How would you react if you were thoroughly intimidated by someone?
always thought it was a will save and not a wisdome check as it is the will that is affected. An intimidation will affect the moral of a person saping his will to fight back.
Myself, I have to go with the D20 system rules. That is, 1d20 + WIS modifier + 1/2 ECL (effective character level).
Your Intimidate check is opposed by the target’s modified level check (1d20 + character level or Hit Dice + target’s Wisdom bonus [if any] + target’s modifiers on saves against fear).
In my opinion this is where being a "PC character/hero" rather than a commoner comes in motion - instead of running away crying ... one would instead become more defensive as he is facing a certain threat - a PC finds undead or giants intimidating for certain yet he still faces them.
Mr.Pickles is a fearsome barbarian; behold his terrifying growls and gestures... Mr.Pickles approaches a group of 3 adventurers who are 5 levels lower than him and goes "BOORAAARARA!! *intimidate check* and rolls some 15+20...But would each and every one present in the group roll against that? Or would they do something like add the combined courage of 'em all to face the terror that is Mr.Pickles?
In terms of intimidating paladins, I think it can be done under some circumstances. They may not feel fear, but they could be convinced that wisdom is the greater part of valour and step down from what they perceive as a greater threat. I think it depends on the context of the intimidation.
It seems as though everyone has their own separate (rather convoluted) rules as to this. The last thing I want is extensive Tell arguments about whether I saved against the Intimidate or not. How can we get any sort of consensus?