Perform (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

Performance Spellcasting

You can conceal casting a spell or using a spell-like ability as a part of a performance. You must make a normal performance with no spellcasting included for one minute before starting to cast spells, or you suffer a -5 penalty on the perform check. Any casting components a spell has must be incorporated into your performance. The attempt to hide the spell slows your casting slightly, such that spells that normally take a standard action to cast now have a casting time of one round, and spells that normally take longer than a standard action take twice as long. (Swift action spells still take a swift action.)

To discover your ruse, a creature must succeed at a Perception, Perform, Sense Motive, or Spellcraft check (the creature receives an automatic check with whichever of those skills has the highest bonus) opposed to your Perform check. Your check suffers a penalty equal to the level of the spell.

Apply modifiers to the creature's skill check as if it was a Perception check, regardless of what skill was used.

Circumstance	Perception modifier
Observer is distracted (busy, in melee)	-5
Observer is asleep	-10
Distance	-1 per 10 ft.
Against an event behind an obstacle (corner, screen)	-5
Against improved cover or behind a closed door Halve this modifier if adjacent to a known door or cover.	-10
Against total concealment (invisible, full cover) Assumes distractions, like a city street or busy room. In a quiet setting or when another sense could reveal the character this modifier is reduced to -10, or even less in an absolute quiet.	-20

An opponent that fails its check can't use readied actions that depend on realizing that you're casting a spell or using a spell-like ability, or readied actions such as counterspelling that require identifying the spell you're casting. Spells such as fireball that create an additional obvious effect (aside from the manifestation of casting that all spells and spell-like abilities share) still create that effect, though it might not be obvious who cast the spell unless it emanates from you. A creature that successfully saves against a spell that has no obvious physical effects feels a hostile force or a tingle, but cannot deduce the exact nature of the attack.

In an opponent success at the check, they realize you are casting a spell. Depending on the situation and their attitude to you, an initiative check might be in order. Because of the increased casting time, your spell is usually not finished until the beginning of your first turn.

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