Investigator

Suggested Characteristics

Roleplaying an Investigator: As an Investigator, you are driven by curiosity and a desire for truth. You may have a background as a former detective, a member of a thieves' guild specializing in information gathering, or a private investigator. Your background can influence your personality, motivations, and interactions with other characters in the campaign.

Personality Traits

1. I always seek the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.
2. I’m observant to a fault and often notice things others overlook.
3. I have a knack for reading people, often able to guess their motives and intentions.
4. I have a tendency to distrust authority, believing that most are hiding something.

Ideals

1. Truth: The truth must come to light, even if it is painful. (Lawful)
2. Justice: I seek to bring justice to those who have been wronged, no matter the cost. (Good)
3. Curiosity: There is no such thing as too much knowledge. I will uncover every secret. (Chaotic)
4. Power: Knowledge is power, and I will use it to rise above others. (Evil)

Bonds

1. I owe a great debt to a mentor who taught me the ways of investigation.
2. I have a personal case that I will not rest until I solve it.
3. I have a network of informants and allies that I rely on for information.
4. I am protecting someone from a dangerous secret that they are unaware of.

Flaws

1. I can be overly suspicious, often believing that people have ulterior motives.
2. I sometimes see conspiracies where none exist, leading to misguided conclusions.
3. I can become obsessed with a case, neglecting other important aspects of my life.
4. I struggle to connect with others emotionally, preferring the company of facts and figures.

The Investigator subclass transforms the Rogue into a master of deduction and information gathering, creating opportunities for deep roleplay and intrigue in your D&D campaign. Whether unraveling a mystery, exposing a plot, or outsmarting foes, Investigators are versatile and captivating characters who thrive in any setting filled with secrets.

 

Level 3: Insightful Investigation

When you choose this subclass at 3rd level, your proficiency in observation and deduction sharpens. You gain proficiency in the Investigation and Insight skills, and you can use your Intelligence modifier instead of your Dexterity modifier for any check made with these skills. Additionally, you can add your proficiency bonus to any Wisdom (Perception) checks you make.

Level 3: Cunning Analysis

Also at 3rd level, your ability to analyze situations in real-time allows you to react quickly to danger. When you make a successful attack against a creature that you have observed for at least one round (one of your turns), you can use your bonus action to make a single attack against that creature, regardless of whether you have already used your action. You can do this a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus and regain all expended uses after a long rest.

Level 9: Uncover the Truth

At 9th level, your investigative prowess allows you to reveal hidden information and uncover truths that others might miss. When you successfully use your Cunning Action to hide, you can also choose to make an Insight check to detect if any illusions or deceptions are at play within a 30-foot radius of you. You may add your proficiency bonus to this check.

Additionally, you can choose to take the Use an Object action as a bonus action, allowing you to interact with objects or manipulate evidence more quickly and efficiently.

Level 13: Quick Thinker

Beginning at 13th level, your ability to think on your feet provides you with significant advantages in tense situations. You gain the following benefits:

• Adaptable Response: You can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on an attack roll made against you after you make a successful attack on your turn.
• Evasive Maneuver: When you take the Dash action, you can ignore difficult terrain. Additionally, you can choose to take the Hide action as a part of your Dash action, so long as you move at least 10 feet away from your original location.

Level 17: Master of Deception

At 17th level, your understanding of lies and truths enables you to manipulate situations to your advantage. You gain the following benefits:

• Gleaned Secrets: As a bonus action, you can choose a creature within 30 feet of you. That creature must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your Rogue spell save DC or become unaware that you have learned one of its secrets, gaining disadvantage on all rolls related to that secret. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once), regaining all expended uses after a long rest.
• Perfect Cover: You can mimic the speech patterns and mannerisms of another creature you have observed for at least one minute. For the next hour, you can make Charisma (Deception) checks to impersonate that creature as if you were proficient in the Deception skill, regardless of whether you have proficiency or not.