can I use Weapon Skill for it's regular purpose (hit somebody), and then perform an action? I don't think so. Can you perform First Aid as a maneuver while in the middle of combat? Sounds rather unlikely, doesn't it?

The rules are badly written and very unclear on these sort of things. you'll need to use your own discretion.

The best idea I've heard so far: actions accomplish goals directly, maneuver support actions. So using a skill to drive someone away is an action, but using a skill to get an extra fortune on your (or someone else's) next action is a maneuver.

I agree with mcv's interpretation. Allowing any skill would break the system, or at least lead to many situations that make no sense in the context that the skill is being used like the afore mentioned first aid check.

- LOL "afore" is flagged as misspelled. FFG please teach your forum application proper English, it is bad enough it does not allow right clicking for spelling suggestions.

How about on a successful intimidate check the character has Fear 1 (or two for three + sucesses) vs the target(s) that was/were intimidated?