New Base Class: Dabbler (yes I know it needs work)

[xorial]

This is an Alternate Bard Class. Works slightly differently, but is still a Jack-of-all-Trades approach. Might be too much, but want to see if anybody can help make it something. Still a work in progress.

Dabbler

Saves: As Bard

BAB & HD: As Bard

1. Bardic knowledge, Cantrips, Bonus Feat
2. Versatile performance
3. Emulate Class Feature (1st class)
4. Bonus Feat
5. Bardic Magic
6. Versatile performance, Spell Knowledge
7. Emulate Class Feature (2nd class)
8. Bonus Feat
9. Spell Knowledge
10. Jack-of-all-trades, Versatile performance
11. Emulate Class Feature (3rd class)
12. Spell Knowledge, Bonus Feat
13. ??
14. Versatile performance
15. Spell Knowledge, Emulate Class Feature (1st class)
16. Bonus Feat
17. ??
18. Versatile performance, Spell Knowledge
19. Emulate Class Feature (2nd class)
20. Bonus Feat, Capstone??

Class Skills: As Bard

Class Features
Weapons and Armor: Same as Bard
If anybody can think of more weapons or armor, please comment. I was leaning towards an additional martial weapon of their choice.

Spells: As Bard
Does anybody think that this class needs it's own spell list?

Bardic Knowledge, Cantrips, Versatile Performance, Jack-of-all-Trades: As Bard

Bonus Feat: Any feat the bard qualifies for.
I thought about limiting the feats, but when I started trying to balance it with some of the class features, I ended up with access to most feats anyway.

Emulate Class Feature: Tricky to word. Basically looking to allow the Dabbler to take a class feature. Has to be a low level feature & can't be one that is in a chain. Basically, a feature that is the start of a chain is nice, like Wild Shape. The feature has to be of the Dabbler's level, or lower. At 7th level, he can take one from another class. At 11th, from a 3rd. At 15th, a second one from the 1st class, which can be one in the chain after the first one. At 19th, a second from the 2nd class.

Bardic Magic: Dabbler adds 1/2 class level to Use Magic Device checks when emulating another class.

Spell Knowledge: The Dabbler adds a new spell to his list of spells know. This new spell can be from any spell list. The Dabbler treats the spell as one level higher than listed. This way, Magic Missile is treated as a 2nd level spell for the Dabbler.

??: Signifies that I have no features there, as well as no Capstone at this time.

[Jabor]

This seems more like "Bard with an alternate class feature" than a unique class.

This is the kind of situation that we used kits for waybackwhen.

[xorial]

Jabor wrote:

This seems more like "Bard with an alternate class feature" than a unique class.

This is the kind of situation that we used kits for waybackwhen.

I did state it is an alternate bard class at the beginning.

[Kirth Gersen]

Dunno; if thematically and mechanically separated a bit more from the bard, this could become a nice PC version of the Expert class, and even suprecede Monte Cook's Akashic. I'd give him light or no armor and 8 skill points/level, and definitely work out the "emulate class feature" thing -- maybe X rounds/day, as a character of that class at 1/2 your level or something.

[Kirth Gersen]

BAB & HD: As Bard
Saves: All good
Spell progression: As paladin, maybe, but draws from all lists (bard, cleric, druid, wizard/sorcerer), with access to 0-level spell progression at 1st level.
Class skills: All
Skill Ranks Per Level: 8

1. Bardic knowledge, Cantrips (as bard), Bonus Feat
2. Emulate Class Feature 1/day
3. Jack-of-all-trades
4. (Gains access to 1st level spells)
5. Bonus Feat
6. Emulate Class Feature 2/day
7. Skill mastery (take 10)
8. Bonus Feat (Also gains access to 2nd level spells)
9.
10. Emulate Class Feature 3/day
11. Skill Mastery
12. (Gains access to 3rd level spells)
13. Bonus Feat
14. Emulate Class Feature 4/day
15. Skill Mastery
16. (Gains access to 4th level spells)
17. Bonus Feat
18. Emulate Class Feature 5/day
19. Skill Mastery
20. Capstone, Emulate Class Feature 6/day

Class Features
Weapons and Armor: Simple weapons, light armor, no shields. Pick one martial weapon to reflect diverse training.

Bonus Feat: Any feat for which you meet the prerequisites.

Emulate Class Feature: Choose any feature from another class (e.g., wild shape, rage, etc.). 1/day, you can use that feature as if you were a member of that other class of half your dabbler level. If the ability is usable a number of rounds per day, then the maximum duration per use is 1 round per Dabbler level.

[xorial]

Not the exact effect I was looking for, but I like it. Maybe they spells could be along the lines of the Adept, then. You idea on emulate class is more flexible. I was going to make him gain it permanently, but this is probably better. The Adept spell progression would be good, as it is a small progression, which keeps him from being a main caster, except when he is trying to infiltrate some organization. I would keep the skills points down to 6/level, maybe.

Maybe a better name for this would be the Savant.

Also, it probably should be choose 10 skills as class skills.