Using Performance on a Fighter in Combat

[PunkManiak]

I’m building a Goblin Fighter of the Skirmisher Archetype, with decently high performance, and the trait, Rude Songs (Goblin). I’m wondering if it would be possible to utilize his performance skill in combat, to enrage, infuriate, and degrade his enemies causing debuffs, rather than intimidating them. The idea is that he’s a “singer” (actually a rapper, who’s lyrics and limericks are spectacularly degrading), so it won’t interfere with his weaponry.

[Duke of Urrel]

The only thing that I can think of that doesn't also require Bardic Music is the Combat Panache feat, which requires 8 ranks of Bluff skill, 8 ranks of Intimidate skill, and 8 ranks of Perform skill.

It's on pages 93 and 94 of the Player's Handbook II.

[Saintheart]

The "Adding Injury to Insults" article in Dragon #294. Unfortunately most of the insults amount to reputational damage which is something else, but there is one feat: Scathing Wit - two prerequisites and a Perform (wit) skill, but if you damage the target's reputation, the target makes a Fort 10 + Perform (wit) skill modifier. Failure indicates the target breaks out in hives r boils and suffers subdual damage equal to the reputation damage you inflict.

Another is to ask your DM to adapt the Goad feat out of the Miniatures Handbook so it keys off your Perform check rather than your CHA modifier - force the enemy to attack nobody but you.

[Glimbur]

Another is to ask your DM to adapt the Goad feat out of the Miniatures Handbook so it keys off your Perform check rather than your CHA modifier - force the enemy to attack nobody but you.

This would require some balancing, skills scale a lot faster than abilities. So maybe you should make it perform based but resisted by perform. Which means you are having rap battles in the middle of combat.

[Asmotherion]

There's an item called Slippers of Battledancing that allow you to use CHA for attack and damage rolls with light or one handed weapons instead of your regular stat and give you a +2 to initiative as long as you gave 5 ranks in perform (dance).

[Psyren]

If you pick up VMC Bard, you'll get the Versatile Performance class feature at 11th. I don't know which Perform you have a high modifier in, but there are some that can be used in placed of more combat-oriented skills like Intimidate, Acrobatics, Bluff, or Fly.

[Zaq]

The "Adding Injury to Insults" article in Dragon #294. Unfortunately most of the insults amount to reputational damage which is something else, but there is one feat: Scathing Wit - two prerequisites and a Perform (wit) skill, but if you damage the target's reputation, the target makes a Fort 10 + Perform (wit) skill modifier. Failure indicates the target breaks out in hives r boils and suffers subdual damage equal to the reputation damage you inflict.

That is insane and hilarious at the same time. Unreasonably goofy, but it's kind of capturing my imagination.

Is there a limit on how often you can use it on the same target, or can you insult someone repeatedly until their hives make them pass out? (As insane as that is?)

[NNescio]

The "Adding Injury to Insults" article in Dragon #294. Unfortunately most of the insults amount to reputational damage which is something else, but there is one feat: Scathing Wit - two prerequisites and a Perform (wit) skill, but if you damage the target's reputation, the target makes a Fort 10 + Perform (wit) skill modifier. Failure indicates the target breaks out in hives r boils and suffers subdual damage equal to the reputation damage you inflict.

Another is to ask your DM to adapt the Goad feat out of the Miniatures Handbook so it keys off your Perform check rather than your CHA modifier - force the enemy to attack nobody but you.

That is insane and hilarious at the same time. Unreasonably goofy, but it's kind of capturing my imagination.

Is there a limit on how often you can use it on the same target, or can you insult someone repeatedly until their hives make them pass out? (As insane as that is?)

More importantly, can you force an undead (skellies, especially) to break out in hives, even if they are immune to the subdual damage?

[Zaq]

More importantly, can you force an undead (skellies, especially) to break out in hives, even if they are immune to the subdual damage?

Undead are immune to Fort saves that don't affect objects.

So... can you damage an object's reputation and make it break out in hives? If not, can we find a way?

[ShurikVch]

The "Adding Injury to Insults" article in Dragon #294. Unfortunately most of the insults amount to reputational damage which is something else, but there is one feat: Scathing Wit - two prerequisites and a Perform (wit) skill, but if you damage the target's reputation, the target makes a Fort 10 + Perform (wit) skill modifier. Failure indicates the target breaks out in hives r boils and suffers subdual damage equal to the reputation damage you inflict.

Also, there is one more feat called Scathing Wit - in the Dragon Compendium:

As a full-round action, you can belittle and insult a single creature that can understand you and is within 30 feet. You and the target must make opposed Intimidate checks; if you win, the target is humiliated and takes a -1 penalty on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and saving throws for a number of rounds equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 round). If you fail the opposed Intimidate check, the target shrugs off the insults.
A particular target may only be subjected to your Scathing Wit once per day.

Combine it with Imperious Command from Drow of the Underdark:

If you successfully demoralize a foe in combat, the foe cowers in fear shame for 1 round and is shaken shamed in the following round.

Use the Zhentarim Soldier ACF...