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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

General Skills
Acrobatics | Arcana | Athletics | Crafting | Deception | Diplomacy | Intimidation | Lore | Medicine | Nature | Occultism | Performance | Religion | Society | Stealth | Survival | Thievery

Performance (Cha)

Source Core Rulebook pg. 250 4.0
You are skilled at a form of performance, using your talents to impress a crowd or make a living.

Performance Trained Actions

Basic Competence

Some performances require you to be more than just charismatic, and if you don't meet the demands of the art form or the audience, the GM might apply a penalty based on the relevant ability score. For example, if you're dancing and have a negative Dexterity modifier, you might take a penalty to your attempt at dancing. Likewise, if you are orating and have a negative Intelligence modifier, you might have to hope your raw Charisma can overcome the penalties from your intellectual shortcomings—or ask someone to help write your speeches!

Performance Traits

When you use an action that utilizes the Performance skill, it gains one or more traits relevant to the type of performance. The GM might change these depending on the circumstances, but the most common performance-based traits are listed below.

Performance Traits

PerformanceAdditional Traits
Act or perform comedyAuditory, linguistic, and visual
DanceMove and visual
Play an instrumentAuditory and manipulate
Orate or singAuditory and linguistic
Item Bonuses for Performance - Common Items
ItemBonusLevelCategoryConsumable?Note
Musical Instrument (Virtuoso Handheld)+13Adventuring GearNoPerformance checks using that instrument
Musical Instrument (Virtuoso Heavy)+13Adventuring GearNoPerformance checks using that instrument
Maestro's Instrument (Lesser)+13Held ItemsNoPerformance checks while playing music with the instrument
Dancing Scarf+13Other Worn ItemsNoPerformance checks to dance
Persona Mask+13Other Worn ItemsNoPerformance checks while acting, orating, performing comedy, or singing
Drums of War+14CodaNowhile playing the drums
Entertainer's Lute+14CodaNowhile playing the lute
Trickster's Mandolin+14CodaNowhile playing the mandolin
Bagpipes of Turmoil+14CodaNowhile playing the bagpipes
Composer Staff+14StavesNo—
Maestro's Chair+17Mobility DevicesNoPerformance checks using the chair
Entertainer's Lute (Greater)+18CodaNowhile playing the lute
Trickster's Mandolin (Greater)+18CodaNowhile playing the mandolin
Theatrical Mutagen (Lesser)+11Alchemical ElixirsYes—
Grit+11DrugsYes—
Silvertongue Mutagen (Lesser)+11Alchemical ElixirsYes—
Sprite Apple (Pink)+14Alchemical FoodYes—
Dancing Scarf (Greater)+29Other Worn ItemsNoPerformance checks to dance
Persona Mask (Greater)+29Other Worn ItemsNoPerformance checks while acting, orating, performing comedy, or singing
Horn of Blasting+29Held ItemsNoPerformance checks to play the horn of blasting
Taleteller's Ring+29Cursed ItemsNoPerformance checks for storytelling
Maestro's Instrument (Moderate)+210Held ItemsNoPerformance checks while playing music with the instrument
Accompaniment Cloak+211Other Worn ItemsNo—
Entertainer's Lute (Major)+212CodaNowhile playing the lute
Drums of War (Major)+212CodaNowhile playing the drums
Trickster's Mandolin (Major)+212CodaNowhile playing the mandolin
Composer Staff (Major)+212StavesNo—
Bagpipes of Turmoil (Major)+212CodaNowhile playing the bagpipes
Troubadour's Cap+217Other Worn ItemsNo—
Mask of Allure+218Other Worn ItemsNo—
Silvertongue Mutagen (Moderate)+23Alchemical ElixirsYes—
Theatrical Mutagen (Moderate)+23Alchemical ElixirsYes—
Elven Absinthe+25DrugsYes—
Maestro's Instrument (Greater)+318Held ItemsNoPerformance checks while playing music with the instrument
Silvertongue Mutagen (Greater)+311Alchemical ElixirsYes—
Theatrical Mutagen (Greater)+311Alchemical ElixirsYes—
Theatrical Mutagen (Major)+417Alchemical ElixirsYes—
Silvertongue Mutagen (Major)+417Alchemical ElixirsYes—
Item Bonuses for Performance - Uncommon/Rare/Unique Items
ItemBonusLevelCategoryConsumable?Note
Portable Altar+13Adventuring GearNoPerformance checks to conduct religious rites
Confabulator+13Assistive ItemsNo—
Pipes of Compulsion+14CodaNowhile playing the pipes
Seer's Flute+14CodaNowhile playing the flute
Spirit-Singer+15Adventuring GearNoPerformance checks when played in the presence of a significant spiritual disturbance, such as a haunt or incorporeal undead
Spirit-Singer (Handheld)+16Adventuring GearNoPerformance checks when played in the presence of a significant spiritual disturbance, such as a haunt or incorporeal undead
Pipes of Compulsion (Greater)+18CodaNowhile playing the pipes
Seer's Flute (Greater)+18CodaNowhile playing the flute
Spirit-Singer (Incredible)+211Adventuring GearNoPerformance checks when played in the presence of a significant spiritual disturbance, such as a haunt or incorporeal undead
Phantom Piano+212Intelligent ItemsNo—
Pipes of Compulsion (Major)+212CodaNowhile playing the pipes
Seer's Flute (Major)+212CodaNowhile playing the flute
Seer's Flute (Major)+212CodaNowhile playing the flute
Spirit-Singer (Incredible Handheld)+212Adventuring GearNoPerformance checks when played in the presence of a significant spiritual disturbance, such as a haunt or incorporeal undead
Curtain Call Cloak+212Other Worn ItemsNoPerformance checks while acting, orating, or singing
Splendid Floodlight+212Held ItemsNoCharisma-based skill checks while within the red light
Nosoi Charm+212Held ItemsNo—
Horn of the Sun Aurochs+213Held ItemsNo—
Glaive of the Artist+214Specific Magic WeaponsNo—
Busine of Divine Reinforcement+215Held ItemsNoPerformance checks to play the busine as an instrument
Songbird's Brush+215Specific Magic WeaponsNoPerformance checks made to dance or sing as long as the glaive is held in two hands
Fiddle of the Maestro+216CodaNo—
Bargainer's Instrument+215Other ConsumablesYes—
Nosoi Charm (Greater)+318Held ItemsNo—
Drum of Upheaval+320Held ItemsNo—

Related Feats

To see a list of Feats related to Performance, click here.

Performance Untrained Actions

Perform

Concentrate 
Source Core Rulebook pg. 250 4.0
When making a brief performance—one song, a quick dance, or a few jokes—you use the Perform action. This action is most useful when you want to prove your capability or impress someone quickly. Performing rarely has an impact on its own, but it might influence the DCs of subsequent Diplomacy checks against the observers—or even change their attitudes—if the GM sees fit.

Critical Success Your performance impresses the observers, and they’re likely to share stories of your ability.
Success You prove yourself, and observers appreciate the quality of your performance.
Failure Your performance falls flat.
Critical Failure You demonstrate only incompetence.

Sample Perform Tasks

Untrained audience of commoners
Trained audience of artisans
Expert audience of merchants or minor nobles
Master audience of high nobility or minor royalty
Legendary audience of major royalty or otherworldly beings