An article that I really didn't feel like finishing, although it has a neat concept: using Master of Stories+Dilletante, or Hybrid Bard+Skald Training to create an entire party with an encounter heal and the ability to buff allies.

Skald Aura Abuse: The Party

Defender: “The Slot Machine”

====== Created Using Wizards of the
Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Khalil yn Malik el Zaman,
level 1
Half-Elf, Fighter (Knight)
Knight Option: Shield
Finesse
Tuathan Starting Feature Option: Continue the
Story
Half-Elf Power Selection Option: Dilettante
Calimshan
(Calimshan Benefit)
Theme: Tuathan

FINAL ABILITY
SCORES
STR 16, CON 18, DEX 12, INT 8, WIS 10, CHA 14

STARTING
ABILITY SCORES
STR 16, CON 16, DEX 12, INT 8, WIS 10, CHA 12

AC: 20 Fort: 16 Ref: 13 Will: 12
HP: 33 Surges: 13 Surge
Value: 8

TRAINED SKILLS
Athletics +6, Diplomacy +9,
Endurance +7, Insight +7

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics –1,
Arcana –1, Bluff +2, Dungeoneering +0, Heal +0, History –1,
Intimidate +2, Nature +0, Perception +0, Religion –1, Stealth –1,
Streetwise +2, Thievery –1

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee
Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Fighter Attack:
Battle Guardian
Multiple Class Utility: Defender Aura
Fighter
Utility: Cleaving Assault
Fighter Utility: Poised Assault
Multiple
Class Attack: Power Strike
Bard Utility: Skald's Aura
Bard
Attack 1: Words of Gravity

FEATS
Shield Finesse
Level
1: Master of Stories

ITEMS
Longsword x1
Plate Armor
x1
Heavy Shield x1
====== End ======

Khalil uses his Dilettante ability to
poach a Skald At-Will, Words of Gravity.  Once he has activated his
Skald Aura, he can spend a minor action to use Words of Gravity; as a
result, each time he strikes an enemy with his melee basic attack, he
can grant a +2 power bonus to all defenses to an ally within 5
squares.  This can interact with his Defender Aura in some rather
unusual ways- for example, if an enemy elects to attack one of his
allies while within his Defender Aura, a successful Battle Guardian
attack will effectively worsen the enemy attack by -4!

Also, if an enemy simply moves away
from Khalil, he can use Words of Gravity with either Battle Guardian
or an Opportunity Attack to try and buff whatever ally the enemy is
most likely to attack.  The effect here is similar in effect to the
marking mechanic of other Defenders.

And of course, bonus healing for the
party with the Skald Aura never hurts.

Striker: “The Temp-O-Matic”

====== Created Using Wizards of the
Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Kazmer Janos Farehart,
level 1
Human, Bard/Paladin (Blackguard)
Vice: Vice of
Fury
Tuathan Starting Feature Option: Continue the Story
Hybrid
Bard Option: Hybrid Bard Reflex
Hybrid Paladin (Blackguard)
Option: Hybrid Blackguard Fortitude
Hybrid Talent Option: Paladin
Armor Proficiency
Human Power Selection Option: Heroic
Effort
Background Benefit: Religion
Noble Scion (Noble Scion
Benefit)
Theme: Tuathan

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 10,
CON 16, DEX 10, INT 12, WIS 10, CHA 18

STARTING ABILITY
SCORES
STR 10, CON 16, DEX 10, INT 12, WIS 10, CHA 16

AC: 20 Fort: 15 Ref: 15 Will: 15
HP: 29 Surges: 11 Surge
Value: 7

TRAINED SKILLS
Bluff +9, Diplomacy +9, Endurance
+4, Intimidate +9, Religion +8

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics
–3, Arcana +2, Athletics –3, Dungeoneering +1, Heal +1, History
+2, Insight +1, Nature +1, Perception +1, Stealth –3, Streetwise
+5, Thievery –3

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic
Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Human Racial Power:
Heroic Effort
Bard Feature: Majestic Word
Bard Attack 1:
Bolstering Speech
Paladin Attack 1: Virtuous Strike
Bard Attack
1: Lesser Flash of Distraction
Bard Attack 1: Disruptive Words

FEATS
Level 1: Skald Training
Level 1: Hybrid Talent

ITEMS
Longsword x1
Plate Armor x1
Heavy Shield x1
======
End ======

Kazmer is a Hybrid Blackguard/Bard.
The Skald powers are a good match for any Striker that uses basic
attacks to begin with, in this case, allowing Kazmer more
opportunities to acquire Combat Advantage.  Thanks to Virtuous Strike
being a basic melee attack, Kazmer can grant temporary hit points to
allies (using Bolstering Speech) while still delivering damage to his
enemies.

Alternatives: The Thief and Slayer
primarily uses basic attacks, but without a Hybrid option for either,
you'd need to be a Half-Elf.  The Infernal Hexblade works well with
Half-Elf, however.  You could Hybrid Warlock with Bard (for Eldritch
Strike) fairly easily as well. 

Controller: “The Guiding Hand”

====== Created Using Wizards of the
Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Keira, level 2
Half-Elf,
Invoker
Build: Wrathful Invoker
Divine Covenant Option:
Covenant of Wrath
Half-Elf Power Selection Option:
Dilettante
Dalelands (Dalelands Benefit)
Theme: Ordained
Priest

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 11, CON 16, DEX 10, INT
12, WIS 18, CHA 13

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 11, CON 14,
DEX 10, INT 12, WIS 16, CHA 13

AC: 17 Fort: 15 Ref: 13
Will: 16
HP: 30 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 7

TRAINED
SKILLS
Diplomacy +10, Endurance +9, Insight +13, Nature +11,
Religion +8

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +0, Arcana +2,
Athletics +0, Bluff +2, Dungeoneering +5, Heal +5, History +2,
Intimidate +2, Perception +5, Stealth +0, Streetwise +2, Thievery +0

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack:
Ranged Basic Attack
Ordained Priest Attack: Shining Symbol
Invoker
Feature: Rebuke Undead
Covenant of Wrath  Power: Armor of
Wrath
Bard Utility: Skald's Aura
Bard Attack 1: Song of
Serendipity
Invoker Attack 1: Grasping Shards
Invoker Attack 1:
Divine Bolts
Invoker Attack 1: Lightning's Revelation
Invoker
Attack 1: Silent Malediction
Nature Utility 2: Nature Sense

FEATS
Level 1: Ritual Caster
Level 1: Master of
Stories
Level 2: Power of Skill

ITEMS
Ritual Book
Hand
of Fate
Dowsing Rod
Rod Implement x1
Chainmail x1
======
End ======

Keira is perfectly functional at level
1, using Sun Strike, but is presented at level 2, where her Skald
abilities really shine.  Power of Skill transforms Divine Bolts into
a ranged basic attack that can target one or two enemies, allowing
her to grant a power bonus to two allies simultaneously!

Alternatives: The Seeker may be a good
Hybrid with Bard, as the Skald powers trigger off of ranged basic
attacks (something the Seeker has several of).  A Half-Elf Hunter
using Rapid Shot could buff their entire party with a single Standard
Action, which may be worth looking into as well!

The Leader: “The Flame of Violence”

====== Created Using Wizards of the
Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Lyrindel, level
1
Hamadryad, Bard/Cleric
Hybrid Bard Option: Hybrid Bard
Reflex
Hybrid Cleric Option: Battle Cleric's Lore
Auspicious
Birth (Auspicious Birth Benefit)
Theme: Iron Wolf Warrior

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 10, WIS 18,
CHA 18

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 12, DEX 10, INT
10, WIS 16, CHA 16

AC: 19 Fort: 11 Ref: 11 Will: 15
HP:
30 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 7

TRAINED SKILLS
Diplomacy +11,
Heal +9, Nature +11, Perception +9

UNTRAINED
SKILLS
Acrobatics +1, Arcana +1, Athletics +1, Bluff +5,
Dungeoneering +5, Endurance +2, History +1, Insight +5, Intimidate
+5, Religion +1, Stealth +1, Streetwise +5, Thievery +1

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack:
Ranged Basic Attack
Iron Wolf Warrior Attack: Iron Wolf
Charge
Hamadryad Utility: Hamadryad Aspects
Bard Feature:
Majestic Word
Cleric Utility: Healing Word
Bard Attack 1: Song
of Savagery
Cleric Attack 1: Sonnlinor's Hammer
Bard Attack 1:
Lesser Flash of Distraction
Bard Attack 1: Dirge of the Damned

FEATS
Level 1: Skald Training

ITEMS
Scale Armor
x1
Longsword x1
====== End ======

Lyrindel is a Hybrid Bard/Cleric who
uses Sonnlinor's Hammer to trigger her Song of Savagery, allowing her
to reduce the damage her enemies deal, even as she increases the
damage of her party.  In addition, her Healing Word grants an untyped
+2 bonus to attack rolls, and allows her to heal a non-adjacent ally.

Alternatives: The existing Skald build
is the most likely alternative, of course.  At higher levels, it will
get more healing, but I felt that in a party of part-time Skalds,
that's not as important as having a strong basic attack and good
defenses, something the Cleric offers in spades.