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I'm making a lvl 12 changeling for a new campaign...

It's a high magic campaign (lots of magic around there but only in big cities or guilds)

I want to make a character with good charm effects/rituals/utility powers and good escaping ways and defenses if things go bad... Spells like shield, expeditious retreat, and invisibility/dazzling effects come to mind...

I think my bests options are bard, psion, wizard hybrid or multiclassed (obviously I'm opened to other suggestions)

Well... I'm waiting your suggestions and thank you

You could probably get most of what you want from a Bard with the Resourceful Magician Paragon Path. That will let you cherrypick the best powers from any arcane class you have multiclassed into. I would say that makes it a better option than going hybrid. Multiclass into Wizard for the wide variety of dazes and dominates. Multiclass into Warlock for some teleportation utilities, with special attention paid to Ethereal Sidestep.

@absansenbury Teleportation is the best way of escape... I like your suggestions

@alandmj If I can always I multiclass my characters to bard and I take Bard of all trades... it's the best feat out there...

Then this night I will make both of your characters... then I'll post my favourite one, to have more feedback

Thank you

Indeed. Maxing out your arcana and using it for as much as possible is an excellent strategy. It's so great, in fact, that it has spawned its own guide.

For more information, consult SongNSilence's Arcana skill optimization guide: Optimizing Arcana

Salla:

Sure thing. I think that guide originally came about from Sage of Ages optimization discussions. SongNSilence posts good material, and as they've added more content like Sorcerous Vision it has quickly become one of my go to guides.

wero:

This thread caught my interest because I've been building a Changeling Bard myself, with similar design goals (Morph being the character in mind due to personal preference). There's some ways to improve your shapeshifting that tend to get lost in the shuffle.

Becomer is a great feat for this, especially if you select Human. That can get you an extra +5 to Bluff when imitating the most common creature type, as well as landing you a +2 racial bonus to any skill you want (Arcana being the obvious great choice).

When people think about the Changeling, they sometimes dismiss it due to Hat of Disguise having a similar function to that of Changeling Disguise. What those people are missing is the fact that the hat doesn't obsolete the power or vice versa. The Hat of Disguise's effect is an Illusion, which allows it to be in effect at the same time as Changeling Trick's Polymorph effect. When used in tandem, they complement each other amazingly well to create the perfect disguise.

While the hat can alter your equipment, it stipulates that you don't alter texture or sound, which means you'd have a harder DC any time you speak or somebody bumps into you. Changeling Disguise has no such restriction and can also be used to take on the appearance of a specific person, which the Hat of Disguise arguably cannot do. Put them together and you have a complete disguise to all senses (except maybe smell and taste, but then you're in a pretty weird situation). You also end up with a whopping +10 bonus to Bluffing your disguise! Tack on a Disguise Kit and a Disguise for another +4, if you really need to convince somebody that you're his dear old mother bringing him totally not poisoned cookies.