Oops! I broke the campaign! Now what?

[Endarire]

Intro
After my Psion nearly soloed a fight that was meant to kill the party¹, the DM quit and we determined that I need to channel my efforts into letting the group play.  We're continuing with new DMs who are less scared of optimized 3.5 characters.

My next plan is to make an Inspire Courage Bard who heals in combat via Devoted Spirit maneuvers and occasionally controls crowds or debuffs.

Relevant House Rules
-Skills normally have a max of 3 + my HD.
-Most magic items cost 10% more.  Mithril items cost 10% less.
-Jade Phoenix Mage also grants access to White Raven maneuvers and stances.
-PrCs allow maneuver swapping whenever the subject would gain access to a new maneuver level.  The swapped maneuver must use the same recovery mechanic and the maneuver swapped in must be from a discipline allowed by the PrC.

-The feat Practiced Initiator makes my initiator level for all purposes equal to my HD.  (IL = HD)
-Improved Practiced Spellcaster forgives 1 lost class level.
-Augment Mending gives +4 HP per level of the effect.  Martial Spirit heals 6HP, cure minor heals 5 HP, Revitalizing Strike heals 3d6+IL+12 HP, and so on.

Party Mates
Arterith
Buffer and Crowd Controller
Dragonborn Blue Conjurer5/Incantatrix2

Gareth
Scary-Looking Emo Tank
Human Cleric5/Dread Witch2

Kaerthra
Scout, Sneaker, Face Woman, and Assassin
Dark LA0 Drow Rogue5/Assassin2

Lynda
Dual-Wielding Melee DPS
Wood Elf DM7 (a Fighter variant, and the class really is called "DM")

Theis
Craftsman and Comic Relief
Human Rogue1/Artificer6

Theis Built a Wood Golem, "Flint"
Melee DPS
DM's custom golem rules.  He's a Small bugger with a 10' polearm.

Notes
The below stats assume psychic reformation to get all skills as class skills, as well as Mercantile Background for +300 starting gold and 25% off everything magical.

Build
CG Dragonborn LA0 Aasimar Bard4/Crusader1/Sublime Way Marshal (Strategic Champion)1/Jade Phoenix Mage4/Sublime Chord2/Jade Phoenix Mage+6/Sublime Chord+2


1:  {Aggressive}, {Murky-Eyed}, {Shaky}, {Spellgifted: Transmutation}
1:  [Bardic Knowledge], [Inspire Courage I], [Spellbreaker Song]^{CMage 35}
1:  Improved Practiced Caster, Practiced Initiator, Practiced Spellcaster
3:  [Inspire Competence], Song of the Heart
5:  [Delay Damage 5]
6:  Augment Mending, [Skill Focus: Concentration]
7:  [Arcane Wrath]
8: 
9:  #FEAT#
10: [Empowering Strike]
11: [Continue progressing Bardic Knowledge and Bardic Music]
12: [Song of Arcane Power], #FEAT#
13:
14: [Jade Phoenix Master]
15: #FEAT#
16: [Quickening Strike]
17:
18: [Emerald Immolation], #FEAT#
19:
20:

#FEAT POOL#
-Additional Melee Damage Source: CHA (add CHA bonus to melee damage as well as STR - homebrew)
-Dragonfire Inspiration
-Extra Granted Maneuver
-Improved Initiative
-Martial Stance
-Martial Study
-Melee Training: CHA (use CHA for melee accuracy instead of STR - homebrew)

Stances
C01/L05     Martial Spirit (DS)
            Thicket of Blades (DS) [Heroics]

M01/L06     Bolstering Voice (WR)

J02/L08     Mystic Phoenix Stance (JPM)
J05/L13     Aura of Perfect Order (DS)
J06/L14     Firebird Stance (JPM)

Maneuvers
C01/L05     Crusader's Strike (DS)                             [Swap @13]
            Foehammer (DS)                                     [Swap @7]
            Revitalizing Strike (DS)
            Tactical Strike (WR)                               [Swap @9]
            White Raven Tactics (WR)

M01/L06     Mind Over Body (DM)
            Moment of Perfect Mind (DM)

J01/L07     Divine Surge (DS)
               SWAP Foehammer for White Raven Strike (WR)      [Swap @15]
J03/L09     Flanking Maneuver (WR)
               SWAP Tactical Strike for Leaping Flame (DW) - Heroics/Items Meet Prereqs
J05/L13     Rallying Strike (DS)
               SWAP Crusader's Strike for Clarion Call (WR)
J07/L15     White Raven Hammer
               SWAP White Raven Strike for Order Forged from Chaos (WR)
J09/L17     Strike of Righteous Vitality

-= Skills to Max =-
-Concentration          10
-Knowledge: Arcana      10 (Max for Sublime!)
-Listen                 10 (Max for Sublime!)
-Perform: Percussion    10

Secondary Skills
-Knowledge: Dungeon     1
-Knowledge: History     2
-Knowledge: Nature      1
-Knowledge: Planes      1
-Knowledge: Religion    2
-Profession: Astrologer 6
-Spellcraft             6
-Spot                   10
-Tumble                 1

-Collector of Stories   2

Inconvenient Prerequisites
Jade Phoenix Mage
-Knowledge: History     2
-Knowledge: Religion    2

Sublime Chord
-Knowledge: Arcana      13
-Listen                 13
-Perform                10
-Profession             6
-Spellcraft             6

Languages Known
Celestial
Common
Draconic
Giant
Goblin

Bard Spells @7 (Casts as Bard5)
LEVEL 0: 6 Known
Dancing Lights
Detect Magic
Ghost Sound
Mage Hand
Prestidigitaiton
Summon Instrument

LEVEL 1: 4 Known
Grease
Improvisation^{SC 121}: 2 points/CL for d20 rolls, max bonus +1/2 CL, 1rnd/lvl
Inspirational Boost
Silent Image

LEVEL 2: 3 Known
Alter Self
Mirror Image
SIlence

Gear from Ear to Ear
Due to some conversions, I have a debt.  Don't worry.

44.5/76LB (16 STR)
28,782.49/19,300 Spent (9482.49 DEBT!)

Weapons & Armor                   36.5 lb/14,129.65
+1 Longbow III & Ammo                      9 lb/1850.66
   -MW Longbow III                         3 lb/200
   -+1 Bow                                     /1650
   -40 Arrows                              6 lb/0.66

MW Dagger                                  1 lb/0.66

+1 Mithril Gauntlet                      0.5 lb/1800
   -Mithril Gauntlet                           /150
   -+1                                         /1650
   This gauntlet also has a holy symbol
   crafted into the palm's exterior.

   He also has a holy symbol carved
   into the flesh of each palm.

+1 Mithril Chain Shirt                    12.5 lb/1155
   -Mithril Chain Shirt                        /330
   -+1 AC                                      /825

+1 Darkwood Dastana                      2.5 lb/1132.5
   -Darkwood Dastana                           /307.5
   -+1 AC                                      /825

+1 Mithril Chahar-aina                     5 lb/2047.5
   -Mithril Chahar-aina                        /1222.5
   -+1 AC                                      /825

+1 Harmonizing Darkwood Halberd            6 lb/6143.33
   -+2                                         /6000
   -Darkwood                                   /40
   -Masterwork Halberd                         /103.33

Robes, Shirts, and Cloaks                 1831.66   
Shirt of Valor                                 /990
   -3/day IMM: +1 Inspire Courage

Runic Cloak of CHA I                           /841.66
   -MW Spellcraft                              /16.66
   -+1 CHA                                     /825

Cold Weather Outfit                           

Rings                                     4389.16   
Sustaining Ring of Resistance I                /2887.5
   -Sustenance                                 /2062.5
   -+1 resist saves                            /825

Mood Ring of Mount                             /1501.66
   -MW Concentration                           /16.66
   -Casts CL1 mount at will                    /1485

Amulets, Neckalces, Brooches, and Charms  3929.99   
MW Holy Symbol                                 /283.33
   -+1 CL on Illusion/Mind-Affecting

Sage's Necklace of CON II                      /3630
   -+2 CON                                     /3630
   -MW Knowledges                              /16.66

Belts, Boots, and Gloves                  2312.07   
+1 Riding Boots of Acrobatics                  /115.82
   -MW Ride                                    /16.66
   -+1 Ride                                    /82.5
   -MW Tumble                                  /16.66
   -+1 Tumble                                  /82.5

Healing Belt                                   /618.75
   -Belt of Healing                            /618.75

Healing Hand                                   /1485
   -CL1 lesser vigor 5/day                     /1485

Headgear & Facegear                       48.32     
Miner's Hearing Helm                           /31.66
   -MW Listen                                  /16.66
   -Has liquid sunlight placed at front        /15
    to "shed light as a torch" (20' bright,
    40' dim).
    Dark metal shutter to show/block light.
    Squeeze palm to toggle shutter.

Scout's Lens                                   /16.66
   -MW Spot                                    /16.66

Haversack                            5 lb/1650       
Haversack                                  3 lb/1650

Torch x3                              EACH 1 lb

Misc.                                3 lb/108.33     
MW Elbow Drums                             3 lb/33.33
Dragonborn Ritual                              /75


Footnotes
¹Spending about 2 levels worth of experience on power research netted me schism, metamorphosis, energy missile, and a bevvy of other useful powers. 

     As a Dragonborn Kalashtar with 3 Power Link Shards (Magic of Eberron 115), I did 27d6+27 fire damage to their back liners, "killing them three times over."  I would have probably finished off 3 or 4 more with a 7-headed pyrohydra's fire breath (Metamorphic Transfer FTW!) if the DM didn't ragequit then.  Then my Bard/Crusader cohort had White Raven Tactics ready and probably would have destroyed all but one of the 9 foes.

[fuinjutsu]

Your IC is only going to be like +3 or so, with that set up, unless i missed something.

[Endarire]

+1 from levels.
+1 from inspirational boost
+1 from Song of the Heart
+1 from the Shirt of Valor ('Badge of Valor' - Magic Item Compendium)

[fuinjutsu]

yeah well, in my book, it's not an IC build unless it gets at least IC+6   

[Endarire]

Bardic Music
A Vest of Legends (16,000G) gives me +5 Bluff, Diplomacy, and Bardic Music levels.  How do you advise I boost Inspire Courage while maintaining spellcasting?

Spells
Bard spells are new to me.  What Bard and Sublime Chord spells are best for group buffing and crowd controlling?  Mind you, this is a melee Bard who prefers a halberd.

[skydragonknight]

Haste and Inivisibility spells for buffing. as well as Heroisms. Crowd control...mostly enchantments and illusions.

[ninjarabbit]

Glitterdust and slow are probably the best debuffs the bard has. Fear is also pretty nice because it's normally a 4th level wizard spell that bards get at 3rd level. Pick one and go with it since they are all will save-affecting spells and you don't need multiple spells that target the will save.

[Endarire]

With Sublime Chord I can access Sor/Wiz spells of level 4 and above.  I have a soft spot for wall of force, but is it worth learning as a level 5 SC spell?

[skydragonknight]

I'd say yes. level 5 spells for wizard are mostly lackluster, so there is less viable competition.

[Fluffles]

With Sublime Chord I can access Sor/Wiz spells of level 4 and above.  I have a soft spot for wall of force, but is it worth learning as a level 5 SC spell?

It's rather situational, but as SDK has said, there aint that many great 5th level spells. (Make sure you get Arcane Fusion first)

[Endarire]

Since arcane fusion is a Sor spell, not a Sor/Wiz spell, does that qualify?

[Fluffles]

Since arcane fusion is a Sor spell, not a Sor/Wiz spell, does that qualify?

A SC is a spontaneous caster, so getting your DM to approve shouldn't be hard.

[ninjarabbit]

You get to pick from both the bard and wiz/sor lists so pick a few bard spells that are at a lower level than wizard spells. For example greater dispel magic is a 5th level bard spell but a 6th level wizard spell and Otto's Irresistable dance is a 6th level bard spell but a 8th level wizard spell.

[Endarire]

Sublime Chord and Sorcerer-Only Spells
I'm being cautious and trying not to break the game again.

Sublime Chord Spell Plan
LEVEL 4
SC1: Evard's black tentacles, greater mirror image, summon monster IV
SC2: dimension door

LEVEL 5
SC1: draconic polymorph
SC2: wall of force
SC4: telekinesis
SC6: greater dispel magic

LEVEL 6
SC3: contingency
SC4: freezing fog
SC6:
SC8:

LEVEL 7
SC5: reverse gravity
SC6: Bigby's grasping hand
SC8:
SC10:

LEVEL 8
SC7: moment of prescience
SC8: maze
SC10:

LEVEL 9
Time stop is banned, else it would probably be my first pick.

SC9: shades
SC10: shapechange

Other Candidates: chain contingency, gate

[Rebel7284]

pst.  look at ninjarabits post especially @greater dispel magic and Otto's

[ninjarabbit]

Make greater dispel magic a 5th level spell since it a 5th level bard spell, use it to replace teleport since you already have a conjurer in the party. You also don't need contingency since you can get it with greater shadow evocation. I'm not a fan of gate on that list since you won't be spamming it due to the 1000 xp cost.

[skydragonknight]

Shades might be a nice 9th level spell, versatility wise. Lots of versatility there.

How about Moment of Prescience as an 8th level spell? Unless Initiative is ruled as something other than an opposed check.
Winning Initiative is even more important for (de)buffers/controllers, since your actions improve your comrades' options.

[Endarire]

What other spells or abilities work well to boost my team?