In the rules as written, Perform (unless you're a bard) functions pretty much like Profession. You make a skill check and make a little money for your talent.
But I have a flame oracle PC in my group and she wanted to know what else Perform can do. What does everyone else think of it standing in for Diplomacy as well? That way it works like Wild Empathy but on people instead.
There already is a class feature (bard's versatile performance, I believe) that let you swap performance for some other skill. I don't think allowing anyone to do it would be well balanced since it provides a double dip on a single skill; why take diplomacy when you can just take perform and have profession+diplomacy (as well as a skill that qualifies you for a few feats)? It also already works only on people (can't diplomacize a bear without some additional features).
Granted, a GM can do whatever the GM wants. You could allow perform to provide a means to adjust NPC opinions of a PC in a way similar to diplomacy, but I'd limit it. Takes longer, requires focused attention without distraction, and should probably be a reasonable use.
You could also write up some system that lets it be used to distract or fascinate targets, like the bard ability, though with no magical quality and with both lower DC and less power. If anything, it could be done to, say, give your party members a bonus to stealth or bluff (slight of hand) checks because the NPCs are distracted.
You could allow perform to provide a means to adjust NPC opinions of a PC in a way similar to diplomacy, but I'd limit it. Takes longer, requires focused attention without distraction, and should probably be a reasonable use.
Great idea. I don't mean to break any rule systems just reward a player for flavorful character creation and create interesting roleplaying opportunities.
Perform could (by logic) be good to impress in social situations.
Some on the hand examples are dance in the ballrom, painting a picture of his majesty/highness or holding a good spech in front of the Senat closing with the words 'Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam' and thus either gain access to places to perform or possibly add a situational bonus to diplomacy rolls. Possibly best combined with KN: local and nobility for this.
We use a system where it is possible to "assist" with skills that kind of make sense. So my barbarian assist his own diplomacy with his perform (oratory) from time to time.
Very similar to diplomacy, but I've played around with the concept of Perform (Pitch) as in 'sales', for a roguish PC in the past.
sidenote: Performance combat has PErform to raise the crowds mood
Depending on the GM, here's what perform can do no matter what your class is:
Extraordinary performance. In a prosperous city, you can earn 3d6 gp/day. In time, you may draw attention from distant patrons, or even from extraplanar beings.
It takes some investment, but trust me when I say that it is pretty damn satisfying when the DM runs with it and outsiders start showing interest.
Depends on the Outsiders... a Perform (oratory) might call the exactly wrong outsiders - like when the Inquisitor makes speeches to burn the LE city again and again and then that city's gods might send an herold to put a stop to that...
I have a kabuki bard (dervish dancer arquetype) in my group and iv allowed him twice to do a performance in a tavern and later get a +2 reputation bonus on his diplomacy checks with people who have heard of him.