1st-life Support Bard (trapper/warchanter/spellsinger)

[magaiti]

Build summary:
- endgame-viable trap skills
- Spellsiner sustaining song (long-term healing over time)
- Warchanter party buffs
- decent melee ability with swashbuckling
- decent crowd control with Frozen Fury and Dire Charge
- decent reflex score with Evasion

Warning to new players: this build requires Harper Agent enhancement tree. It is free for VIP players, and available for purchase in the DDO Store for 495 TP for Free and Premium players.

Alignment: Neutral or Neutral Good (bards can't be lawful; chaotic gets negative level from axiomatic weapons, in particular Brilliant Crescent which is a decent end-game option)
Race: Human (for extra feat)

Level Order

1. Bard            6. Rogue          11. Bard           16. Bard
2. Rogue           7. Bard           12. Bard           17. Bard
3. Bard            8. Bard           13. Bard           18. Bard
4. Bard            9. Bard           14. Bard           19. Bard
5. Bard           10. Bard           15. Bard           20. Bard

Stats

               32pt     Level Up
               ----     --------
Strength         8       4: INT
Dexterity       14       8: INT
Constitution    14      12: INT
Intelligence    16      16: INT
Wisdom           8      20: INT
Charisma        16      24: INT
                        28: INT

Skills

          B  R  B  B  B  R  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B
          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
         ------------------------------------------------------------
Perform   4     2  1  1     2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Concent   4     2  1  1     1  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Disable      5           4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Search    2  3  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Bluff     4     1  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Diplo     4  1  1  1  1  1     1  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Balance   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Hide      4        1  2              1  1  1  1  1  1  2  2  2  2  2  23
UMD       4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Open Lo      1           3                                             4
Jump      4                                                            4
Swim      3                                                            3
Tumble    1                                                            1
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         40 12 10 10 10 12 10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12

Feats

 1        : Single Weapon Fighting
 1 Human  : Shield Mastery
 3        : Precision
 6        : Force of Personality
 9        : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
12        : Improved Critical: Bludgeoning (I used Skullsmasher for leveling)
15        : Improved Shield Mastery
18        : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
21 Epic   : Inspire Excellence
24 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
27 Epic   : Blinding Speed
28 Destiny: Tactician
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic   : Improved Bardic Music // Swords to Plowshares (sickles are a good end-game option, Null and Brilliant Crescent for example)
30 Legend : Scion of: Ethereal Plane // Scion of Feywald

Enhancements (80 AP)

Warchanter (37 AP)
• Skaldic: Constitution, Weapon Training, Song of Heroism, Fighting Spirit, Victory Song
1. Inspired Bravery III, Poetic Edda III, Rough and Ready III
2. Iced Edges III, Sprint Boost I
3. Ironskin Chant III, Frozen Fury III, Charisma
4. Reckless Chant III, Charisma
5. Expeditious Chant III, Chant of Power III (these are the unique bard chants that you party will benefit from, more than anything else in Warchanter t5)

Spellsinger (23 AP)
• Spellsinger, Music of the Sewers, Music of the Dead, Music of the Makers (4 cores so we can heal fleshies, pale masters and warforged alike; make sure to have appropriate spellpower items for buffing)
1. Studies: Magical III, Lingering Songs I
2. Sharp Note III, Wand and Scroll Mastery III
3. Raucous Refrain III, Spell Song Trance, Charisma
4. Sustaining Song (valuable longterm healing buff)

Swashbuckler (13 AP)
• Confidence, Swashbuckling
1. On Your Toes I, Tavern Shanties III
2. Fast Movement, Double Strike Boost I
3. Skirmisher, Smooth Flourishes (charisma to damage)

Harper Agent (7 AP)
• Agent of Good I
1. Harper Enchantment, Strategic Combat (int to hit)
2. Know the Angles II

Destiny (24 AP)

Fatesinger
1. First Harmonic Chord III, Music of the Spider Queen
2. Second Harmonic Chord III, Bound Fate II
3. Third Harmonic Chord III, Grim Fate II
4. Fourth Harmonic Chord III, Martial Hymn
5. The Fifth Chord I, Metamagic Attunement I: Extend, Bladesong
6. Metamagic Attunement II: Quicken, Turn of the Tide

Twists of Fate (22 fate points)
1. Sense Weakness (Tier 4 Fury)
2. Legendary Shield Mastery (Tier 2 Sentinel)
3. Legendary Tactics (Tier 1 Dreadnought)
4. Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)

example gearset (pre-Sharn):

Armor · · · · Legendary Mist-laden Vestment
Belt· · · · · Legendary Braided Cutcord
Cloak · · · · Legendary Shadowhail Cloak

Boots · · · · Legendary Softsole Slippers
Bracers · · · Legendary Bracers of the Fallen Hero
Gloves· · · · Legendary Gauntlets of Innate Arcanum
Ring1 · · · · Legendary Ring of Nightfall
Trinket · · · Echo of Ravenkind

Goggles · · · Legendary Acolyte's Lenses
Helmet· · · · Legendary Executioner's Helm
Necklace· · · Legendary Pendant of the Warrior's Focus
Ring2 · · · · Legendary Ring of Prowess
Weapon1 · · · Brilliant Crescent (KT)
Weapon2 · · · Epic Swashbuckler (Level 28)

augments: Devotion +138, Resonance +138 (for Feywild), Resistance +8, Good Luck +2, False Life +40, Vitality +20, Deathblock, Armored Agility +2, ...