I was just hoping for some clarification on this ability as reading it (over and over again) has not clarified it for me. Does the Versatile dance ability mean that a Dervish dancer can use his Perform (dance) skill in place of the acrobatics skill (and all it entails?) meaning that the acrobatics skill becomes obsolete for them? [This is my best interpretation]
Yes. Acrobatics is obsolete once they get this.
Never mind it's clear in the core rule book.
Let's say you are a 4th level half-elf bard with 4 ranks in Perform (Dance). You've got skill focus (Perform (Dance)) and a Charisma of 18. Your skill total is +14 (4 ranks, +3 class skill, +3 feat, +4 Cha). You have a 14 Dex and didn't put any ranks in Acrobatics. Total of +2.
With versatile performer, you can either make an Acrobatics check using Acrobatics (at +2) or a Perform (Dance) check (at +14). This applies to all uses of the skill. So, yes, Acrobatics is no longer a skill that your bard needs to put any points in: his versatile performance overrides it.
Now, Fly isn't on your spell list, but there is nothing that prevents your bard from sometime later getting winged boots or a broom of flying or another item that lets him fly. Let's say he is now 8th level and has a pair of the boots. His Perform (Dance) check is now a +18 (4 more skill ranks) and he can use that instead of a Fly skill check, even if he doesn't have any ranks in Fly.
It is a very powerful ability. And remember, you gain other versatile performances as you increase in level. Use them.
Master Arminas
Not the Dervish Master Arminas.
Ah. Missed that part, AEvux. Thanks.
MA
