I know the Bard as a class is the Jack of all trades (and even gets ex ability titled as such), but with the amount of options in Pathfinder the obvious isn't always the best. I think of a Jack of all trades character as one who has the following traits:
1. Can fight in martial combat reasonably well.
2. Can cast spells. Preferably with a selection from every type of spell.
3. Can wear armour.
4. Isn't too squishy.
5. Has good access to skills and can function as something of a skill monkey and party face if need be.
The character does not need to be the best at any of these, the key is that they can take the place of a specialized character in a pinch. Picture a Final Fantasy Red Mage (which I know was based on the D&D Bard, now we're just going in circles!)
Sounds like you'd want an Investigator.
Between studied combat and mutagens, they're pretty decent in combat. Have extracts for magic (though there are archetypes that switch their alchemical stuff for psychic magic or bard spells).
They've got armor, and aren't too squishy with d8 hit dice and access to defensive buffs and abilities.
And being an Int-based class with 6+ skill ranks per level and the ability to add dice to any skill check, they're some of the best skill-monkeys in the game.
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Occultist, particularly Haunt Collector, has roughly even access to spells of all eight schools, gets SLAs plus psychic casting, is Int-based with decent base skills, gets martial proficiency and medium armor, d8, weapon boosts, and on-the-fly bonuses. Class skill list is passable, if not quite Investigator level.
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I think investigator is probably the best jack of all trade Inquisitors are strong as well, but I just think studied strike is a little overtuned.
1. Studied combat caps out at +10 to hit +10 to damage and isn't limited to a particular weapon type, studied strike is ok, combat inspiration and access to mutagens are awesome.
2. Good variety of spells from the alchemist list (not really a lot direct combat options, but lots of strong buffs, heals and defensive options).
3. Alchemist spell casting isn't subject to spell failure from armor, so with feats or by taking one or 2 levels of fighter.
4. d8 hit dice good progression on will/ref, can use inspiration on must pass saves, not super MAD so you can afford to start with a 14 con usually, access to solid defensive spells like shield, mirror image, and stoneskin.
5. 6+ int & int based spellcasting, inspiration for free on int based skills, lots of free skill points for social skills.
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Best? I will throw a vote in for the investigator. I have seen combat builds hold there own and succeed at 90% of the total skill check in PFS scenarios.
Things that help five them top billing for me:
- Lots of skill points and INT as a secondary stat.
- An ability to mitigate variability. Inspiration, buffs, eventually Eidetic Recollection.
- High accuracy and consisted debuffing
- 1 min prep time for extracts. Sometimes groups don't want to stop for 15min to fill spell slots. I have never witnessed a group say no to 1min.
Damage may trail a little bit but the investigator is reliable.
Bards are great. It takes a little bit to make there knowledges reliable though. STR>CON=CHA>INT=DEX alot of required stats and wisdom is not a dump stat. Means you don't have a huge bonus to knowledges at low levels.
Fruian Thistlefoots list contain the other top ones.
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1. Can fight in martial combat reasonably well.
2. Can cast spells. Preferably with a selection from every type of spell.
3. Can wear armour.
4. Isn't too squishy.
5. Has good access to skills and can function as something of a skill monkey and party face if need be.
Wizard (or Witch) 8 / Fighter 2 / Eldritch Knight 10
Not many ways to get four iterative attacks AND 9th level spell casting, so it'll beat most JoaT builds in one or both of those categories. Falls a little short in the 'skill monkey' department, except that high intelligence for casting makes up for low class skill points and spells can cover for skills in most circumstances.
1. Can fight in martial combat reasonably well.
2. Can cast spells. Preferably with a selection from every type of spell.
3. Can wear armour.
4. Isn't too squishy.
5. Has good access to skills and can function as something of a skill monkey and party face if need be.
Nature Fang Druid (crocodile domain, protector archetype)
1. 3/4 BAB + Studied target (effectively full BAB) + buffs and ranger combat styles
2. 9th level spell casting (spontaneous summons, built in healing)
3. Yes, though can't cast in metal armor (Druid of Gorum)
4. d8 HD + damage share with protector familiar (effectively d12 HD)
5. 4+Int to skills, access to trapfinding with slayer talents. You'll need to focus a bit more on Charisma if you want to be a party face, but between your slayer talents and character feats, you can afford skill focus.
No wildshaping though. You'll have to use spells for changing your shape.
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Another way to go might be the Spirit Dancer Medium.
Can be great at combat when channeling the Champion or Guardian... Archmage or Hierophant for spellcasting... Trickster or Marshall for skill monkey and party face.
The trick is that they are only good at these roles one at a time and can do so for a limited number of rounds per day. Though, at high levels they can burn rounds per day faster to get two or all six roles at once.
I'm surprised that no one's suggested Skald yet - Spell Kenning is one of the very best "spontaneously grab whatever spell you need from several spell lists" abilities in the game. It fulfills the other requirements as well.
EDIT: Missed Markov, so count me as seconding that suggestion.
A plains druid with the monkey domain kind of impressed me as a skill monkey. Ranged legerdemain can often substitute for trapfinding, 'drop prone & you have hide in plain sight' is surprisingly useful since drop prone is a free action, and there are a bunch of skill bonuses from the domain and druid spells. Wild shape is useful there too.
He fights in melee well enough, has full casting from a decently varied list (though no ability in-class to steal from other lists; I guess you could play a Samaran), can wear a dragonhide breastplate if you want and isn't especially squishy.
Not exactly what you want, but also see my post about how to be the only spellcaster in a party.