cc bard for quick leveling

[Hobgoblin]

looking for feedback on a cc bard just to blow throw my bard lives

first build is this

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Level 20 True Neutral Human Male
(20 Bard) 
Hit Points: 242
Spell Points: 690 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 10
Reflex: 14
Will: 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength              8                     8
Dexterity            15                    15
Constitution         16                    18
Intelligence         10                    10
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             18                    20

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               2                     2
Bluff                 4                     5
Concentration         3                     4
Diplomacy             4                     5
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                4                     5
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  2                     2
Intimidate            4                     5
Jump                 -1                    -1
Listen               -1                    -1
Move Silently         2                     2
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     0
Search                0                     0
Spot                 -1                    -1
Swim                 -1                    -1
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device      n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Bard)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Sorcerer
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Wizard
Feat: (Selected) Spell Focus: Enchantment
Feat: (Human Bonus) Toughness


Level 2 (Bard)


Level 3 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Augment Summoning


Level 4 (Bard)


Level 5 (Bard)


Level 6 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment


Level 7 (Bard)


Level 8 (Bard)


Level 9 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell


Level 10 (Bard)


Level 11 (Bard)


Level 12 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration


Level 13 (Bard)


Level 14 (Bard)


Level 15 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Heighten Spell


Level 16 (Bard)


Level 17 (Bard)


Level 18 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Penetration


Level 19 (Bard)


Level 20 (Bard)

2nd build is the same, but has 2 rogue taken at first and 9th level

never got a bard past 9 so all help is nice!

hob

[Doxmaster]

UMD. Haggle. Concentration. Perform.<- Get them.
Dex. <-get rid of it
Str. <-replace Dex
Spell penetration feats. <- last, if you get them at all.
Aughment summon. <- questionable on a bard, but could be ok.

[Aashrym]

I don't think augment summoning is worth if for charmed/suggested mobs.

You have a lot of spell penetration I see. Bard capstone plus Wizzie past life plus 2 feats plus any items or enhancements etc places you around 32-34.

I would give up augment and greater spell penetration feats for quicken spell and maximize. You can give up the other spell penetration feat or greater spell focus for past life arcane initiate. At the cost of 1 feat +1DC to all spells plus the magic missile is better than +DC for just enchantment spells and Wizzie past life makes up the loss of a spell pen feat.

Why Dex 15? STR 15, or STR 14 and some more INT for skill points does more for you. You will melee sometimes.

That's a quick off-the-top-of-my-head response anyway. Hope it helps.

[Gorbadoc]

You'll probably level faster speccing for melee, despite the past lives. Unlike the other casting classes, bards don't get any spells that are particularly good at *killing* enemies. While the caster bard can offer fantastic support, a melee bard will have an easier time blitzing a dungeon when you get no party or a crummy party. Check these discussions:

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=296332
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=249865

The first discusses variations on a pure bard, high strength, THF half orc build. The second is The Classic Rocker, which my and Valindria's Horcs resemble.

If your concern is crowd control, fear not; songs cover a lot of the game, especially if you get Music of Makers and Music of the Dead.

If you definitely want to go with a caster build, I recommend:
Max charisma
High constitution
Everything you can spare into strength

Essential skills are: Concentration, Perform, UMD
Stealth is awesome, and requires: Hide, Move Silently, Listen
There are a couple other skills worth splashing: Jump, Balance, 1 rank of Tumble

That's either four or seven skill points needed per level; be mindful when you set your Intelligence.

Play style on a caster bard involves (surprise surprise) casting, but it also involves doing something when none of your spells would help. You only need to Fascinate a group of monsters once, and pulling out a two-hander and smacking monsters around is a respectable "I have nothing better to do" option.