D&D 5E What class really is the "jack of all trades"?

[painted_klown]

Hello all,

Been a while since I posted, but back again now.

Anyway, on to my question that was actually spurred by another thread + last nights gaming session.

Essentially, what I want to know is, if there really is a class that is the theoretical "jack of all trades".

I am asking because in one game that I am in, players are constantly dying, coming to the games sporadically, or we even have had people come sit in on a random session here and there (mostly GFs of the regulars).

For the most part, players do not have a backup character rolled up and ready to play, and if they go down early in the session, then they are left with nothing to do for the remainder of the night. Also, players come and go regularly at that game, so they don't want to (or know how to) spend the time rolling something up to play for only a single session.

What this led to (in last nights session) is a party without any healers, nor any offensive magic users. We had a tough night of gaming last night because of this.

So, my thought is to roll up a backup character (or a few) that can be easily dropped into any party, no matter what classes were already in it. One that can sort of be that "jack of all trades" to avoid a similar situation in the future.

What say you? Does any class really fall under this type of banner?

 

[Leatherhead]

Well for blasting and healing:
There are Druids, or Clerics, or Bards, or even Sorcerers with feats or a selective multiclass.

But if what you say about character death is true, you would probably be better served with by having a bunch of pre-generated characters of all types on tap.

 

[Ashrym]

That was really hard to decide. With backgrounds opening up skills and feats opening up options there are a lot of choices available. Valor bard, not just bard, was the best option as it picks up some baseline combat abilities. I would have made a case for ranger but the spell progression is harder to defend, and druids but the damage options are lacking, similar to lore bards. A DEX fighter with an urchin or criminal background and a healer feat comes pretty close with eldritch knight but has the same spell progression problem.

 

[abelmort]

I would say a druid is your best bet. The ability to choose from any of your spells on a daily basis means you can go heavy on heals, utility or damage depending on the style of the player or what is needed. If it is a moon druid, they also have the opportunity to melee, scout, etc.

 

[77IM]

Half-elf bard gets a ton of skill picks, good Charisma for talking to people, can afford a reasonable Dex for a decent AC plus decent attacks with rapier + light crossbow, and for spells can pick up healing word, vicious mockery, thunderwave, shatter, and invisibility fairly early on. That's reasonably versatile, and not too complicated to pick up quickly. It's the only arcane class with easy access to healing magic (unless you allow Favored Soul sorcerers).

Other classes to consider are Tempest Cleric (decent Str + martial weapon, shield, heavy armor + healing word and thunderwave and shatter and some pretty good zapping powers), Light Cleric (same deal, but replace the tanking with reasonably powerful fire spells and a great Channel Divinity effect), Druid of the Land (Moon is even more versatile but may be too complicated for a pick-up character), Ranger (decent martial ability, cure wounds, pretty useful skills and spells), Paladin (pretty great defensively and can really bring the damage when needed), and just about any flavor of Warlock (no healing at all and limited spell selection, but built right can collect a good number of utility effects and skills).

 

[Shiroiken]

So, my thought is to roll up a backup character (or a few) that can be easily dropped into any party, no matter what classes were already in it. One that can sort of be that "jack of all trades" to avoid a similar situation in the future.

What say you? Does any class really fall under this type of banner?

The Bard is the actual Jack of All Trades, but it's not the best for a drop in character. I would say the Wizard or Cleric is best for that. It never hurts to have a spare one of those in the party.

What you could easily do is have a couple of pre-gens ready to go, with potential introductions already figured out. That way you can have something that people want to play, but also might fit a certain role. Also very useful for sporadic players that just kinda show up without. Depending on the size of your group, I'd say a dozen is plenty, but you could get by with 3-4.

 

[Rocksome]

There is also the Favoured Soul sorcerer. All sorcerer spells and metamagic plus a cleric domain's spells (Life for healing), plus proficiency in medium armour and shields and extra attack.

 

[painted_klown]

Thank you for the relies and thoughs all. I was leaning toward either bard or eldrich knight fighter, and it seems like bard has overwhelmingly won the poll. Perhaps a few spare characters may be in order as suggested, but I wanted to have at least one at the ready that could fill any type of role that may be needed.

Thanks again all!

 

[steeldragons]

While one must agree that the Bard is the, literal, "Jack of all trades"...it's right there in the class features...I am going to pipe up and bring attention to the game's original, first and [imho] best "support class", the Cleric.

Get your spells. Get your healing. Get your armor and weapons for an extra melee combatant as needs be. Get your persuasive/wise individuals for interactions. Plus Undead Control. Plus extra domain spells/abilities.

For a single, simple "drop in" character when needs be, you can't go wrong with [and it never hurts to have] an "extra" cleric.

 

[Ashrym]

While one must agree that the Bard is the, literal, "Jack of all trades"...it's right there in the class features...I am going to pipe up and bring attention to the game's original, first and [imho] best "support class", the Cleric.

Get your spells. Get your healing. Get your armor and weapons for an extra melee combatant as needs be. Get your persuasive/wise individuals for interactions. Plus Undead Control. Plus extra domain spells/abilities.

For a single, simple "drop in" character when needs be, you can't go wrong with [and it never hurts to have] an "extra" cleric.

Knowledge or trickery domain also rounds clerics out as good contenders. Better than those 3 incorrect wizard opinions. Of course, anyone who didn't agree with my vote was obviously wrong. ;-)