Given the skill consolidations and the changes to bards, I have decided to just consolidate perform skills into 2 categories:
Perform (audible)
Perform (visual)
Not an attempt to deter you from using what you wish, but I thought another view might be interesting. This is from Kirth Gersen in his Homebrew campaign.
# Perform (acting) includes oratory, comedy, disguise, and all that kind of stuff.
# Perform (music) works like linguistics: pick up new instruments or forms as you add ranks.
# Perform (dance) works like Perform (music).
Just my 2 cp.
Have you considered how this will affect the new Bard class abiity Versitle Performance which is based on the various perform skills?
I image the ability might not be needed with consolidation. The ide behind it was to reward bards who learned muliple perform styles (so that they have more incentive to do so). Though they'll have multiple perform styles anyway if the abilities are consolidated.
Have you considered how this will affect the new Bard class abiity Versitle Performance which is based on the various perform skills?
Well, personally I think that Bards already get plenty of advantages when it comes to skills (6/level, Bardic Knowledge, Lore Master, Jack of All Trades), that I think Versatile Performance was just a "filler" they quickly crammed in at the last moment, without fully thinking it through. Most Bards will only have 1 audible and 1 visual performance anyways, so beyond 10th level, this ability is pretty useless.
This is sort of an odd way to add back in synergy bonuses.
My plan is to eliminate this ability and replace it with something useful, and not based on providing skill bonuses (something they already get enough of). Since I can't think of a decent replacement ability right now, perhaps they could just get a "bard bonus feat" in its place.
Sample bard bonus feats:
Acrobatic
Agile Maneuvers
Alertness
Arcane Strike
Combat Casting
Deceitful
Deft Hands
Extra Performance
Magical Aptitude
Persuasive
Skill Focus
Spell Focus
Stealthy
Not an attempt to deter you from using what you wish, but I thought another view might be interesting. This is from Kirth Gersen in his Homebrew campaign.
# Perform (acting) includes oratory, comedy, disguise, and all that kind of stuff.
# Perform (music) works like linguistics: pick up new instruments or forms as you add ranks.
# Perform (dance) works like Perform (music).Just my 2 cp.
Part of my allure to consolidating the perform skill, is that I try to imagine why someone dancing, or reciting a joke, can inspire everyone around them so greatly. I could in fact see Perform as just 1 skill (no sub categories). A good performer typically does more that just one aspect of the performance. An instrument player may also be singing or dancing. A reader of poetry may make facial or body gestures (acting) that help emphasize their poetry.
Perform has basically just been reduced now to an ability that you use for Countersong or Distraction. You don't make Perform checks for anything else. I may change the DC's to all bard music effects to the bard's perform check (+/- some possible modifiers).
I prefer to use the names:
Perform (Entertainment); Includes Act, Comedy, Dance, Oratory, Sing.
Perform (Instrumental); Includes Keyboard, Percussion, String, Wind, Sing.
Yes I allow sing to be used to Enterain or as an instrument. I depends on how the Bard wants to use it.
I prefer to use the names:
Perform (Entertainment); Includes Act, Comedy, Dance, Oratory, Sing.
Perform (Instrumental); Includes Keyboard, Percussion, String, Wind, Sing.Yes I allow sing to be used to Enterain or as an instrument. I depends on how the Bard wants to use it.
This is somthing I could get behind, liking this consolidation.