Summon shadow for "Solo" Bard

[Ping14]

Hi!
Just want to ask, how good are summon shadow from greater shadow conjuration?

Character is a bard with unremitting cadence II, planning to take a plain Spell Focus: Illusion just to make it to turns/level, then unremitting cadence II will take care of the extending.

Just how good are the shadows in dealing/tanking end game content? They don't do damage, not much health, but can pump to max 70% concealment if I go GSF (which is unlikely). But curious if the crippling strike they do stack.

Anyone messed around with illusion school on bard? Or perhaps on a full mage/gish?

[chris a gogo]

They do very little damage and get wiped out by late content.
But you do get three of them so it spreads hits out if you can do the damage dealing yourself, otherwise get gate scrolls/books or summon monster 9 scrolls will be far better.

Or if you have good AC and bad damage.
Take one damage dealing summon and -guard it letting it kill everything while you protect it.

[Opustus]

I played one like that. Midgame they were fine, but the planar summon was frankly better. This was before the summon nerfs, though. 21+ they got melted sooo fast. It's still a neat aesthetic and can run interference if you're partied up (not that Gate or Elemental Swarm weren't the better option still, but it's cool at least!).

[Ping14]

In a weird spot right now, trying to make the toon viable and enjoyable again when doing dungeons. I play in a low activity timezone, hence why I usually just explore around solo. I remember holding an "Instruments of the Winds" (Elemental Swarm charges on "instrument") before on a different toon. But that was a looooong long time ago, years before the beamdog migration. Any idea if that's still in loot matrix rotation?

Using a Sorc Sequencer just to squeeze out that Summon IX for a wee bit of damage. xD

A sword bard with only burst AC/Damage, but no sustain is just pain to do solo dungeons with. Other toons I have made are doing well with end game challenges, but the bard is stuck without any PC help. Tried the shadows on PGCC and it lasted a good 5 minutes on that prismatic dragon before all three went down. Thinking if is it really worth it to extend it to turns/level, or just save the feat and have it rounds/level?

[Dreams]

GSF Illusion is incredible and will help a great deal.