Geoffrey Warne's page

I don't agree that this is what the ability says. It is, however, the clearest explanation of what it likely should say. Something to the effect of:

"By gracefully weaving your body through subtle forms and postures you can convince others of your breeding, eloquence, and refinement. For the duration of the effect, the subtle changes in your movements confer a +4 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks to appear to be someone of a higher station (an aristocrat, merchant prince, or even a queen). You also gain a +4 circumstance bonus on Bluff checks, and may attempt a Bluff check in place of any Intelligence checks or Intelligence-based skill checks used to promote this ruse."

"USED TO PROMOTE THIS RUSE"!!! Bingo! Nice!

LazarX wrote:

Having read the ability carefully, I don't see it as invalidating people who make legitimate skill investment in knowledges. I see it as an art for effectively faking knowledges to bluff someone when you're passing off yourself to be someone you're not, as lack of knowledge is generally the Achilles Heel to many a would-be impersonator.

IF this is a valid interpretation of the ability, so that I can tell a player "No, you can't actually know true facts about monsters using this ability, you're just faking.", then that 100% resolves any issues I have with it. There's no more problem.

From what I have read here, that seems to be a legitimate ruling on an ambiguous rule.

However, many people, including many in this thread, are very insistent that it does really truly provide real knowledge, and that if I say otherwise I'm going against the rules.

But if players insist on some kind of supernatural knowledge gain... Maybe just give it to them... It ain't worth losing a good GM over. :-)

Good luck, Rudy2! Thanks for the stimulating thread. :-)

What possible rationale could there be for Pageant of the Peacock?

I appreciate the original concern of the OP, and all I can do is sympathize. It's a difficult question and I hope you find the best position for yourself. But what I'm really interested in is the logic, if any, behind this ability.

I have read this thread from start to finish, and I think I understand most of the arguments for and against. I started from the position that OBVIOUSLY Pageant of the Peacock simply allows a bard to PRETEND to have skills (knowledge) that they don't. (FLite effectively made this argument early on.) What could possibly justify a combination of acting (dancing) and bluffing leading to actual skill or knowledge?

I keep thinking of a character in popular culture who does this, but I can't quite put my finger on it. This character is so charismatic and such a good BS artist that he is able to actually effect technical knowledge/skill that he really shouldn't have. AND co-incidentally, this character has a studious companion that actually has technical knowledge and is often chagrined at the lucky guesses he makes. I wish I could remember who this is.

Is this what Pageant of the Peacock is supposed to be? That a bard can so effectively pretend to be an expert in something that she actually intuits knowledge out-of-the-blue?

I find the word "masterpiece" suggestive and I notice that the effects of bardic masterpieces are said to be "supernatural". In Real Life, masterpieces are works of art that are often considered to be divinely inspired--products of a supernatural insight known as "genius". Perhaps the bard is able to access knowledge supernaturally, by virtue of her artistic virtuosity and sensitivity.

In real life, we sometimes speak of actors "channelling" the subjects that they portray. It is as if an actor is able to tap into the soul of the character they are portraying to such a degree that they seem to have an uncanny access to their thoughts and emotional make-up.

Maybe in the fantasy world of Pathfinder, this could be more than metaphor. Maybe a masterpiece of bardic impersonation actually confers the skills and knowledge of the subject being impersonated. A bard pretending to be a scholar of religion could actually thereby gain religious knowledge, for example.

Or again, it could be just a comedic thing, where the bard makes some lucky guesses in trying to appear to be something he is not.

Well, that's the best I have... I won't say that I agree with this logic. Just a thought experiment to see if there COULD be a basis for it...

How Perform(Dance) could fit in... No idea...

Let other players play their characters. Unless they ask for advice, don't try to tell them what to do.

Pathfinder Field Agent can also take training in Trapfinding. (Pathfinder Society Primer, p. 19)

Okay... Great advice! Thanks a lot! :)

Are hirelings allowed in Organized Play? Will I need one? How long will it take to find one?

My problem is that I have a level-1 female cleric character that isn't very strong. Her strength score is only 10. I think this means that she can only carry up to 33 lbs as a light load. I want her to have enough equipment to be prepared, but she can't really carry much without getting into a medium load and being slowed down.

I am thinking about hiring someone to carry an extra pack for tools and such. Is this legal and would it take a long time? I don't want to slow the party down, especially when the scenario requires haste.

Additionally, if she can hire someone to carry a pack, would it also be possible to find a porter that can also fight?

That's what I was afraid of.
:-(