Any ideas for how one might handle an arcane investigator character build without the inquisitive subclass. It is a great subclass, but is not what I am going for. Not a sherlock homes style deductive reasoning detective, but one who operates more on hunches and people skills, and tracks those down, like an old-school private investigator from a movie. Especially if some magic is involved
EDIT- Thank y'all so much for your help! I ended up going with a phantom rogue/warlock multiclass
Variant human with observant feat. Goes a very long way. There is an investigator background too, or any of several backgrounds can work.
I like this. Class wise arcane I would consider Divination Wizard. If you are flexible, you could also use a Paladin with Oath of Crown, or maybe Vengeance or Redemption.
I like a fighter, maybe echo knight. I think it would be cool if you have a bunch of clones looking on a scene. ( I don’t think it would work RAW). That’s just my opinion
Any ideas for how one might handle an arcane investigator character build without the inquisitive subclass. It is a great subclass, but is not what I am going for. Not a sherlock homes style deductive reasoning detective, but one who operates more on hunches and people skills, and tracks those down, like an old-school private investigator from a movie. Especially if some magic is involved
Archfey warlocks get a built-in charm or frighten ability at first level, which is good for getting information out of NPCs. Invocations like Mask of Many Faces (disguise self) or Eldritch Sight (detect magic) would be valuable skills for an arcane investigator. And if you're going for more of a Thin Man vibe, Pact of the Chain would give you an Asta
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
The Mastermind Subclass perhaps, or maybe any of the Artificer subclasses.
I actually wrote a Third-Caster Rogue subclass, the working title is “Sleuth.” If you’re interested PM me.
I second this option. Battlesmith with a mechahound is also on my 'to-play' list.
Though if we are suggesting homebrew... My 2nd artificer subclass that saw some playtesting today was able to keep up with my two Rogue party members doing Rogue things in a more stealth/investigation oriented session. Super customizable and still includes a pet to control, if that tickles your fancy. The buzzword for mine is "chimera".
I would consider Monk, to emphasize the wisdom and insight aspect, especially since a monk can be one who's spent their life in rigorous study.
I'd also recommend the Ritual Caster feat, as that gets you lots of cool arcane detective-y tools like detect magic, identify, find familiar (which is just generally really useful).
If you're thinking more Film Noir style detective I'd go more Fighter, either with the unarmed fighting style, or maybe a gunslinger, and for that I'd still recommend Ritual Caster to cover your arcane bases.
If you're thinking more Film Noir style detective I'd go more Fighter, either with the unarmed fighting style, or maybe a gunslinger, and for that I'd still recommend Ritual Caster to cover your arcane bases.
That would pro’ly be more “Hard Boiled” than “Noir.” (In noir settings, the heroes are clueless and dumped into things. Hard boiled is more like “I seen too much to scrd.”)
Thanks so much for the help! I ended up going for a phantom rogue/archfey warlock multiclass with the observant feat. I really liked the idea of the spirits bard, but wanted the features of the rogue, and warlock provides a lot of arcane options.
Battlemaster Fighters have a new maneuver that lets them add their “Superiority Dice” to certain skill checks…”Tactical Assessment” is a maneuver that grants a bonus to “Investigation” and “Insight”; both useful for a detective…while “Commanding Presence” let’s them add a Superiority Dice to their “Intimidation” and “Persuasion” checks, which is good for intimidating information out of thugs, or sweet-talking your way out of situations.
Plus, you get these Superiority Dice back on a short rest…so they can get plentiful use when you wish. Adding that you are also a Fighter; it means that you can brawl when things get bad…take the “Unarmed Fighting” style for a bruiser who can slug it out with thugs.
Classically speaking, a private detective usually had some kind of background where they had martial training…so a Fighter provides that feeling.
Honestly, aside from the Inquisitive Rogue, the Battlemaster Fighter actually seems like the best “detective” subclass, without using magic.
If using magic, then I would probably either do a Knowledge Cleric, or some kind of Bard:
Knowledge Clerics eventually get a “detective vision” that let’s them quite literally re-create a crime scene…although that’s at high levels.
Bards, on the other hand, get so many boosts to their skills, they become the class most suited for interrogating / questioning.
Sword Bard gives you some combat ability; Eloquence Bard makes you a fast-talker (and easily understood by other creatures who don’t share a language), and Lore Bards pretty much get whatever spell they desire at low-level to suit their character; and eventually become masters of any skill or ability check.
Any ideas for how one might handle an arcane investigator character build without the inquisitive subclass. It is a great subclass, but is not what I am going for. Not a sherlock homes style deductive reasoning detective, but one who operates more on hunches and people skills, and tracks those down, like an old-school private investigator from a movie. Especially if some magic is involved
EDIT- Thank y'all so much for your help! I ended up going with a phantom rogue/warlock multiclass
College of Whispers Bard, features make a good interrogation skillset if the nice folk approach doesn't work and still CHR reliant.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I like this. Class wise arcane I would consider Divination Wizard. If you are flexible, you could also use a Paladin with Oath of Crown, or maybe Vengeance or Redemption.
I like a fighter, maybe echo knight. I think it would be cool if you have a bunch of clones looking on a scene. ( I don’t think it would work RAW). That’s just my opinion
The Mastermind Subclass perhaps, or maybe any of the Artificer subclasses.
I actually wrote a Third-Caster Rogue subclass, the working title is “Sleuth.” If you’re interested PM me.
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This was my first thought too, but it was already taken. 😜
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Or a Swords Bard who just blunders their way through everything, that seems to
be workingwork.Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Archfey warlocks get a built-in charm or frighten ability at first level, which is good for getting information out of NPCs. Invocations like Mask of Many Faces (disguise self) or Eldritch Sight (detect magic) would be valuable skills for an arcane investigator. And if you're going for more of a Thin Man vibe, Pact of the Chain would give you an Asta
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
arcane trickster, encode thoughts cantrip. Investigator or City Watch background. Keen Mind or Observant feat on a variant human. Done.
Er ek geng, þat er í þeim skóm er ek valda.
UwU
I second this option. Battlesmith with a mechahound is also on my 'to-play' list.
Though if we are suggesting homebrew... My 2nd artificer subclass that saw some playtesting today was able to keep up with my two Rogue party members doing Rogue things in a more stealth/investigation oriented session. Super customizable and still includes a pet to control, if that tickles your fancy. The buzzword for mine is "chimera".
I would consider Monk, to emphasize the wisdom and insight aspect, especially since a monk can be one who's spent their life in rigorous study.
I'd also recommend the Ritual Caster feat, as that gets you lots of cool arcane detective-y tools like detect magic, identify, find familiar (which is just generally really useful).
If you're thinking more Film Noir style detective I'd go more Fighter, either with the unarmed fighting style, or maybe a gunslinger, and for that I'd still recommend Ritual Caster to cover your arcane bases.
That would pro’ly be more “Hard Boiled” than “Noir.” (In noir settings, the heroes are clueless and dumped into things. Hard boiled is more like “I seen too much to scrd.”)
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Man this makes me want to role play a guy like Jim Butchers, Harry Dresden.
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Retired Military plenty of time to play just about any night.
Thanks so much for the help! I ended up going for a phantom rogue/archfey warlock multiclass with the observant feat. I really liked the idea of the spirits bard, but wanted the features of the rogue, and warlock provides a lot of arcane options.
Artificer investigator for investigation and perception, maybe with observant.
That was what I was thinking of when I made my homebrew. That and his innate knack for “finding/location/tracking” spells.
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Any build with expertise in Investigation and Insight will go a long way.
And his unique talent for getting in trouble and being a smart a$$
48
Retired Military plenty of time to play just about any night.
That’s up to the player, they gotta bring something to the party. (I bring trouble and my smart @$$ with me everywhere I go. 😉)
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Battlemaster Fighters have a new maneuver that lets them add their “Superiority Dice” to certain skill checks…”Tactical Assessment” is a maneuver that grants a bonus to “Investigation” and “Insight”; both useful for a detective…while “Commanding Presence” let’s them add a Superiority Dice to their “Intimidation” and “Persuasion” checks, which is good for intimidating information out of thugs, or sweet-talking your way out of situations.
Plus, you get these Superiority Dice back on a short rest…so they can get plentiful use when you wish. Adding that you are also a Fighter; it means that you can brawl when things get bad…take the “Unarmed Fighting” style for a bruiser who can slug it out with thugs.
Classically speaking, a private detective usually had some kind of background where they had martial training…so a Fighter provides that feeling.
Honestly, aside from the Inquisitive Rogue, the Battlemaster Fighter actually seems like the best “detective” subclass, without using magic.
If using magic, then I would probably either do a Knowledge Cleric, or some kind of Bard:
Knowledge Clerics eventually get a “detective vision” that let’s them quite literally re-create a crime scene…although that’s at high levels.
Bards, on the other hand, get so many boosts to their skills, they become the class most suited for interrogating / questioning.
Sword Bard gives you some combat ability; Eloquence Bard makes you a fast-talker (and easily understood by other creatures who don’t share a language), and Lore Bards pretty much get whatever spell they desire at low-level to suit their character; and eventually become masters of any skill or ability check.