Our usual GM told us that in a month or so he wanna try an investigative campaign in your usual Fantasy-Half-Horror setting that is DnD, and that in the next days he needs us player to present our character sheets to start working on them. In recent years I had tons of fun writing stories about an absurd Investigator, parody of the Noir ones, and I'd LOVE to play it.
The Rogue is the first idea that comes to mind, but it's too sneaky and obvious to me. I'd like to play your classic witty, depressed, Noir Investigator weak when it comes to a pretty face and some drink, but with a funny spin. I never tried in my life the Artificer but a part of me is really tempted by this combo.
When it comes to Race i'm really opened (til now i played a Changeling, a Triton and a Fey). What could be a nice build? The campaign will be short. I doubt we will ever be over level 5.
What do you think about it? Artificer is a terrible idea? Or I could do something about it? I noticed that he can't access 'detect thought' which should be important for a Noir Investigator xD
One of my random standby backups is a character named Dick Lightning, Pee-Eye. Dick's a Storm sorcerer rather than anything with investigate-y powers, keeps his magic more on the down-low. Sorcery is what he was born with, but private eye-ing is his job/passion, depending on background flavor. Could run with something similar, where the character's class levels are almost more incidental than anything else and their job is independent of their fancy magical powers.
IMO, Artificer is always a solid choice. (Always) However, is homebrew on the menu? If so I actually wrote a spellcasting Sleuth subclass for Rogue for which I need additional playtesting.
I'd recommend playing Artificer and taking the Skill Expert feat to take expertise in Investigation. You'll have the Intellect to deduce all kinds of things, and Artificer gives you access to spells like Identify and Detect Magic, which make you even better at deciphering magic items or traps.
Another feature that Artificers have that can work well for an investigator-type character is their tool proficiencies. Keep in mind that proficiency with an Artisan tool doesn't just give you the ability to craft things... it gives you in-depth knowledge about objects related to those tools. Thieve's Tools gives you not just the ability to pick locks, but the ability to disable or analyze traps. Tinker's tools gives you innate knowledge of things like constructs and other inventions. You get one additional proficiency at level 1, and all of the subclasses give you at least one additional tool proficiency at level 3. However, I think there are two tool proficiencies in particular that would be highly valuable for an investigator...
Calligrapher's Tools are often over-looked because it's very difficult to use them to craft anything useful in combat, but they give you unique abilities to analyze writing... both in paperwork, and in ancient writings or etchings. Think of it like being a handwriting analyst... a normal spellcaster can read a scroll and learn what spell is on it, a Calligrapher can analyze it and learn who wrote it... maybe even when they wrote it. If you go in looking for ways to use this tool proficiency, you'll find more ways to use it than you might expect.
Alternatively, there's Alchemist's Tools. You can use this to create potions and such, of course, but it also allows you to analyze chemicals you encounter. This is your forensics kit... you can analyze blood and determine what type of creature it came from. You can find stains and determine what chemical caused them.
I'd also recommend the Homunculus Servant Infusion... keep in mind that, among other things, the Homunculus can give you the Help action. This is a quick and easy way to give yourself advantage on skill checks to drastically increase your odds of success... snag the Guidance cantrip and you'll basically be making all of your skill checks at advantage with a +d4.
There's a lot of Noir detectives that are more the rough n' tumble type, solving problems with their deuces or the barrel of a gun. That opens you up to a lot of more fighty class options like fighter, monk, even paladin if your detective has batman-like convictions about Truth or Justice or what have you.
You could build off those classes and use feats like Observant and other mental feats to build up the Detective aspect of it. I happen to think Ritual Caster is a great feat for a detective, since it allows you to throw useful information-gathering spells like Detect Magic, Comprehend Languages, or Find Familiar onto any class, and the casting time won't be much of an issue if you're at a crime scene, ritually casting as part of your investigation.
I like your ideas guys, but Im persuaded by Transmorpher that Artificer is closer to my idea. The monk or ritual caster sounds more of a serious character, and the Batman-Alike is really far from my desires. I'll fall very much on a Leslie-Nielsen category. I know myself. It will be an efficient character, but also kinda comical.
For example I already know that I will PRETEND to give him "mind link", but have him sepaking out loud, convinced that is having an inner monologue.
Our usual GM told us that in a month or so he wanna try an investigative campaign in your usual Fantasy-Half-Horror setting that is DnD, and that in the next days he needs us player to present our character sheets to start working on them. In recent years I had tons of fun writing stories about an absurd Investigator, parody of the Noir ones, and I'd LOVE to play it.
The Rogue is the first idea that comes to mind, but it's too sneaky and obvious to me. I'd like to play your classic witty, depressed, Noir Investigator weak when it comes to a pretty face and some drink, but with a funny spin. I never tried in my life the Artificer but a part of me is really tempted by this combo.
When it comes to Race i'm really opened (til now i played a Changeling, a Triton and a Fey). What could be a nice build? The campaign will be short. I doubt we will ever be over level 5.
What do you think about it? Artificer is a terrible idea? Or I could do something about it? I noticed that he can't access 'detect thought' which should be important for a Noir Investigator xD
Let me know ^^
It really depends on which noir investigator trope you're parodying. Figure out what angle you're taking and what skills/abilities would help, and use that to guide your choice
Really, just about anything could work. A druid has plenty of utility spells and can wild shape to get into places they otherwise couldn't. A barbarian with Intimidation and Perception and a background/race combo that added other useful skills and abilities could be a classic "punch your way to the solution" private eye, or a version of Marv from Sin City. A sorcerer or warlock, as CHA casters, would make for a good riff on a Thin Man-like "talk your way into and out of problems" character. Etc etc
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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)
I was going to suggest Aberrant Mind sorcerer. They get detect thoughts as part of their psionic spell list. But it seems you already have an idea from above suggestions to go with.
Good luck and let us know how it goes once you start that campaign
My first thought was a Rogue with the Inquisitive subclass from Xanathar's Guide to Everything. In addition to rogues getting a buttload of skills and expertise in them, the Inquisitive gets bonuses and other advantages specifically for finding hidden things and reading people with Perception, Investigation, and Insight; that's all straight gas for what detectives do. Many traditional noir detective characters are also quite willing to engage in and skilled at sneaking around and dirty fighting which is exactly what rogues are archetypically all about.
If you really don't want to do a rogue and would rather lean into the fantasy angle, Diviner Wizard comes to mind. Just about every spell in the school of divination can be useful to an investigator at some point, some quite often. A bunch of other Wizard spells are also useful in many detective type situations, particularly Enchantment and Illusion. Bard is also always an option that mixes the skill monkey advantages with a decent selection of spells as well, including quite a bit of Divinations, Illusions, and Enchantments. College of Lore is always good for being able to do a whole bunch of things and Eloquence can work great if you want your character to be a smooth talker (also Whispers if you want them to be mean and scary).
The usual model of the noir detective is flashes of genius combined with periods of breathtaking idiocy. There's actually something to be said for Fighter (Battle Master) with Commanding Presence and Tactical Assessment. Possibly multiclassed with rogue, the two actually work pretty well together.
The usual model of the noir detective is flashes of genius combined with periods of breathtaking idiocy. There's actually something to be said for Fighter (Battle Master) with Commanding Presence and Tactical Assessment. Possibly multiclassed with rogue, the two actually work pretty well together.
I know you meant it differently, but I find it kind of funny that you use the term "flashes of genius" to recommend going for a Fighter subclass, when Artificers literally get an ability called "Flash of Genius" :P
Our usual GM told us that in a month or so he wanna try an investigative campaign in your usual Fantasy-Half-Horror setting that is DnD, and that in the next days he needs us player to present our character sheets to start working on them. In recent years I had tons of fun writing stories about an absurd Investigator, parody of the Noir ones, and I'd LOVE to play it.
The Rogue is the first idea that comes to mind, but it's too sneaky and obvious to me. I'd like to play your classic witty, depressed, Noir Investigator weak when it comes to a pretty face and some drink, but with a funny spin. I never tried in my life the Artificer but a part of me is really tempted by this combo.
When it comes to Race i'm really opened (til now i played a Changeling, a Triton and a Fey). What could be a nice build? The campaign will be short. I doubt we will ever be over level 5.
What do you think about it? Artificer is a terrible idea? Or I could do something about it? I noticed that he can't access 'detect thought' which should be important for a Noir Investigator xD
Let me know ^^
One of my random standby backups is a character named Dick Lightning, Pee-Eye. Dick's a Storm sorcerer rather than anything with investigate-y powers, keeps his magic more on the down-low. Sorcery is what he was born with, but private eye-ing is his job/passion, depending on background flavor. Could run with something similar, where the character's class levels are almost more incidental than anything else and their job is independent of their fancy magical powers.
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IMO, Artificer is always a solid choice. (Always) However, is homebrew on the menu? If so I actually wrote a spellcasting Sleuth subclass for Rogue for which I need additional playtesting.
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I'd recommend playing Artificer and taking the Skill Expert feat to take expertise in Investigation. You'll have the Intellect to deduce all kinds of things, and Artificer gives you access to spells like Identify and Detect Magic, which make you even better at deciphering magic items or traps.
Another feature that Artificers have that can work well for an investigator-type character is their tool proficiencies. Keep in mind that proficiency with an Artisan tool doesn't just give you the ability to craft things... it gives you in-depth knowledge about objects related to those tools. Thieve's Tools gives you not just the ability to pick locks, but the ability to disable or analyze traps. Tinker's tools gives you innate knowledge of things like constructs and other inventions. You get one additional proficiency at level 1, and all of the subclasses give you at least one additional tool proficiency at level 3. However, I think there are two tool proficiencies in particular that would be highly valuable for an investigator...
Calligrapher's Tools are often over-looked because it's very difficult to use them to craft anything useful in combat, but they give you unique abilities to analyze writing... both in paperwork, and in ancient writings or etchings. Think of it like being a handwriting analyst... a normal spellcaster can read a scroll and learn what spell is on it, a Calligrapher can analyze it and learn who wrote it... maybe even when they wrote it. If you go in looking for ways to use this tool proficiency, you'll find more ways to use it than you might expect.
Alternatively, there's Alchemist's Tools. You can use this to create potions and such, of course, but it also allows you to analyze chemicals you encounter. This is your forensics kit... you can analyze blood and determine what type of creature it came from. You can find stains and determine what chemical caused them.
I'd also recommend the Homunculus Servant Infusion... keep in mind that, among other things, the Homunculus can give you the Help action. This is a quick and easy way to give yourself advantage on skill checks to drastically increase your odds of success... snag the Guidance cantrip and you'll basically be making all of your skill checks at advantage with a +d4.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
There's a lot of Noir detectives that are more the rough n' tumble type, solving problems with their deuces or the barrel of a gun. That opens you up to a lot of more fighty class options like fighter, monk, even paladin if your detective has batman-like convictions about Truth or Justice or what have you.
You could build off those classes and use feats like Observant and other mental feats to build up the Detective aspect of it. I happen to think Ritual Caster is a great feat for a detective, since it allows you to throw useful information-gathering spells like Detect Magic, Comprehend Languages, or Find Familiar onto any class, and the casting time won't be much of an issue if you're at a crime scene, ritually casting as part of your investigation.
I like your ideas guys, but Im persuaded by Transmorpher that Artificer is closer to my idea. The monk or ritual caster sounds more of a serious character, and the Batman-Alike is really far from my desires. I'll fall very much on a Leslie-Nielsen category. I know myself. It will be an efficient character, but also kinda comical.
For example I already know that I will PRETEND to give him "mind link", but have him sepaking out loud, convinced that is having an inner monologue.
Thanks for the precious advices anyway!
It really depends on which noir investigator trope you're parodying. Figure out what angle you're taking and what skills/abilities would help, and use that to guide your choice
Really, just about anything could work. A druid has plenty of utility spells and can wild shape to get into places they otherwise couldn't. A barbarian with Intimidation and Perception and a background/race combo that added other useful skills and abilities could be a classic "punch your way to the solution" private eye, or a version of Marv from Sin City. A sorcerer or warlock, as CHA casters, would make for a good riff on a Thin Man-like "talk your way into and out of problems" character. Etc etc
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)
I was going to suggest Aberrant Mind sorcerer. They get detect thoughts as part of their psionic spell list. But it seems you already have an idea from above suggestions to go with.
Good luck and let us know how it goes once you start that campaign
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My first thought was a Rogue with the Inquisitive subclass from Xanathar's Guide to Everything. In addition to rogues getting a buttload of skills and expertise in them, the Inquisitive gets bonuses and other advantages specifically for finding hidden things and reading people with Perception, Investigation, and Insight; that's all straight gas for what detectives do. Many traditional noir detective characters are also quite willing to engage in and skilled at sneaking around and dirty fighting which is exactly what rogues are archetypically all about.
If you really don't want to do a rogue and would rather lean into the fantasy angle, Diviner Wizard comes to mind. Just about every spell in the school of divination can be useful to an investigator at some point, some quite often. A bunch of other Wizard spells are also useful in many detective type situations, particularly Enchantment and Illusion. Bard is also always an option that mixes the skill monkey advantages with a decent selection of spells as well, including quite a bit of Divinations, Illusions, and Enchantments. College of Lore is always good for being able to do a whole bunch of things and Eloquence can work great if you want your character to be a smooth talker (also Whispers if you want them to be mean and scary).
The usual model of the noir detective is flashes of genius combined with periods of breathtaking idiocy. There's actually something to be said for Fighter (Battle Master) with Commanding Presence and Tactical Assessment. Possibly multiclassed with rogue, the two actually work pretty well together.
Sposta, you changed your profile pic! I would recommend a Battle Smith, because you can have a companion in your investigation.
“Magic is distilled laziness. Put that on my gravestone.”
I know you meant it differently, but I find it kind of funny that you use the term "flashes of genius" to recommend going for a Fighter subclass, when Artificers literally get an ability called "Flash of Genius" :P
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium