What Is A Dilettante?
The Bard class is one possible take on the Jack of All Trades, with a wide body of knowledge that draws from all manner of sources. However, it is tied inextricably to the concept of a traveling musician and storyteller, which is a turn off for some people. Additionally, the bard is limited in many ways, preventing it from being a true dabbler.
To that end, I present the Dilettante. It has some limited ability to cast spells, a bit of combat capability, some skullduggery and subterfuge, and a pinch of healing. Based in part on the Monk, in addition to the obvious inspiration from the Bard, the Dilettante also draws class abilities from just about every other class.
Though not as skilled as Rogues, Dilettantes have more options in the skills they take, as well as a few abilities to augment their proficiencies. Though not a full spellcaster, Dilettantes recover their spellcasting ability more quickly than other classes, similar to the Warlock. Though they lack the weapon and armor proficiencies of the martial classes, Dilettantes may learn a variety of maneuvers to aid them in combat.
This class was designed to replace the Bard (and to some extent the Monk), though of course there is nothing preventing your group from using all three in the same game.
So let's get to it.
Hit Points and Proficiencies
Being based primarily on the Bard class, the Dilettante is proficient only in light armor. His weapon options are more limited, but a certain maneuver provides potential proficiency in any weapon the Dilettante may need.
Skill-wise, the Dilettante is identical to the Bard: any three skills. She also gains the Jack of All Trades ability at first level, so that she has some ability with any skill; at 3rd level, she gains the Expertise class feature to further expand her utility with skills. The Dilettante does not gain proficiency in any musical instruments, as the class is not meant to be shoehorned into the role of musician. Also, the Dilettante's hit points match the Bard, at 1d8 per hit die.
The final difference between the Dilettante and the Bard is that the Dilettante has proficiency in Intelligence saving throws, rather than Charisma. The Dilettante learns her abilities through study and applied knowledge, rather than relying heavily on sheer force of personality.
Spellcasting
Now things start to get interesting.
Rather than utilize spell slots, as every other class does, our Dilettante has a new resource to limit his spellcasting ability. Based on a mixture of the Sorcerer's Sorcery Points and the Monk's Way of the Four Elements, the Dilettante has a resource called Inspiration points that may be spent to cast spells, as well as a variety of other effects that we'll discuss later.
The cost to cast a spell is based on the cost of the Sorcerer's Flexible Casting ability. The maximum spell level a Dilettante may cast is based on the medium progression of the Paladin and the Ranger; unlike the 5th edition Bard, our Dilettante is not a full spellcaster. She doesn't begin casting spells until second level.
To represent that the Dilettante learns her craft through eclectic study, she memorizes her spells. As such, she has a limited list of spells known, and may cast any spell she knows without needing to prepare it in advance. She uses Intelligence as her spellcasting trait.
The Dilettante uses the Bard spell list, though obviously she does not have access to any spells of 6th level or higher.
Eclectic Learning
The backbone of the Dilettante class, and primary outlet for expenditure of her inspiration points, is the list of Cunning Maneuvers. In effect, these are a list of features that a Dilettante may learn from other classes, such as the Rogue's Evasion or Sneak Attack, or the Druid's Wild Shape.
The Dilettante must choose which Maneuvers to learn; she does not have access to every Maneuver for which she meets the prerequisite. Most Maneuvers require spending one or more inspiration, though some (such as Cunning Evasion) are free.
Inspiration points are based on the Monk's Ki. She has a pool of Inspiration Points equal to her level, which recovers whenever she finishes a short or long rest.
The number of Maneuvers a Dilettante knows at any given level are based on the Warlock's Invocations. As such, she learns a maximum of 8 Maneuvers by 20th level. However, as it is the core feature of the class, our Dilettante gets to learn a single Maneuver at 1st level, rather than having to wait until 2nd before she may begin her journey.
Of note, the Dilettante may learn a limited form of the Rogue's Sneak Attack (Careful Strikes), the Druid's Wild Shape (Fluid Form), or the Draconic Sorcerer's Elemental Affinity (Primordial Ward), among others.
Unique to the Dilettante, Mental Armory supplements her limited weapon proficiencies by allowing her to learn any weapon she draws for a short time; this includes weapons which may be considered exotic for your setting. Walking Library serves a similar role for skills and tools, allowing the Dilettante to learn any craft she may need.
A Bard By Any Other Name...
The remainder of the Dilettante's features are drawn from the Bard class. Neophyte Healer, based on the Bard's Song of Rest, augments any healing spells she may know in order to provide the much-needed Cleric aspect of the "Jack of ALL Trades". Magical Secrets allows the Dilettante to truly dabble in any class she wishes, drawing a small number of her spells known from any spell list.
Finally, Perfect Mind at level 20 is based on the Monk's Perfect Self, ensuring that a Dilettante is always ready to throw down in any situation.
Dilettante Paths
Like many classes, the Dilettante has a choice of three archetypes. Each is based loosely on one of the four "core" classes: Fighter, Rogue, Wizard. Cleric gets left out, as the Path of the Mage allows access to Cleric spells just as easily as Wizard or Sorcerer spells.
The Path of the Mage supplements the Dilettante's spellcasting (go figure) by providing a couple of cantrips, and later increasing the damage she deals with those cantrips. It provides an extra opportunity to plunder another class's spell list at 6th level, and finishes at 15th by greatly expanding the Dilettante's magical versatility with access to a couple of Sorcerer's Metamagic abilities.
The Path of the Thief turns the Dilettante into a master of the shadows, literally. These abilities are drawn from the Monk's Way of Shadow. Though not strictly Rogue features - after all, many of the Dilettante's Maneuvers are drawn from the Rogue class - these abilities augment the Roguish playstyle.
Finally, the Path of the Warrior provides our Dilettante with some extra survivability in the form of medium armor and a bit of self-healing. It allows her to attack more often, and to greater effect in certain circumstances.
The Dilettante: Declassified
So that is the Dilettante class.
Do you like this take on the Jack of All Trades more, or do you feel the Bard did it best? Do you have your own idea for how to handle a "bit of everything" class? Leave it in the comments!
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