Do you realize that you want to play a bard?
Not in this case, I want to play a tactical warlord, an competent battle leader who issues commands bolsters allies while also leading by example. Like a bard, a warlord can rally the team to win a fight. He is supposed to be a skilled warrior with a gift for leadership. As a tactical warlord, his leadership is suposed to be in the form of quick commands, cunning strategies, and tactical superiority. The PH says "Your powers guide your allies to extra and more powerful attacks, as well as keeping helping them ove quickly in combat situations. You also assist your allies by moving the enemy around or knocking them prone." My warlords embrase all of that more than your buff the powerful ally that you follow around the battlefield character you portray.
My warlord 3 is good at a few skills (+11 Arcana and History, +8 Athletics, Diplomacy, and Intimidate), poor at a few (+4 Religion, +3 Bluff and Streewise) and lousy at the rest (+0 or +1).
A bard is different, charming artists and performers skillful and knowledgable, with a touch of magic and some healing abilities, who can also lead and inspire in battle. I also a level 1 half-elf bard (Cha 18, Con 16, Int 12, Str 10, Dex 9 Jack of All Trades, +2 with Dex skills, +3 Athletics, +4 to +9 with most others, +11 Diplomacy), who uses Vicious Mockery, War Song Strike, Inspiring Refrain, Eldrich Blast (dilettante), and Verse of Triumph. her basic attacks are lousy (+2 attack, 1d8 damage with longsword; +2 attack, 1d6 damage javelin) with both Ranged 10 attacks and Melee weapon attacksbased on Charisma. In combat, she speializes in attacking, temp hp, healing and general inspiration rather than moving allies or enemies , or making an ally's attacks more powerful. In skill challenges she shines, whether as the primary checker or assisting at almost anything (trained at Arcana, Bluff, Diplomacy, Insight, and Intimidate; untained but +7 Streatwise, +6 Endurnce, +5 History and Religion, +4 Dungeoneering, Heal, Nature, and Perception).
Some bards are founts of healing and temp hp.
I like both warlords and bards as leaders, but I don't see that I am playing a warlord like a bard. There is just a bit of overlap in their roles.
