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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hriston" data-source="post: 9542455" data-attributes="member: 6787503">The GM can certainly narrate that the NPC has a reputation as an objectively and expertly competent and gifted performer, a virtuoso in their craft, is well liked and regarded by all, etc, but I don't think that narration should ever contain "you (the PC) are entertained/influenced by their performance" because that's for the player to decide in playing their character. What, I believe, the stats tell us about the NPC is that when their skill as a performer is tested by an ability check, they will generally succeed more often, when compared to many other characters.This reminds me of a conversation I had with my son which was inspired by the idea floating around in a few threads on these boards recently that some skills in 5E might objectively be better than others, and the conversation turned to how/on what criteria do we judge that. My position, that came out of that conversation, is the purpose of the skills list is to provide a palate of choices for portraying different characters which is what should determine the effectiveness of any particular skill. I.e. the utility of the skill is to the player in portraying their character rather than to the character in terms of overall effectiveness in the game world or some such thing. I think this is as true for the DM as for the players, so I'm in agreement with the idea that the NPC's high Charisma score and proficiency and expertise in Performance is a signal to the other players that the GM intends for the character's ability to delight audiences to factor into gameplay.How I think that happens is through action declarations. By declaring actions for their character that rely on the character's skills and abilities, especially in high-stakes situations where the outcome is in doubt, the players/GM have a chance to portray their character in a way that sticks. If a player says their PC doesn't find the NPC's performance particularly compelling, casting doubt on the NPC's abilities as an entertainer, a strong result for the NPC in an ability check can have the effect of putting pressure on that player to eat their words.</blockquote>

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