How do I calculate the Sound Striker bard's Weird Words attack?

Question

Bard Sound Striker Archetype has 2 new bardic performances, one which is Weird Words and reads as:

Weird Words (Su): At 6th level the bard can start a performance that is always a standard action to speak up to one word per 4 bard levels laden with sonic energy. Each word deals 4d6 points of sonic damage as a ranged touch attack with a range of 30 feet. The bard adds his charisma modifier on damage rolls with weird words. Multiple words that strike the same target stack into a single powerful attack, applying energy resistance and bonuses on damage rolls only once. The bard can target all words at the same or different targets, but he unleashes all words simultaneously. Each word costs 1 round of bardic performance.

Normally for a Bardic Performance I roll my performance skill, my question here is do I get to use the performance skill for the attack roll or I just roll a d20 for the ranged touch attack?

Also do ranged feats like point blank shot and precise shot affect this performance?

Answer 1

Threat as a regular ranged magical touch attack

This is a ranged attack, but there is very little information about this working as other types of attacks, such as rays or weapon attacks.

• You attack using 1d20 + your Base Attack Bonus + your Dexterity modifier.

And for damage, the ability says you deal 4d6 plus your Charisma modifier as bonus damage. But since you apply resistances and bonus to these damage rolls only once, shouting multiple words should apply your Charisma modifier only once.

• Your damage is 4d6 (per word) + your Charisma modifier.

It is also considered a magical attack because it is a Supernatural ability. And because it is a Ranged Touch Attack, it is rolled against the target(s) touch AC.

Finally, you said that you normally use your Perform skill for bardic performances, but that is only valid for specific performances, like Countersong or Distraction. Using Inspire Courage or Inspire Competence (or even this Wordstrike ability) does not require any Perform checks from your character.

do ranged feats like point blank shot and precise shot affect this performance?

Yes, see this FAQ. Point-Blank, Precise Shot and everything that is normally used with ranged attacks may be used with Weird Words, which also means you may provoke Attacks of Opportunity when using the ability while threatened and must take a -4 penalty to your checks when attacking an enemy that is within reach of an ally.

Again, keep in mind that bonuses to damage are only applied once, so Point-Blank can only grant its damage bonus once, even if you shout multiple words against the same target.