Bardic Knack

1st-Level Bard Variant Feature
If you select this class feature, you do not gain bardic knowledge.

When making any skill check, you can use ½ your bard level (rounded up) in place of the number of ranks you have in the skill (even if that number is 0). For example, a 5th-level bard would have the equivalent of 3 ranks in all skills (but only for the purpose of making skill checks).

You can't take 10 on checks when you use bardic knack (to take 10 you have to use your actual ranks). If the skill doesn't allow untrained checks, you must have at least 1 actual rank to attempt the check.