Requesting aid with "Diplomancer"

[ariasderros]

For a Gestalt game, I am making a Half-Elf Bard//Artificer.
I am looking for help on my feat choices, my spell choices and my gear.

The game is not going to feature much in the way of combat, and this character is meant to break the limits of the skill checks.

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My main problem is deciding between my feats.
Right now, what I'm looking at is:
(F) Focused Performer
(F) Melodic Casting
(1) Heroic Spirit
(3) Wand Surge
(4AB) Extend Spell
(6) Focused Performance

(Possession Bonus) Dragonsong

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Spell Items
Unfettered Heroism

Undersong
Joyful Noise
Improvisation
Immediate Assistance

Alter Self
Fortissimo
Tongues

Harmonic Chorus
Vision of the Omniscient Eye
Verraketh's Shadow Crown
Glibness

I haven't really started looking at gear yet. Again, this is for a low-combat campaign, for a Diplomancing Bard / Bufficer.

Pre-game generation is allowed at a cost of 5gp for 1xp that would've been spent. This translates to things costing 70% if I can make them (as an Artificer: Scribe Scroll; Brew Potion; Craft Wondrous Item; Craft Magic Arms and Armor; Craft Wand).
It has also been ruled that I can use UMD's emulate race/class to make items that require those things. (go, go, Vestment of Styles)
I am not looking at custom items, what is published only.
No cost reducing either. Seriously, let's be good sports.

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As a bard, my spells known will be 6 / 4 / 4 / 2.
But there are some spells that are better from items, and some that I'd actually want as spells.
Cantrips (6)
Detect Magic
Mage Hand
Prestidigitation
Read Magic
Songbird
Ghost Sound
1st Level (4)
Undetectable Alignment
Instant of Power
Improvisation
Animate Rope
2nd Level (4)
Beckoning Call
Enthrall
Magic Savant
Deceptive Façade
3rd Level (2)
Glibness
Major Image

[JohnnyMayHymn]

Are you willing/able to dip marshal1, binder1, DFA1?

[sirpercival]

Focused Performer/Performance?  Doomspeak?

[caelic]

I assume you're taking the first racial substitution level?

[ariasderros]

I assume you're taking the first racial substitution level?

I would be using a different race otherwise. Might take the third one too, if I take the 8th level of Bard (am going to use the Virtuoso / Sublime Chord combo).

Are you willing/able to dip marshal1, binder1, DFA1?

Able, not willing. Yes I know you can get a 48+ without having to roll by level 3. When you can still go that far with the right buff spells, and not sacrificing levels, there's no reason to do that. I'd rather keep my levels of Artificer and Bard to maintain the progression of benefits from each.

Focused Performer/Performance?  Doomspeak?

Melodic Casting > Focused Performer unless you're going Focused Performance. However, it is amazingly great for this. Riveting Performance, Rhythm, Projection, Harmony, and Accompaniment are all extremely useful. Dramatic Pause takes part of the sting out of losing Melodic Casting.
The major Con of this, however, is that it makes the user burn through Bardic Music uses like there's nothing to it. Which I predict this character will do already.

Doomspeak is always good, but I think the other options so far are of better use, since this feeds off of the same resources that I need elsewhere. Namely, Bardic Music uses, Feats, and the greatest economy of all, Actions.