PERFORMING ARTS SKILLS

Note:Prerequisite Skills are shown in [italics] and Bonuses shown in ()

PERFORMING ARTS

Acting/Impersonation: This is simply the skill of pretending, convincingly, to be someone else. This involves the process in memorizing lines and being able to recite them with some type of conviction. It also enables a person to impersonate another person. This means the person must have a rudimentary (if not comprehensive) knowledge of the person or general type of personnel that he is impersonating. This is likely to include a knowledge of enemy/subject of impersonation, military procedure, dress, command, rank, and will usually require speaking the language fluently. This means the character can convincingly impersonate a general type of person/soldier/advisor by accurate disguise, proper action and language.
Base Skill: 40+5% per level of experience.

Clowning: The profession of the clown is an ancient one. Clowning is more than just a costume and makeup, although learning to wear the makeup is a difficult and time consuming process. Clowns take on very special character (as if the character were role-playing someone entirely different.) Note that clowns, in most fantasy worlds are not considered funny (although they do get laughs.) Their acts, skits and play are all ancient routines (called mystery plays, ) the meanings of which are often totally lost in the history of a forgotten time. Note: all clowns are members of the clowning guild, no ifs ands, or buts. False clowns, those without guild authority are often hunted down and killed, usually by assassins, but royal agents of a few kingdoms are known to have been involved, at one time or another, in the slaying of pretend clowns. +5% for Acting, Disguise, and History
Base Skill: 20+5% per level of experience.

Contortionist: The ability to temporarily dislocate bones from joint, fold and bend the body to fit into extremely small areas or through spaces normally too tiny for a normal person can fold into a two foot ball and flatten self to four inches. Adds +5 to Escape Artist and +2 to roll with punch or fall.
Base Skill: 25+5% per level of experience.

Dance: A practiced skill in the art of dance. The percentile number indicates the relative skill and quality of the dancer. NOTE: Characters with an extremely high Physical Prowess (P.P.) will get a bonus in their dance proficiency: P.P. 15 - 20: +5%, 20 - 25: +10%, 26 or higher: + 15% (+1 to P.P.)
Base Skill: 30+5% per level of experience.

Hypnosis: is a trance-like state that resembles sleep but is induced by a person whose suggestions are readily accepted by the subject. The hypnotist will use calming techniques designed to relax the subject by suggesting that their limbs are going limp, eyelids are getting heavy, etc. Relaxation is not a key factor, however, as hypnosis can be induced during vigorous exercise. Hypnotic susceptibility is a measurable amount of responsiveness that one can have to hypnosis. Not all people can be hypnotized, but about 10% of people respond exceptionally well. There is a common claim that no one can be hypnotized against his will. The counter-claim given by many hypnotists is that while it is not possible make someone do anything against his will, it is possible to change what it is that he wishes to do. This lowering in inhibitions is called disinhibition and can sometimes be found in the hypnotized subject and leads him to performing acts that he would normally consider socially unacceptable or simply would not do otherwise.
Base Skill: 20+5% per level of experience.

Impersonate/Imitate Voice: Character can, with practice, attempt to imitate the voice, accent and expressions of another person.
Base Skill: 36/16+5% per level of experience.

Jesting: The medieval equivalent to a comedian is more than just a teller of jokes. The jester literally play the fool, in that the object is to make oneself look like an idiot. On a physical level this involves being able to trip over their own feet, look incredibly clumsy, and take pratfalls (all without seriously injuring oneself.) The jests themselves are verbal jokes, part of conversations that a jester may have with himself, or with others (usually while pretending to be someone else.) The idea is to always have the humour on two levels, the overt funny stuff that even the most ignorant observer will find funny, and a more sophisticated, biting, sardonic humour that only those in the know will understand. Jesters also know how to create jokes, put together comedy scenes, and assemble situation comedies. Traditionally jesters wear foppish clothing that is a mix of mismatched colours and patterns. Most successful jesters are considered to be wise counselors, and are respected for being the only member of a court who can tell the monarch that he is acting like an idiot without getting himself beaten, killed or imprisoned. This is usually done by playacting at being monarch and exaggerating any foolish or wrongheaded moves or decisions (while funny, this is not usually done in public, but privately.) +5% if the Acting skill is known.
Base Skill: 28+5% per level of experience.

Juggling: The ability to toss "up" a number of objects, such as balls,clubs, knives, lit torches, and almost any small objects, and keep themcontinuously in the air with fast hand movements. It is used for the entertainmentof others and to develop greater hand-eye coordination; +1on initiative roll.
Base Skill: 40+5% per level of experience.

Mime: The artful combination of two other skills, prowl and sign language, to create a form of silent entertainment. Characters who choose the mime skill must first select both prowl and sign language. The percentile number indicates the overall quality and acting/portrayal of the mime.
Base Skill: 30+5% per level of experience.

Play Musical Instrument: The character has learned to play a particular musical instrument with a fair amount of skill. The sound is generally pleasant (except when a bad roll is made). Note that each specific instrument requires the selection of this skill. For example: a character who can play the guitar, violin, and flute must select the play musical instrument skill three different times.
Base Skill: 25+5% per level of experience.

Public Speaking: Training in the quality of sound, tone, pitch enunciation, clarity, and pace in speaking to the public, loudly and distinctly. Also includes the practice of good enticing storytelling and composition of the spoken word. Optional: Seeing how the M.A. stat would have a bearing on this skill a GM may allow a bonus to this skill based on a high M.A., using the trust/intimidate bonus divided by 5.
Base Skill: 30+5% per level of experience.

Sing: The simple ability to read music and carry a pleasant tune. Ofprofessional quality if selected twice.
Base Skill: 30+5% per level of experience.

Sleight of Hand: This skill counts as two skills. A skill that involves the manual dexterity of hand and finger manipulation to perform certain feats. One of the tricks or gimmicks, of sleight of hand is to distract the observer(s) with one hand and palm or otherwise manipulate an item with the other hand. Techniques include hand positioning, tensing, and popping joints in and out.(+4% to Card Sharp, +5% to Palming, Pick Pockets and Concealment)
Base Skill: 30+5% per level of experience.

Stage Carpentry/Assembly: A quick and dirty version of the carpentry skill, items constructed with this skill are designed to look good enough from 10 feet but usually aren t designed to last more than a few shows before having to be broken down.
Base Skill: 20+5% per level of experience.

Tumbling: This skill builds and strengthens the body for feats of strength, endurance and agility. Abilities include a variety of gymnastic type rolls, leaps, tumbles, falls, cartwheels, somersaults, and hand stand type exercises. These differ from the acrobat in that they are performed on the ground and involve rigorous exhibitions of speed and strength involving elaborate tumbles, back-flips, body throws, and so on.Sense of Balance is the ability to maintain grip, hold or footing, 20+5 per level of experience.Body Throw: while usually used on a cooperative partner, this judo-type flip can be used on an opponent, doing 1d6 damage, plus the victim loses initiative and one attack that melee Note: the tumbler must be weaponless, using both hands to grab his opponent and throw/flip him to the ground..Back Flip and Somersault: +4 to dodge quickly by flipping out of harm s way or over one s opponent. Always ends in a tumble and crouched stance. Like all dodges, it takes the place of one attack that melee. However, because the tumbler has flipped a fairly great distance, the attacker also loses one attack, as he must turn around or lunge forward to renew his attack 40+5% per level of experience.Stilt Walk: To construct and walk on stilts. A failed roll means a fall off the stilts (roll every 15 feet walked.) 50+5% per level of experience.Pole Vault: 8 feet for every other level of experience. Failure means only half the intended height is achieved, or the tumbler has vaulted into a wall or other solid object (2d4 dam). Will always land in a tumbling roll unhurt, when successful. 50+5% per level of experience.Leaps: 5ft long plus one foot every other level, 4ft high plus one foot every three levels+2 roll with punch/fall, +2 P.S., +1P.E. and +2d4 S.D.C.
Base Skill: 30+5% per level of experience.

Ventriloquism: The practiced ability to throw one's voice. This canbe used to create the illusion of not speaking while making a voice orverbal noise appear to be coming from someone something else, such asa puppet, a tree, box, chair, etc. Maximum range is 10 feet (3 m) away.A failed roll means the voice is not well thrown or the ventriloquist'smouth is seen moving, so the trick does not work
Base Skill: 20+5% per level of experience.

Writing Music: The practiced study of musical arrangements, lyrics, rhythm, aesthetic consideration and creativity. The writing will be competent and pleasant to listen to, but the skill must be taken twice for the writing to be of professional quality. Add a one time bonus of 15% if this is done.
Base Skill: 15+5% per level of experience.