
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 2.0
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
Maestro's Chair+17Mobility DevicesNoPerformance checks using the chair
Grit+11DrugsYes—
Silvertongue Mutagen (Lesser)+11Alchemical ElixirsYes—
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
Maestro's Instrument (Moderate)+210Held ItemsNoPerformance checks while playing music with the instrument
Mask of Allure+218Apex ItemsNo—
Silvertongue 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—
Silvertongue Mutagen (Major)+417Alchemical ElixirsYes—
Item Bonuses for Performance - Uncommon/Rare/Unique Items
ItemBonusLevelCategoryConsumable?Note
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
Spirit-Singer (Incredible)+211Adventuring GearNoPerformance checks when played in the presence of a significant spiritual disturbance, such as a haunt or incorporeal undead
Spirit-Singer (Incredible Handheld)+212Adventuring GearNoPerformance checks when played in the presence of a significant spiritual disturbance, such as a haunt or incorporeal undead
Nosoi Charm+212Held ItemsNo—
Glaive of the Artist+214Specific Magic WeaponsNo—
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 2.0
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