I feel like playing as a bard, but... what combat style do bards play? Weapon choice? Magic? Stealth, or Warrior or...? etc.

I think that traveling bard uses a single 1H sword.

Stealth and speech craft, maybe some illusion into the mix.

When I make mine someday I plan on using Speech (of course), 1-handed, light armor, restoration, smithing, and maybe archery

Speech, Restoration, One Handed, Light Armor and maybe some other type of magic (Alteration or Illusion, preferably). Possibly Alchemy as well?

Too bad the Bards' College was such a rip off, btw

I would use:
1h, Block, Speech, Illusion, Archery, and maybe Sneak.

I know... i played a little bit on another character hoping you could actually LEARN to play instruments... >_<

I've found it easier to create characters based off of Race, Weapon type, and Armor type....and then be open minded from there... my bard which I created last night is a Nord, One-handed, Light Armor. I will use varying levels of all thief skills, archery, and appropriate magic (thinking illusion and resto but this could change).

Planning for end game build is doomed to fail in my opinion and it's more fun to let things play out. My Destruction-based Mage quick;y learned he needed to expand his understanding of all magics if he really wanted to grow as a Mage.

Bards only use their vocal talents.

So just get all the shouts, and only use shouts.

I am hoping that when the CK comes out, someone will make Instruments be playable by the character. THen you can shout while rocking out on a Lute.

this is a good option too...especially since I've had trouble getting into the whole Dragonborn thing to begin with... I won't play as a limiting as that though... perhaps a warrior/thief/shouter instead of a warrior/thief/mage.

There is a Wandering Bard NPC that you can randomly encounter, and when he gets into combat, he just pulls out a dagger and Becomes Ethereal while running away.

I should change his name to Brave Sir Robin...

I want to thank you again for the idea. Something productive out of these forums? I can't believe it. I might actually have a reason to find and use the shouts now. It makes sense so much sense for a Bard to want to find word walls and practice their ancient secrets. My mage and knight couldn't save Skyrim, but my Bard just may.

Since we cannot actually play instruments in taverns and the like I'm kinda put off the whole Bard thing.
That said, I would go: 1-handed, Heavy Armor(the warrior-poet thing), Speech, Block and maybe Alchemy.