Fionn Mac'Cumhaill - the PDK bard [34 Bard/5 PDK/1 Paladin]

[boroie]

(full disclosure: with girding, and miracle apparently, no other buffs)

The titular character (anglicised as: Finn McCool) was played from level 1 until level 80. This bard has successfully completed all runs in the game - including 7x Nessus, 5x Abyss Prince wins, and Limbo p2 hard mode. It has been a phenomenally successful build, requested by many privately, and so posted here for public consumption. Most of the group I play with have one of these on the go, there are a couple other level 80 fully capped bards using this build too. 

The base build stands on the shoulders of Raj's updated bard build, but brings additional utility and party benefits. 

Pros: 
Rallying Cry - This ability is based on Charisma and at 60 Cha will give you nearly 5 minutes of the ability, usable 3 times per rest. When activated, all characters within a really really big area (about the size of a maxed bard epic radius) will gain 1 extra stacking attack. This works on ranged as well as melee characters. Taking the average 5-6 attacks on a tank/ranged toon, that gives a 16-20% boost in DPS for the entire party for nearly 15 minutes per rest.
Note 1 - there is no effect listed, or status icon shown. You need to guesstimate the duration and recast as necessary.
Note 2 - this overwrites any divine power effect in use (battle cleric, slinger, bane knight, melee bfm/dsm, staffmaster, stormlord, etc) keeping the AB granted by that spell but reducing the number of extra attacks to +1 and shortening the duration to the Rallying Cry duration. As mentioned the range of the ability is much bigger than the graphical effect so be sure to coordinate with other characters before using this. Their spellslots may be precious. 
AOE Pickup - 8 times per rest you can pick up all knocked down toons in a decently sized radius (slightly smaller than the graphical effect). This is immensely useful, especially when getting jumped by a random. Action economy saved, not just party saved. 
Self Pickup - tied to the same counter as the AOE pickup, but self pickup is again rather useful to have without requiring a specific item to be worn.
True Fear Immunity - Twice per rest for approximately 2.5 minutes each time in a large AOE, you can grant true fear immunity similar to warchanter bardsong except lasting way longer. Casting it removes existing fear effects also. 
One bonus feat!  - whoop, you get to take Cacophony (PSK Ench) for extra boss damage, or PEA 1. Both of these are useful. 

Cons: (no such thing as a free lunch)
Conceal - You will lose 5% on displacement/EV vs a level 39 bard. 
Possums  - You do not take PSK Illusion so you finish with 5 instead of 10 possums
Army - You do not get the army. Big deal. 
Armor Skin -  crying cat face. PSF Abj helps your AC as shown in screenshot. 

Overall not a huge tradeoff for rather huge benefits. 


Race: Half-Guardinal (Half-Elf) 

	Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
Creation	8	16	12	14	8	16
Docks	12	20	12	16	8	18
80 all in	34	42	34	38	30	60

Level split: 34/5/1 Bard, PDK, Paladin.
Take: 16 bard, 1 paladin, 3 PDK pre-epic. Start bard, swap to paladin at any point. Take 3 PDK before 20 to maximise saves. Dont take PDK on feat levels (every 3)
Feats Required: mounted combat (requires ride 1)
Skills Required: intimidate 1 rank, listen 2 ranks, persuade 1 rank, ride 2 ranks, spot 2 ranks - take those to unlock PDK. 
Feat order is flexible to an extent, especially in legendary and paragon levels. Feel free to take Conj in levelling and swap a different spell school to the book if you want a healing spirit during your immo run. 
All level up points go to Charisma.

Pre-epic
(level 1 - creation) Artist
Mounted combat (need ride 1)
Curse Song
Metamagic: Extend Spell
Spell Focus: Enchantment
Spell Focus: Transmutation
Spell Focus: Necromancy


Epic feats
Spell Focus: Illusion
Greater Spell Focus: Illusion
Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment
Greater Spell Focus: Transmutation
Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy
Lasting Inspiration
Spell Focus: Abjuration


Bard bonus feats !charedit
(Take Extra Spell 6, then use !charedit to convert to epic spell focus)
Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Enchantment
Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Illusion
Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy
Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Transmutation

Tome: Conjuration

Legendary level feats
Legendary Spell Focus: Enchantment
Legendary Spell Focus: Illusion
Legendary Spell Focus: Transmutation
Legendary Spell Focus: Conjuration
Greater Spell Focus: Abjuration
Epic Spell Focus: Abjuration
Legendary Artist

Artifact: Strength is typical, maybe Con. I actually didnt use any artifact on my bard. Guess I never got around to it. 

Paragon level feats
Paragon Spell Focus: Enchantment
Legendary Spell Focus: Abjuration
Paragon Spell Focus: Abjuration
Paragon Spell Focus: Conjuration
Paragon Spell Knowledge: Conjuration
PEA 1 or PSK Ench for Cacophany, or armor skin


Song / Curse Level (!bardsong)

Attack Bonus 21 (+2 AB)	63 (-4 AB)
Armor Class 63 (+4 AC)	63 (-4 AC)
Damage 57 (+8 DMG)	12 (-3 DMG)
Saves 32 (+2 Fort, +2 Reflex, +3 Will)	63 (-4 Fort, -4 Reflex, -5 Will)
Skills 63 (+21 Skills)	63 (-21 Skills)

Skills
Concentration 43
Craft Armor 63
Discipline 63
Heal 63
Parry 63
Perform 63
Persuade 63
Pick Pocket 63
Spellcraft 1
Tumble 60
Use Magic Device 15



!list level if its easier to read that way
1  Bard
   Listen +2, Perform +4, Persuade +1, Spot +2, Intimidate +1, Ride +2
   - Artist
2  Paladin
3  Bard
   - Curse Song
4  Bard  (Charisma +1)
5  Bard
6  Bard
  - Mounted Combat
7  Bard
8  Bard  (Charisma +1)
9  Bard
 - Metamagic (Extend Spell)
10  Purple Dragon Knight
11  Purple Dragon Knight
12  Bard  (Charisma +1)
   - Spell Focus (Enchantment)
13  Purple Dragon Knight
14  Bard
15  Bard
   - Spell Focus (Transmutation)
16  Bard  (Charisma +1)
17  Bard
18  Bard
   - Spell Focus (Necromancy)
19  Bard
   - Bard Song
20  Bard  (Charisma +1)
21  Bard
   - Spell Focus (Illusion)
22  Purple Dragon Knight
23  Purple Dragon Knight
24  Bard  (Charisma +1)
   - Greater Spell Focus (Enchantment)
25  Bard
26  Bard
27  Bard
   - Greater Spell Focus (Illusion)
28  Bard  (Charisma +1)
29  Bard
   - Epic Spell Focus (Enchantment)  (extra spell known 6)
30  Bard
   - Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy)
31  Bard
32  Bard  (Charisma +1)
   - Epic Spell Focus (Illusion)  (extra spell known 6)
33  Bard
   - Greater Spell Focus (Transmutation)
34  Bard
35  Bard
   - Epic Spell Focus (Necromancy)  (extra spell known 6)
36  Bard  (Charisma +1)
   - Spell Focus (Abjuration)
37  Bard
38  Bard
   - Epic Spell Focus (Transmutation)  (extra spell known 6)
39  Bard
   - Lasting Inspiration
40  Bard  (Charisma +1)


[boroie]

Reserved for future use.
Also built with other races. Half-Guardinal obviously brings many benefits (Evasion, FTS imm) but this build works just fine on many other UR/BUR/XR races.
Armand for example follows exactly the same feat progression, just different starting stats

Race	Kobold (Open)	Siren (Secret)	Armand (XR)
Starting Stats	12 14 12 14 (int) 8 16	10 16 10 14 8 16	8 14 10 14(int) 8 18
1-20	Artist Mounted combat Curse Song Metamagic: Extend Spell Spell Focus: Enchantment Spell Focus: Transmutation Spell Focus: Necromancy Spell Focus: Illusion	Artist Mounted combat Curse Song Metamagic: Extend Spell Spell Focus: Enchantment Spell Focus: Transmutation Spell Focus: Necromancy Spell Focus: Illusion	Artist Mounted combat Curse Song Metamagic: Extend Spell Spell Focus: Enchantment Spell Focus: Transmutation Spell Focus: Necromancy
1-40	Greater Spell Focus: Illusion Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment Greater Spell Focus: Transmutation Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy Lasting Inspiration Spell Focus: Abjuration Greater Spell Focus: Abjuration	Greater Spell Focus: Illusion Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment Greater Spell Focus: Transmutation Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy Lasting Inspiration Spell Focus: Abjuration Greater Spell Focus: Abjuration	Spell Focus: Illusion Greater Spell Focus: Illusion Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment Greater Spell Focus: Transmutation Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy Lasting Inspiration Spell Focus: Abjuration
Bard Bonus	!charedit Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Enchantment Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Illusion Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Transmutation	!charedit Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Enchantment Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Illusion Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Transmutation	!charedit Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Enchantment Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Illusion Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy Extra Spells(6) -> Epic Spell Focus: Transmutation
LL	Legendary Spell Focus: Enchantment Legendary Spell Focus: Illusion Legendary Spell Focus: Transmutation Legendary Spell Focus: Conjuration Epic Spell Focus: Abjuration Legendary Artist Legendary Spell Focus: Abjuration	Legendary Spell Focus: Enchantment Legendary Spell Focus: Illusion Legendary Spell Focus: Transmutation Legendary Spell Focus: Conjuration Epic Spell Focus: Abjuration Legendary Artist Legendary Spell Focus: Abjuration	Legendary Spell Focus: Enchantment Legendary Spell Focus: Illusion Legendary Spell Focus: Transmutation Legendary Spell Focus: Conjuration Greater Sppell Focus: Abjuration Epic Spell Focus: Abjuration Legendary Artist
PL	Paragon Spell Focus: Enchantment Paragon Spell Focus: Illusion Paragon Spell Focus: Abjuration Paragon Spell Focus: Conjuration Paragon Spell Knowledge: Conjuration Paragon Spell Knowledge: Illusion	Paragon Spell Focus: Enchantment Paragon Spell Focus: Illusion Paragon Spell Focus: Abjuration Paragon Spell Focus: Conjuration Paragon Spell Knowledge: Conjuration Paragon Spell Knowledge: Illusion	Paragon Spell Focus: Enchantment Legendary Spell Focus: Abjuration Paragon Spell Focus: Abjuration Paragon Spell Focus: Conjuration Paragon Spell Knowledge: Conjuration PSK Ench (cacphany)

[chainlink]

Added to HGWiki

[kratlin]

Never leave home without your PDK Bard. The many hours of theory crafting paid off with this one - nice build.

May want to put the class breakdown in the title though to avoid forum/mod rage.