Bard takes ranks of Bluff at 1st level (let's say 1 rank +2 Cha +3 class skill for Bluff +6) and then takes Versatile Performance Act at 2nd.
Let's say Perform(act) is +7.
Do the ranks for Bluff just go away and Bluff is now +7 or do you somehow combine the two?
Nope, no combining. You use one or the other.
Nope, no combining. You use one or the other.Bard takes ranks of Bluff at 1st level (let's say 1 rank +2 Cha +3 class skill for Bluff +6) and then takes Versatile Performance Act at 2nd.
Let's say Perform(act) is +7.
Do the ranks for Bluff just go away and Bluff is now +7 or do you somehow combine the two?What if you have a magic item that increases your Perform(act), does that affect the Bluff?
What if you have a magic item that increases your Bluff?
I'd say no and yes, but I'd like to make sure.
My reading of the Versatile Performance ability says it's all or nothing. When the time comes to make a Bluff check, you look at the final modifiers with all factors taken into account, and then you activate Versatile Performance to substitute in your Perform (act) bonus instead if appropriate.
The bard classes in the Gamemastery Guide seem to support that method. I'm thinking particularly of the Minstrel, who has a Masterwork harp affecting his Perform(strings) skills, and has an identical modifier on the Bluff and Diplomacy skills. I doubt having the harp in hand makes him a better diplomat on the spot, but that's the way the numbers crunch.
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I never liked the idea that the bard lost those early ranks they spent. It seems unfair to make the bard plan his entire career in advance because of Versatile Performance. (Not very "versatile", is it?)
I house rule that 1/2 of the skill points spent in the original skill can be added in to the Versatile Performance skill but never more than +5.
I put an upper limit on it because without the limit a bard will simply bump both. Granted the original skill points are only worth 1/2, but what about a multiclass bard (say they started as rogue)? I wouldn't want the 1/2 bonus to become too large...
I agree that it is kind of a negative that after gaining a level, a Bard suddenly loses all effort put into essential social skills. I'd like to see some mechanic to address that, since I'm currently playing a multiclassed Bard.
Perhaps over time those skill points spent on social skills can be reassigned to other skills, maybe at a rate of 1 skill point per level?
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I asked the same question way back, and James Jacobs came in and said that you CAN take ranks away from skills that are substituted by versatile in order to fill it up. Example: You can start with 1 rank in Diplomacy and 1 rank in Sense Motive at lv1, and when you hit lv2, you can move those two into Perform Oratory, to net you 2 ranks.
This allows a bard to have diplomacy on lv1, even if he plans to take a versatile performance that subs it.
Yes. Link please.
Like the vast majority of his responses to rules questions, it was James just saying his personal view. In fact, it's one of the things he'd go and change about the Bard.
I'd still appreciate a link.
Would this be what you are looking for?