would Versatile Performance negate a favored class bonus?

[ohako]

Let's say you're a halfling bard, and you take versatile performance (wind), so that your Perform (wind) bonus replaces your Diplomacy bonus. Now let's say you're going to go gather information. And let's also say you took at least two levels of the halfling bard favored class bonus, which would add +1/2 per level to a Diplomacy check to do that.

Are you rolling straight Perform (wind) or Diplomacy (with the bonus), or do you add the bonus to the Perform (wind) check?

[MurphysParadox]

That is a great question that has been asked many times and, last I checked, there's no official word on it. Maybe someone else will have an unofficial word on it from some post by Jason or Sean.

The arguments are this:

Yes, because all you are still making a diplomacy check, even if you're using the number from your performance (wind) skill, so bonuses to diplomacy still count.

No, because the bonuses to diplomacy add to your diplomacy skill number which you are not using because you are using your performance (wind) skill.

Another wrinkle: What if you have an item that improves your diplomacy? What about one that improves your performance (wind) check? What about both?

[Geoking]

Well according to the CRB under Versitle Performance you choose when to replace the original skill bonus for your Perform.

[Vrischika111]

the way Herolab handles it (it's the official soft for Pathfinder - but could have bugs):

you take the flat value from Wind and roll with it. no class bonus added to the roll (except those bonus to perform-wind)

so you CAN replace but if you replace, no other bonus

[ohako]

yeah, I know. RAW basically means the following

1. Lem wants to disguise himself as a human child (for whatever reason). He's got max ranks in Disguise and Perform (act). He's also got a big favored class bonus for doing this, and also has versatile performance (act).
2. He whips out his disguise kit and puts on a disguise. Congratulations! Favored class bonus applies.
3. Lem goes to put on the disguise in a play. He goes 'backstage' and uses Perform (act) to make the disguise check. Sadly, he forgets all of his 'disguise yourself like a human child' tricks that he's learned over the years, and does not get his favored class bonus.

This makes no sense. Lem is doing the same thing in both scenarios, and whether he applies the bonus or not is arbitrary.

At the same time, I have no idea how a halfling would go about intimidating someone using halfling juggling sticks. >Cough up the info or I stick these where the sun don't shine!< is really no better than using a weapon for the same threat, why would juggling sticks give you a +2?

I think the answer to my question should be: yes, bonuses of all kinds to the original skill should count, and bonuses to the replacement skill should not. I think the 'replacement' effect of versatile performance should just be your Perform ranks, class skill bonus, and Cha mod, and everything else (say a racial bonus to Fly, or a favored class bonus, or a bottle of Handle Animal musk) would continue to work.

My 2 cents...but probably not RAW.

[ohako]

I guess Lem's getting extra hit points every level. Nothing wrong with hit points.