I don't think you're *gimp* if you don't have a fastcast body, but I agree that if you're serious about bard for a long time, you should have something of one kind. Minstrel's Ring is definitely worth it and was a godsend levelling, but fact be told, there are many bards out there that just slap on MP, no chr, no skill, and wonder why their shit gets resisted. If original asker wants, I can send complete gearswaps/lists of instruments I use if that would be helpful. Since I'm used to meriting without fastcast body, now that I have it, it's like "shit, i got more free time".