Perform (Percussion instruments)
Full rules text, use cases, and edge-case handling for this skill.
Description
Perform represents skill in a specific type of artistic performance — music, dance, acting, oratory, and so on. Like Craft, it is a family of separate sub-skills, each purchased independently. Ranks in Perform (sing) do not help with Perform (dance).
The sub-skill you are viewing (Perform (Percussion instruments)) covers one performance type. The rules for quality, earning money, and special uses are identical across all Perform sub-skills.
Class skill — "Perform (any)": When a class lists Perform as a class skill, it applies to any one Perform sub-skill the character chooses. Bards typically invest in several sub-skills and gain the class skill bonus on all of them.
Common Sub-Skills
This list covers the most common SRD sub-skills. GMs may add any art form that fits their setting.
Check
A Perform check measures the quality of your performance. It is used to entertain audiences, earn money, and — for bards — power bardic performance class abilities.
| Performance Quality | DC | Earnings per Day |
|---|---|---|
| Routine (can make a living) | 10 | 1d10 cp |
| Enjoyable | 14 | 1d10 sp |
| Impressive | 18 | 3d10 sp |
| Memorable | 22 | 1d6 gp |
| Extraordinary | 26 | 3d6 gp |
| Transcendent | 30 | 1d10 × 10 gp |
Bardic Performance: Bards use Perform checks to activate and maintain bardic performance abilities (inspire courage, fascinate, suggestion, etc.). The specific Perform sub-skill used must be appropriate to the performance type — a bard cannot use Perform (percussion) to deliver an oration. Check the bard's class features for which sub-skills apply to which performances.
Action
Varies. Performing for an audience typically takes at least several minutes. Bardic performance is a standard action to begin and a free action each round to maintain. Some performances (countersong, distraction) are immediate reactions.
Try Again
Yes. Each performance attempt is independent. A poor performance may affect the audience's willingness to stay and listen, but there is no mechanical penalty to attempting again later.
Special
- Bard: Perform is the bard's signature skill. Bardic performances are powered by Perform and limited by rounds per day (2 + Charisma modifier at 1st level, +2 per level thereafter).
- Skill Focus (feat): +3 to one Perform sub-skill; increases to +6 with 10 or more ranks.
- Versatile Performance (Bard): At 2nd level and every 4 levels thereafter, a bard can substitute their Perform bonus for the bonus of two related skills (e.g., Perform (oratory) substitutes for Diplomacy and Sense Motive). This makes high Perform investment doubly valuable.
- Fascinate, Suggestion, Mass Suggestion: These bardic abilities use a Perform check as the save DC (10 + ½ bard level + Charisma modifier), making Perform investment directly improve crowd-control effectiveness.
Untrained
Yes. Anyone can attempt a Perform check untrained — natural talent and basic practice do not require formal training. Without ranks, however, a character is limited to routine performances at best.