Perform (Cha)

     You are skilled at one form of entertainment, from singing to acting to playing an instrument.  Like Craft, Knowledge, and Profession, Perform is actually a number of separate skills.

     You could have several Perform skills, each with its own ranks.  Each of the nine categories of the Perform skill includes a variety of methods, instruments, or techniques, a small sample of which is provided for each category below.

• Act (comedy, drama, pantomime)
  
• Comedy (buffoonery, limericks, joke-telling)
• Dance (ballet, waltz, jig)
• Keyboard Instruments (harpsichord, piano, pipe organ)
• Oratory (epic, ode, storytelling)
• Percussion Instruments (bells, chimes, drums, gong)
• String Instruments (fiddle, harp, lute, mandolin)
• Wind Instruments (flute, pan pipes, recorder, trumpet)
• Sing (ballad, change, melody)

Retry: Yes, retries are allowed, but they don't negate previous failures.  An audience that has been unimpressed in the past is likely to be prejudiced against future performances.  (Increase Perform DC by 2.)

Special: You can take a 10 and a 20 on Perform checks.

• Masterwork Instrument: A masterwork musical instrument gives you a +2 circumstance bonus on all Perform checks that involve its use.

Time: Varies.  Trying to earn money by playing in public requires anywhere from an evening’s work to a full day’s performance.  The bard’s special Perform-based abilities are described in that class’s description.

PERFORM UNCHAINED

     By taking the Signature Skill feat, you can unchain the following special bonuses:

• 5 Ranks: Whenever you attempt a Bluff, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, or Intimidate check, you can attempt a DC 20 Perform check to gain a +2 circumstance bonus on the check.
  
• 10 Ranks: Whenever you cast a spell with the emotion or language-dependent descriptor, you can attempt a DC 25 Perform check to increase the save DC by 1.
  
• 15 Ranks: Whenever you cast a spell with the emotion or language-dependent descriptor, you can attempt a DC 30 Perform check to increase your caster level by 1.  You must choose whether to use this ability or the ability unlocked at 10 ranks when casting the spell.
  
• 20 Ranks: Choose one of the following skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate. When you attempt a skill check with that skill, you can also attempt a Perform check and use the better result to determine the success of that skill check.