Can a bard perform while polymorphed?

[Mathota]

My specific question is for a bat-kin skinwalker bard who plans to spend a lot of time in bat shape, but as a general rule is there anything preventing me from performing while polymorphed?

Obviously instruments are out of the question, but what about things like perform (dance)?

[Lelomenia]

He can definitely Perform (dance). Note that Bardic Performances each have specific requirements about what performance is involved; I don’t think a bat could Countersong, for example, but there’s a lot of ambiguity.

[vhok]

it depends entirely on what you are polymorphed into. dancing should be fine in any form, singing for anything that can make sound(don't need to use words to sing IE:birds etc) i don't see a problem with a bat-kin singing or dancing or even using an instrument, you still have arms unless you turn into an actual bat at some point.

[Yossarian]

I would say sure. Instruments would be a problem, but the other types of perform seem fine.

I was thinking of polymorphing into a sealion and then balancing a ball on my nose. I guess that's a Dance or Comedy check?

[blahpers]

Sure, why not? You'd have to use a Perform skill that a bat is capable of, of course. Perform (sing) covers audible components, and Perform (dance) covers visible components. If something is language-based, you'll need some means of speaking intelligibly, but fortunately most performances don't require this.

[EldonGuyre]

blahpers wrote:

Sure, why not? You'd have to use a Perform skill that a bat is capable of, of course. Perform (sing) covers audible components, and Perform (dance) covers visible components. If something is language-based, you'll need some means of speaking intelligibly, but fortunately most performances don't require this.

Oratory, specifically I would imagine.

[blahpers]

EldonGuyre wrote:

blahpers wrote:

Sure, why not? You'd have to use a Perform skill that a bat is capable of, of course. Perform (sing) covers audible components, and Perform (dance) covers visible components. If something is language-based, you'll need some means of speaking intelligibly, but fortunately most performances don't require this.

Oratory, specifically I would imagine.

Yup, and the suggestion and mass suggestion performances.

[deuxhero]

I agree Oratory would be out without some way of speaking in animal form. Singing is probably OK if the new form can vocalize noise at a reasonable volume. Anything with an instrument would require a form that can actually use it, but would be fair game if possible (aside from the obvious monkey, loads of things could play a drum, though not necessarily carry one)

[avr]

Perform (comedy) is something that many small furry animals can do. I call the Internet as Exhibit A on this.

[EldonGuyre]

avr wrote:

Perform (comedy) is something that many small furry animals can do. I call the Internet as Exhibit A on this.

Absolutely!

[deuxhero]

I've actually forgotten Perform (Comedy) was even a thing.

Looking up on it, the Prankster familiar archetype gets a bonus so that's pretty explicit confirmation animals should be able to Perform. Duettist Bard archetype too.