The Bard Equivalent to a Sonic Sorc - thoughts for improvement preferred

[kazlady]

Purpose of this build is to leverage the Mad Lute and all of it's bonuses as well as some of the upcoming changes to Bard spells and combat to have a self-healing, sonic-damage dealing, acceptable in melee who can buff the party, hold their own and even impress once in a while with a fascinate on a high level mob.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.16.01
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Jaczawera 'Jazz' Lindale
Level 21 Neutral Good Half-Elf Female
(20 Bard \ 1 Epic) 
Hit Points: 348
Spell Points: 835 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 11
Reflex: 15
Will: 26

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 21)
Strength             16                    19
Dexterity            14                    17
Constitution         16                    21
Intelligence          8                    11
Wisdom                8                    11
Charisma             16                    29

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 1
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 1
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 1
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 1
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 1
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 1
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 11
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 11
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 11
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 11
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 21)
Balance               5                    27
Bluff                 3                    10
Concentration         7                    29
Diplomacy             3                    10
Disable Device       n/a                    n/a
Haggle                3                    10
Heal                  1                    12
Hide                  2                     4
Intimidate            3                    20
Jump                  3                     5
Listen               -1                     1
Move Silently         2                     4
Open Lock             n/a                   4
Perform               7                    35
Repair               -1                     1
Search               -1                     1
Spot                 -1                     1
Swim                  3                     5
Tumble                3                     6
Use Magic Device      7                    33

Notable Equipment
Epic Cloak of the Silver Concord 
 Supreme Tyrant Green Steel Goggles of Existential Stalemate 
 Band of Siberys 
 Cannith Boots of Propulsion 
 Gauntlets of Eternity (Upgraded) 
 Supreme Tyrant Green Steel Necklace of Mineral 
 Vibrant Purple Ioun Stone (Unsuppressed) 
 Epic Belt of the Mroranon 
  
 Level 1 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Force of Personality
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Barbarian
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Bard
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Wizard


Level 2 (Bard)


Level 3 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration


Level 4 (Bard)


Level 5 (Bard)


Level 6 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 7 (Bard)


Level 8 (Bard)


Level 9 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 10 (Bard)


Level 11 (Bard)


Level 12 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 13 (Bard)


Level 14 (Bard)


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


Level 16 (Bard)


Level 17 (Bard)


Level 18 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Focus: Evocation


Level 19 (Bard)


Level 20 (Bard)


Level 21 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Great Charisma
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery III
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
Enhancement: Bard Warchanter I
Enhancement: Bard Warchanter II
Enhancement: Bard Musical Prodigy
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Constitution I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Improved Perform I
Enhancement: Improved Perform II
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song I
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song II
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song III
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Incredible Song I
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Incredible Song II
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Incredible Song III
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic II
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic III
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music II
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I
Enhancement: Bard Charisma II
Enhancement: Half-Elf Barbarian Constitution I
Enhancement: Half-Elf Barbarian Toughness I
Enhancement: Half-Elf Barbarian Toughness II
Enhancement: Bard Wand and Scroll Mastery I
Enhancement: Bard Wand and Scroll Mastery II
Enhancement: Bard Wand and Scroll Mastery III

[cru212]

Alas, Mad Lute still sucks and building a bard around it is probably a mistake.

Here are some shortcomings of your build
* very weak healing without feats (empower healing/maximize and quicken)
* very weak melee (only power attack and WF:bludgeon)
* you are a warchanter 20, potentially having the best Inspire Courage there is, but you didn't take Inspired Damage III and only have Lingering Song II
* why not take Wizard active PL?
* Improved Perform? no
* Great Charisma? no

[Fleckislaupir]

Is there a DC on Thunderclap? If not, it's mildly interesting; but if there is, it's a weak effect on an already weak DPS weapon. The Resonance + Spell Pen bonuses are nice for a sonic-based bard, except...well, there's not a lot of incentive to being a sonic-based bard. But if you're still commited to that concept, then maxing out your DCs & Spell Pen are a good idea; I'd also max CHA, switch to Spellsinger, etc.