Can a Duettist familiar use Masterpieces?

[Doompatrol]

A Duettist familiar gains the ability to use a Bards performances.

As far as I can tell Masterpieces are additional applications of bardic performance with the exception that they can't be extended unless the performance say's otherwise.

So does that mean a Duettists familiar could activate them instead of the Bard?

[VoodistMonk]

In this particular case, I would say yes... but not for the reasons you mention.

The Bard's Masterpieces are more related to Versatile Performance than they are Bardic Performance, they simply are fueled by rounds of Bardic Performance as a cost to activate.

The Duettist's Familiar benefits from the Bard's Versatile Performance, and thus could use any Masterpiece the Bard has. The Duettist's Familiar can thusly use Masterpieces at their normal cost, instead of the doubled cost of performing a Performance... because Masterpieces are not Bardic Performance... Masterpieces are part of Versatile Performance, and the Duettist Familiar can use that normally.

I have always understood Bardic Performance to be completely separate from Masterpieces... because, to my knowledge, you can do both at the same time.

[Doompatrol]

VoodistMonk wrote:

In this particular case, I would say yes... but not for the reasons you mention.

The Bard's Masterpieces are more related to Versatile Performance than they are Bardic Performance, they simply are fueled by rounds of Bardic Performance as a cost to activate.

The Duettist's Familiar benefits from the Bard's Versatile Performance, and thus could use any Masterpiece the Bard has. The Duettist's Familiar can thusly use Masterpieces at their normal cost, instead of the doubled cost of performing a Performance... because Masterpieces are not Bardic Performance... Masterpieces are part of Versatile Performance, and the Duettist Familiar can use that normally.

I have always understood Bardic Performance to be completely separate from Masterpieces... because, to my knowledge, you can do both at the same time.

"Talented bards can learn or create masterpieces, unusual applications of the bardic performance ability"

and the rulings seems to be that you can't do both. Or at least any masterpiece once activated and has a specific duration in rounds or minutes will remain active but one that requires continous performance ends when any other performance is started.

[VoodistMonk]

Hmm, I may have to do a little more reading on Masterpieces... for how much I like the Bard class, I have very little experience with Masterpieces.

Either way, I would let the Duettist Familiar use Masterpieces the Duettist knows.

[Doompatrol]

VoodistMonk wrote:

Hmm, I may have to do a little more reading on Masterpieces... for how much I like the Bard class, I have very little experience with Masterpieces.

Either way, I would let the Duettist Familiar use Masterpieces the Duettist knows.

I'm 80-90% sure they are just another type of performance but with some stated restrictions.

But I'm just checking to be sure.

[VoodistMonk]

After reading the AoN, instead of the D20PFSRD, I agree with you that Masterpieces are, indeed, just another use of Performance. I was wrong.

However, I still think the Duettist's Familiar can use Masterpieces...

I am going to have to rethink my Kasatha Phrenologist, and the use of his Skull Sonata Performance to modify his own Vindictive Soliloquy Masterpiece. Drats...