QQ&A: The forgotten 5e rule
Question:
Does it make sense for Intimidation to be based on Charisma?
Sure, the silver-tongued swashbuckler will use their savvy to spook the bricklayers into leaving them be.
But a raging ogre isn’t charismatic. They’re not persuasive, insightful or clever. Seeing one rush you with a club, though, would be incredibly intimidating.
I remember grumbling about this the one campaign I played in Pathfinder. My pet wolf had pinned a bandit and was growling in his face, but I had a negative million to the Intimidation roll.
How do you fix that?
Answer:
You play 5e.
In D&D 5e, there’s no such thing as an Intimidation roll. By default, it’s a Charisma (Intimidation) roll. That means you roll for Charisma, then add any relevant bonuses for Intimidation (if you’re trained in it, for example).
A snarling wolf or rampaging ogre might make a Strength (Intimidation) roll.
A wizard, describing precisely what their favourite spell will do to you, will probably roll Intelligence (Intimidation).
It’s all there in the rules. It’s just a matter of using it.
Ah, lovely. It’s always a great Quick Q&A when it’s actually quick like this.
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