I'm interested in building a bard. Really, what I want is a Bardificer, but I don't own arti so I'll have to make due.

Goals
Support character, specifically: Provide party buffs, be able to adequately CC and heal EN, perhaps EH quests. In raids, be able to fill the roles of ranged DPS, CC, or off-healer on easier difficulties, mostly off-healer on the harder content.

While leveling, be able to be the sole source of healing or CC in elite quests, while still contributing ranged DPS. Eventually, I will TR this toon into a bardificer, but I'd like to gather the gear and toon experience in the meantime.

In order to fulfill these goals, I feel like my optimum choice is going to be 18 Bard / 2 Fighter for the extra feats and attack prowess, with Spellsinger to provide extra capabilities on the casting end. I'm still capable of being talked into going pure bard, or Warchanter. However, I've seen a lot of Warchanters in my time and I'd like to try something unusual and unique.

Stats
Str 8
Dex 16
Con 14
Int 8
Wis 8
Cha 18

Level ups into Charisma. Primary stat focuses on Charisma, then Dexterity, then Constitution.

Feats
1 Spell Focus: Enchantment
1 Toughness
2 Rapid Reload (Fighter)
3 Extend
6 Point Blank Shot
9 Rapid Shot
11 Improved Critical: Ranged (Fighter)
12 Heighten
15 Spell Penetration
18 Greater Spell Penetration
21 Inspire Excellence
24 Epic Spell Penetration

I tried to pick out some feats that would help me both with CC and with ranged. However, I don't really know much about what it takes to heal on a bard, and it's been a while since I played any ranged toon. Some other feats I considered were Empower Healing, Quicken, and Precision, but I don't know what will help me the most in my goals.

Skills
UMD
Perform
Concentration
Balance
Bluff
Haggle

Typical skills list, any extra points going into Jump or what have you.

Gear

Here's where I really am stumped. I have a nice collection of repeaters, and the pieces for the Epic Silver Slinger and the Hellfail. The only other things I could think of was:

Blue Dragonscale Leather Armor
Epic Shimmering Pendant
Torc
ePhiarlan Mirror Cloak

Any help you can provide, especially when it comes to feat selection and gear layout, would be most appreciated.