Best buffer for my melee-heavy, Bard- included crew?

[EpicFail]

We will have three party members- Fighter, Summoner who plans on fighting alongside his Eidolon,and Bard-Barbarian- along with a Wizard NPC and myself.

My desire is to play a buffer who amps up these meat-shields. I'd rather not be a Bard as the above Bardbarian will be taking nearly all levels in Bard. The Wiz npc will be mostly hanging back in combat and is there mainly for utility.

We start at first level and go to about tenth. 20 point buy, all paizo material ok. 3rd party by DM's approval but not likely.

I've done several archer-Bards who focused on buffing, but trying a new class for that role is a challenge for me.

[Deadmanwalking]

Have you considered suggesting Skald from the ACG to the Bardbaraian? That's sorta designed to replace that class combo, and would let you go Bard and not be redundant...though actually, something like Archivist still wouldn't be.

If avoiding Bard entirely, Cleric is probably the best in the game aside from Bard and definitely fills the missing role in the group as well.

[Create Mr. Pitt]

Cleric is a strong suggestion. Get a weapon with reach, be able to cast with your standard action and, grab combat reflexes, you can take multiple attacks of opportunity during the course of a round. I highly recommend the travel domain as one of your domains. You'll be very effective at battlefield control (especially if your utility wizard can enlarge your personage).

[Arachnofiend]

If you can convince your Bardbarian to play a Skald then you could be a Sensei. You'll get all of the bardic performances that the Skald will be replacing with Raging Song and since everyone other than the Wizard will be primarily martial you'll get the best boost from Raging Song.

Cleric is definitely the better option, but Sensei is an option.

[Thomas Long 175]

Summoner actually gets a ton of buffing and movement based spells, perfect for a melee heavy party.

Edit: If you don't want your eidolon to compete, go a small dex based skill eidolon. After all its not a 1 point evolution to get a +8 to a skill that can be applied to every skill or anything :P

[Deadmanwalking]

Arachnofiend wrote:

If you can convince your Bardbarian to play a Skald then you could be a Sensei. You'll get all of the bardic performances that the Skald will be replacing with Raging Song and since everyone other than the Wizard will be primarily martial you'll get the best boost from Raging Song.

This'd work.

The Cleric Archetype Evangelist also gets Inspire Courage and would work well with a Skald, now that I think on it.

[EpicFail]

Thanks for the responses.

My buddie is really looking forward to his Bardbarian and is unlikely to change to Skald. I'm not into multi-classing myself and don't doubt our group would best be served mechanically by a straight-up Bard, but I don't see that changing.

I suspect our Summoner will focus mostly on beating things up in combat, so we really lack for both a divine and arcane caster in melee. Based on the responses, looks like I might be brushing up on the Cleric spell list. If so, travel would be a great domain.

[Prometeus]

For your party take a look at Brewer's Guide to Reach Clerics

Could also go with 5 Cha for flagbearear feat and leadership subdomain

[Emmit Svenson]

Play a bard that stacks with the other bard! Namely, an Archivist bard. Your insight bonuses will stack with his competence and morale bonuses, making your party heavy heavy hitters.

...well, honestly, you need access to the Restoration spell, so yeah, cleric or oracle.