I had a suggestion a while back, and think I've refined it a bit after spending some more time here on HG. I know I've still overlooked some things, but hopefully the rough sketch is there. So here goes:
Quasi-Class Name:
Inspirational Priest
Backstory:
As the group of battle-hardened veterans prepared for battle, they received the blessings of the clerics and casters of the group. This would be no easy battle, and everyone in the group was fully aware of this. The tension was thick; tempers short.
The Priest casts a spell upon himself, that he might walk into the adversary's camp, taking stock of what the enemy had in store for them. He returns to his comrades, as quietly as he left, and reports to them his findings. The group is ready; at least, as ready as they can hope to be. Apprehension is still high, but there is no turning back.
The group moves its way steadily towards the enemy: fighters up front, bowmen and casters in the rear. Finally, they are spotted, and mayhem ensues. Blades clash, spells whiz overhead, arrows rise and fall. The battle seems to be going in favor of the band of warriors; the surprise attack caught the enemy off-guard. However, soon the enemy sounds its horns, calling for the reinforcements who had to this point remained hidden. The horns served another purpose as well: they struck fear in the hearts of the party. They had not prepared for the reinforcements, and were unsure how to proceed.
In answer, at a volume higher than that of the enemy's horns, they heard the voice of their Inspirational Priest. The voice was soothing to the group, and at the same time, driving them towards their goal, encouraging them to push themselves further than they ever knew possible. It filled them with both a calmness, and yet also brought out in them a ferocity they did not know lay within their souls.
The Priest continued to sing, while scurrying about the field of war, healing those who required his skills, removing curses, poisons, and other ailments that his comrades suffered, and raising fallen comrades. He would often change his song, sometimes causing fear and weakness in his enemies; other times, his voice would stun them altogether.
Finally, after what seemed to be ages, the dust settled, the sounds of battle were silent, and the group stood together, victorious. And softly, they heard the quiet murmur of the Priest's victory song.
Requirements:
Cleric Levels: 13 (gets you to lvl 7 spells: Heal, Greater Restore, and WoF)
Bard Levels: 10 (gets you lvl 4 spells: War Cry) *
Domain: Protection or Healing, either is fine
Feat: Lingering Song
Feat: Curse Song
Feat: Combat Casting
* = I thought about making this 16 levels to get the lvl 6 spell Dirge, but combined with the 13 levels required for cleric, that puts you at 29, which seems pretty high before you GET the quasi class benefits.
The character must meet all requirements by level 24.
Benefits:
* Free Feat: Skill Focus: Perform
* Free Feat: Epic Skill Focus: Perform
* Free Feat: Lastering Inspiration
* Bard Song Class Level = Bard Level + (Cleric Level / 2)
* Bard Song also grants the following additional benefits:
Immunity to Fear
Regeneration scales with character level: 20-30 = 3; 30-40 = 6; 40-50 = 9; 50-60 = 12
* Bless, Word of Faith, Prayer, Battletide, Dirge, and War Cry spells are effective for their normal duration, plus Charisma modifier
* Dirge, Battletide, Word of Faith, and War Cry add both cleric and bard levels to determine caster level for DC
* Zen Archery adds your Wisdom modifer + (Charisma / 3)
The entire goal (as you can see) is to have the ultimate party-player. Soloing would be nearly impossibe, but you'd NEVER be hurting for a party. All of the numbers may need to be tweaked, but the ideas are there.
This is all open for debate and tweaking; my goal is simply to create what I consider an as-yet untapped character type that is completely party-based and helps the party in every way imaginable. I know a cleric can do this to some extent, but combining a bard's powers with those of a cleric's would make a near-perfect party-mate. Soloing would be difficult at best. I think another reason this quasi-class is different is because you would focus on pumping charisma and wisdom, instead of a "spell-casting" stat and either dex or strength.