Returning Bard player needs help

[Daemakon]

I have been away from the game for about 1 year, and it looks like the Bard has undergone a rework yet again. I was hoping that current players could give me some advice into the changes, to bring me back up to speed. I have to qualms with remaking my character, as this wouldn't be the first time I have had to do so.

To give a little history I have always like the Warchanter, ever since I started playing DDO ages ago, back when the game only went to level 16. The first character I made was a THF Bard 12/Barbarian 2/Fighter 2, and man was it fun being a Bardbarian. I took some time off and started playing again, after the update to 20 with no changes at all. I was super excited to play again when the game was updated with enhancement trees, but I found that my old character no longer needed those Barbarian levels, so I remade him and added in Cleric instead, for Divine Might (and the fun bonus clicky for smite was just gravy). I return to the game and once more a seemingly massive update has happened (at least when it comes to Bards) and it looks like Swashbuckler is some sort of new hotness; As well as all Charisma build focusing on Purple Dragon Knight for the Cha to damage instead of using Divine Might.

So what is an old Bard to do? I have spent some time looking through the current popular builds, but as someone who does not have PDK, and does not know much about the "Swashing" you kids these days do with your "Buckles" what am I in for? As someone who has always had the iconic warlord with a great-weapon leading his comrades into battle call to him am I more or less out of luck because of the power of the SWF feat chain? It really does seem that the swashbuckler is extremely more powerful than the other two bard lines, is this just a good first impression?

Thanks ahead of time.

[unbongwah]

Since U22, THF/TWF bards have taken a back seat to SWF bards because of all the lovely DPS bonuses in the Swashbuckler tree; but that doesn't mean the classic bard builds have all been rendered useless. A STR-based Warchanter still works fine, particularly in groups. If you're being out-DPSed by the Swashie next to you, what does it matter? You're bringing different buffs to the table than they are. And one perk of going WC is being able to equip med (or possibly hvy) armor for a big boost to your defenses, thanks to the PRR/MRR changes.

[katz]

also of note, in tier 3 of the swashbuckler tree... "different tack" allows you to take your damage from charisma, dex, or intelligence. you can go all in on charisma if you wish and still get your damage from it without going PDK.