Hoaxer archetype clarification

[Glych]

Hi guys, I was just looking to see if any new archetypes had come out recently, when I ran across the hoaxer.
At first glance it seems pretty cool for making a swindler, but I was wondering if I could get some clarification on a few things.
1: Bad Deal- Specifically, when you place a hex in an item, to keep the hex there do you need to keep expending rounds of bardic performance, even if you've not given it to someone yet?
For example, if I place evil eye in it, do I need to expend a performance round to put the hex into the item, then spend more performance rounds while I'm making a diplomacy check to make a person take the item, and even when they've taken the item, it's only granting them a penalty for either a round or (+int) rounds?
Or, do I need to spend a round to hex the item, it stays hexed until I give it to someone, then I can keep spending performance rounds to keep the item hexed, thus giving them the penalty for longer?
If it's the first, I've got to say the archetype seems pretty bad. It's a lot of resource expenditure to give a person a penalty which the witch can give from range, without any required set up, and can be maintained via cackling.

2: Curse Crafter- So the hoaxer gets some crafting feats, but only to craft cursed items. The problem is, I can't seem to find rules for deliberately making cursed items, and most of the specific cursed items I can find have a high caster level (12+) meaning the feats are pretty useless until 12, if they can be used at all. So am I able to just make inverted magic items (ring of -4 str etc.) or is there a page that I'm missing?

Sorry for the wall of text, this is the first time I've seen a bard archetype that interests me in a while :)

[Kobold Commando]

Wow, I never thought I'd see the day when there was a way to just craft helms of opposite alignment. I'll have to remember to keep this archetype away from any story that can't handle any random person switching sides with this bard's supercharged beguiling gift/helm combo.

As to your questions
1. Your first interpretation seems correct- you have to spend a round every round until you hand the thing off.
2.Caster level is not a crafting requirement unless it's listed in the requirement section of the item. Here's the relevant faq. It's for a pearl of power, but the same principles spelled out in the first paragraph apply here.

Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook Frequently Asked Questions:

Pearl of Power: What is the caster level required to create this item?

Though the listed Caster Level for a pearl of power is 17th, that caster level is not part of the Requirements listing for that item. Therefore, the only caster level requirement for a pearl of power is the character has to be able to cast spells of the desired level.

However, it makes sense that the minimum caster level of the pearl is the minimum caster level necessary to cast spells of that level--it would be strange for a 2nd-level pearl to be CL 1st.

For example, a 3rd-level wizard with Craft Wondrous Item can create a 1st-level pearl, with a minimum caster level of 1. He can set the caster level to whatever he wants (assuming he can meet the crafting DC), though the pearl's caster level has no effect on its powers (other than its ability to resist dispel magic). If he wants to make a 2nd-level pearl, the caster level has to be at least 3, as wizards can't cast 2nd-level spells until they reach character level 3. He can even try to make a 3rd-level pearl, though the minimum caster level is 5, and he adds +5 to the DC because he doesn't meet the "able to cast 3rd-level spells" requirement.
posted August 2010

[avr]

1. Yes, that first is how it reads. It remains hexed as long as you spend a round of bardic performance each round as a swift action, until it's triggered. It's a really, really weak ability.

2. On this page, under intentionally crafting cursed items, it mentions the discounts for crafting ordinary items which are 'cursed'. Actually getting an excuse to use these rules is unusual, but the -10% cost requirements are actually an advantage until you want to sell the item (thieves may not be able to use it), and imaginative use of the -50% cost opposite effect or target may be very useful. It may make the archetype worth using.

[CWheezy]

Wait you can intentionally craft dust of sneezing and choking?

Lol that's sick, that item is amazing

[Glych]

Damn, I thought it was the first one, but I really hoped I was mistaken ^^

How would you price specific cursed items? For example, creating dust of sneezing and choking can be made from dust of tracelessness, which is 125gp to make. The problem is I think only having to pay 125gp for crafting an item which has the potential to deal 3d6 con damage on a failed save to enemies within 20ft, and stunning them for 5d4 rounds even if they succeed, is a little bit too cheap :P

[Devilkiller]

Dust of Sneezing and Choking deserves an errata. Even if the effect of a successful save were changed from stunned to staggered it would still be too powerful IMO.

I wonder how the "Personal Guarantee" is supposed to interact with the duration of Bad Deal. If it keeps the hex from expiring that's nice. Otherwise it seems like kind of a bad deal itself. Either way, the Hoaxer might be fun for an NPC who tricks the party. I could also imagine it working for a Beguiling Gift focused PC. The Buyer Beware ability is kind of like having Heighten Spell and a bunch of high level spell slots to cast Beguiling Gift out of. Since it is an ability rather than a spell I think it would also qualify for a +2 DC from Ability Focus. Depending on what items you have available to give people this could be a reasonably effective and very amusing ability. It strikes me that poisons aren't generally magical and therefore could be hexed with Bad Deal. If you put an Evil Eye on there the target of your swindle would get hexed when he or she accepts the item and therefore effectively take a -4 on the saving throw against the poison. I'm not saying it is super effective, but it might be hilarious.

In fact, I think this archetype might help me finally make a "snake oil salesman" PC based on a Horrorclix mini called Dr. Barker. It could be tough for a Bard to come up with a couple of snakes though. I guess that taking the Witch VMC would grant a familiar and let you learn Cackle at 7th level. That could be nice for extending the hexes from Bad Deal without breaking the bardic performance bank. I suppose I'd just need to come up with another snake somehow, potentially one of the feat chains to get an animal companion since I don't think you can have two familiars.