Bard spells known

[Westwind]

For one reason or another, the Bard class has held my interest lately. I haven't played one in 3.5 yet (I briefly had one in 3.0), and I was wondering what people thought were good spells to pick up at, say levels 5, 10, 15, and 20 assuming he's the 5th member of the iconic party. I really like the buff/debuff spells the bard gets, since many of them are unique and they don't tread on some of the other caster's toes. Any 3.5 WotC source is legal.

Here's what I'm looking at so far:

1st:
Harmony (Magic of Faerun)
Feather Fall
Disguise Self
Grease (my favorite spell to target spell component pouches with)
Know Protections (MoF)

2nd:
Whispering Wind
Summon Swarm
Silence
Invisibility
Wave of Grief (Complete Divine)
Suggestion

3rd:
Haste
Slow
Crushing Despair
Good Hope
Glibness

4th:
Dimension Door
Modify Memory
Dominate Person

5th:
Dispel Magic, Greater
Persistant Image
Song of Discord
Blink, Improved (CD)

6th:
Find the Path
Heroes' Feast
Project Image
Dirge (MoF)

What spells am I missing that are better than I think?
What spells make sense of Bards at various levels?
When you can swap spells, what goes in and what goes out?

 

[MarauderX]

Sonic Burst (2nd level) is a good one for those with crappy Fort saves and does a good job in a corridor full of peons.

Cure spells are always helpful so the party cleric doesn't have to waste summoning spells on healing up the party tank.

Think of spells that would work in conjunction with the other party members, like Mind Fog so everyone can use Hold Person and Suggestion more effectively.

Sympathetic Vibration (6th) would come in handy for dealing out damage to things getting in the party's way, or to sink a boat (if the DM allows), or knock down a sorcerer's tower, breech castle walls, whatever. Gotta love that it bypasses DR and does 2d10 points of damage per round.

Irresistable Dance (6th) is nice as it has no saving throw, though it is a touch attack.

 

[Kalendraf]

I second the vote for having some curing. Often, the bards in the parties I DM for serve as an emergency healer when the cleric or druid is otherwise unavailable. I'd recommend taking cure light wounds at 1st level. There are lots of other competing spells at 2nd and higher levels, so you probably won't want to waste those spells on cures unless you really have to.

The other 1st level "must have" is probably Hideous Laughter. It's a really good spell if you're going up against other humanoids and have a high DC modifier. Works just about like a Hold person, perhaps better.

I also agree that Sonic burst is a good spell. However, there are many good 2nd level spells. Depending on the campaign, Tongues can be very good as well, especially if your trying to be a diplomatic bard. Blindness can be useful against enemy archers or casters. Glitterdust can be used to blind creatures in an area or reveal invisible foes making it a great utility spell.

At 3rd level, Haste is very good for a bard. I find Slow is a lot tougher to use, so it may not be worthwhile. Having access to Dispel Magic may or may not be important. I usually find that having 2 casters with access to this is good, that way if one is incapacitated, the other can still use it. But if you have both a wizard and cleric who memorize it, then don't bother with it for the bard. In a party of mostly humans or folks who can't see in the dark, Daylight can be very useful underground or at night.

I have less experience with the stuff 4th and above. Break Enchantment or Freedom of Movement can be very useful or not depending on the adventure. Any of the summons spells from 4th and up start becoming a bit more useful, though the bard spell levels trail wizard or sorc levels, so at the levels you get these, they may not be as useful.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Here's what I took (playing just core). I'm not a power-gamer (at least, not in that campaign), but I had a lot of fun with these spells. Taken more for flavor than bang.

Ghost Sound
Lullaby
Prestidigitation
Summon Instrument
Dancing Lights
Message

Cure Light Wounds
Hideous Laughter
Charm Person
Feather Fall
Remove Fear

Silence
Sound Burst
Alter Self
Cat's Grace
Whispering Wind

Slow
Charm Monster
Major Image
See Invisibility
Confusion

Modify Memory
Dimension Door
Hold Monster
Rainbow Pattern
Shout

Song of Discord
Mirage Arcana
Dispel Magic (Greater)
Seeming
Mind Fog

Irresistable Dance
Shout (Greater)
Permanent Image
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