Basically, as is, deadly performance kills a creature with sorrow or joy inspired by the music. I propose that instead, deadly performance prevents the target from attempting to damage the bard as long as the bard doesn't attack the target (max 5 or so rounds) as the target cannot bear to destroy the source of such moving music. Then, when the bard stops playing (min 1 round of playing), is when the creature must find the will to move on in a world that isn't filled with such extraordinary beauty and either their body shuts down, no longer willing to live in such a world at the cellular level, or their stunned for several rounds in trying to deal with the fact that the music is gone.
Hopefully this will fit with whatever changes they decide to do to bring deadly performance into balance. Balancing the base ability is a discussion for another thread (though it really needs some balance and taking an extra round to pull of the deadly performance helps that department).
Another way to implement this would be to have the music prevent the target from attacking the bard for the duration of their playing (leading to some really cool endurance performances mayhaps) and reducing the death/stun effects to compensate (to stun if failed the save or dazed if passed perhaps).
Regardless, we've been enjoying pathfinder. Keep up the good work!
