Inspire Courage +
Good Hope = +4/+4 to all allies = WIN
I have not played a bard in Pathfinder. I have, however, played WITH a bard in my Kingmaker party for the past 14 months. The Bard is actually our titular Baron/Duke/King in the PCs Kingdom. As a supporting cast member in the party - Bards ROCK.
This is not an isolated opinion. My other gaming group, also playing Kingmaker, are also of the opinion that their own bard, which fulfills the identical role in their Kingmaker campaign is +4/+4 and
Full of Win. In terms of impact upon play, this bard combo is in a dead heat with the Wizard's
Haste spell.
Given that there really is no spell in the game more useful than
Haste in terms of multiplying the party's overall combat effectiveness, that's saying a
LOT.
Not every player is content to play such a supporting role. They are not the front line fighter, nor the front line spellcaster. They do have utility and healing spells which can come in real handy in a pinch -- but they are not the "star" of the underlying combat game.
But above all, they have their Loremaster ability and
Inspire Courage and
Good Hope.
+4/+4 never, ever, gets old. Add in
Haste, and we are +5/+4 in Round 1 for essentially the entire combat out of the gate.
No wonder the bad guys don't stand a chance.