Investigator
Whether on the trail of a fugitive, a long-lost treasure trove, or a criminal mastermind, an investigator is motivated by an intense curiosity about the world and uses knowledge of it as a weapon. Mixing gumption and learnedness into a personal alchemy of daring, investigators are full of surprises. Observing the world around them, they gain valuable knowledge about the situation they're in, process that information using inspiration and deduction, and cut to the quick of the matter in unexpected ways. Investigators are always evaluating situations they encounter, sizing up potential foes, and looking out for secret dangers, all while using their vast knowledge and powers of perception to find solutions to the most perplexing problems.
Role: Investigators live to solve mysteries and find inventive ways to get out of jams. They serve as advisors and support for their adventuring parties, but can take center stage when knowledge and cunning are needed. No slouches in battle, they know how to make surprise attacks and use inspiration to bring those attacks home.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d8.
Parent Classes: Alchemist and rogue.
Starting Wealth: 3d6 × 10 gp (average 105 gp).
Investigator
| Level |
Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Special |
Extracts per Day |
| 1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +2 | Alchemy, inspiration, trapfinding | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +3 | Poison lore, poison resistance +2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +3 | Investigator talent, keen recollection, trap sense +1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Studied combat, studied strike +1d6, swift alchemy | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Investigator talent, poison resistance +4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +4 | +2 | +5 | +5 | Studied strike +2d6, trap sense +2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +5 | +2 | +5 | +5 | Investigator talent | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 8th | +6/+1 | +2 | +6 | +6 | Poison resistance +6, studied strike +3d6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 9th | +6/+1 | +3 | +6 | +6 | Investigator talent, trap sense +3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 10th | +7/+2 | +3 | +7 | +7 | Studied strike +4d6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| 11th | +8/+3 | +3 | +7 | +7 | Investigator talent, poison immunity | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
| 12th | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | Studied strike +5d6, trap sense +4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — |
| 13th | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | Investigator talent | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 14th | +10/+5 | +4 | +9 | +9 | Studied strike +6d6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 15th | +11/+6/+1 | +5 | +9 | +9 | Investigator talent, trap sense +5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — |
| 16th | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | Studied strike +7d6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 17th | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | Investigator talent | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 18th | +13/+8/+3 | +6 | +11 | +11 | Studied strike +8d6, trap sense +6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 19th | +14/+9/+4 | +6 | +11 | +11 | Investigator talent | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 20th | +15/+10/+5 | +6 | +12 | +12 | Studied strike +9d6, true inspiration | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Class Skills
The investigator's class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Dex), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Ranks per Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Class Features
The following are the class features of the investigator.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Investigators are proficient with all simple weapons, plus the hand crossbow, rapier, sap, shortbow, short sword, and sword cane. They are proficient with light armor, but not with shields.
Alchemy (Su): Investigators are highly trained in the creation of mundane alchemical substances and magical potionlike extracts.
When using Craft (alchemy) to create an alchemical item, an investigator gains a competence bonus equal to his class level on the skill check. In addition, an investigator can use Craft (alchemy) to identify potions as if using detect magic. He must hold the potion for 1 round to attempt such a check.
Like an alchemist, an investigator prepares his spells by mixing ingredients and a tiny fraction of his own magical power into a number of extracts, and then effectively casts the spell by drinking the extract. These extracts have powerful effects, but they are also bound to their creator. Extracts behave like spells in potion form, and as such their effects can be dispelled by dispel magic and similar effects, using the investigator's level as the caster level.
An investigator can create only a certain number of extracts of each level per day. His base daily allotment of extracts per day is given on the table above. In addition, he receives bonus extracts per day if he has a high Intelligence score, in the same way a wizard receives bonus spells per day.
When an investigator mixes an extract, he infuses the chemicals and reagents in the extract with magic siphoned from his own magical aura. An extract immediately become inert if it leaves the investigator's possession, then reactivates as soon as it returns to his keeping—an investigator cannot normally pass out his extracts for allies to use. An extract, once created, remains potent for 1 day before losing its magic, so an investigator must prepare his extracts anew every day. Mixing an extract takes 1 minute of work.
Creating extracts consumes raw material, but the cost of those materials is insignificant—comparable to the valueless material components of most spells. If a spell normally has a costly material component, that component is expended during the consumption of that particular extract. Extracts cannot be made from spells that have focus requirements; extracts that duplicate divine spells never have a divine focus requirement.
An investigator uses the alchemist formula list to determine the extracts that he can know. An investigator can prepare an extract of any formula he knows. To learn or use an extract, an investigator must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the extract's level. The saving throw DC of an investigator's extract is equal to 10 + the extract's level + the investigator's Intelligence modifier.
An investigator may know any number of formulae. He stores his formulae in a special tome called a formula book. He must refer to this book whenever he prepares an extract. At 1st level, an investigator starts with two 1st-level formulae of his choice, plus a number of additional formulae equal to his Intelligence modifier. At each new investigator level, he gains one new formula of any level that he can create. An investigator can also add formulae to his book just as a wizard adds spells to his spellbook, using the same costs, pages, and time requirements. A formula book costs as much as a spellbook. An investigator can study a wizard's spellbook to learn any formula that is equivalent to a spell the spellbook contains. A wizard, however, cannot learn spells from a formula book. An investigator can also learn formulae from another investigator's or an alchemist's formula book (and vice versa). An investigator does not need to decipher arcane writing before copying formulae.
Inspiration (Ex): An investigator is beyond knowledgeable and skilled—he also possesses keen powers of observation and deduction that far surpass the abilities of others. An investigator typically uses these powers to aid in his investigations, but can also use these flashes of inspiration in other situations.
An investigator has the ability to augment skill checks and ability checks through his brilliant inspiration. The investigator has an inspiration pool equal to 1/2 his investigator level + his Intelligence modifier (minimum 1). An investigator's inspiration pool refreshes each day, typically after he gets a restful night's sleep. As a free action, he can expend one use of inspiration from his pool to add 1d6 (his inspiration die) to the result of that check, including any on which he takes 10 or takes 20. This choice is made after the check is rolled and before the result is revealed. An investigator can use inspiration once only per check or roll. The investigator can use inspiration on any Knowledge, Linguistics, or Spellcraft checks without expending a use of inspiration, provided he's trained in the skill.
Inspiration can also be used on attack rolls and saving throws, at the cost of two uses of inspiration each time from the investigator's pool. In the case of saving throws, using inspiration is an immediate action rather than a free action.
Trapfinding: An investigator adds 1/2 his level (minimum 1) to Perception checks made to locate traps and to Disable Device checks. An investigator can use Disable Device to disarm magical traps.
Poison Lore (Ex): An investigator has a deep understanding of and appreciation for poisons. At 2nd level, he cannot accidentally poison himself when applying poison to a weapon. If the investigator spends 1 minute physically examining a poison, he can attempt a Knowledge (nature) check to identify any natural poison or a Knowledge (arcana) check to identify any magical poison (DC = the poison's saving throw DC). Lastly, once a poison is identified, he can spend 1 minute and attempt a Craft (alchemy) check (DC = the poison's saving throw DC) to neutralize 1 dose of the poison. Success renders the dose harmless. The investigator has no chance of accidentally poisoning himself when examining or attempting to neutralize a poison.
Poison Resistance (Ex): At 2nd level, an investigator gains a +2 bonus on all saving throws against poison. This bonus increases to +4 at 5th level and to +6 at 8th level. At 11th level, the investigator gains immunity to poison.
Investigator Talent (Ex or Su): At 3rd level and every 2 levels thereafter, an investigator gains an investigator talent. Except where otherwise noted, each investigator talent can be selected only once.
Investigator talents marked with an asterisk (*) add effects to an investigator's studied combat or studied strike. Only one of these talents can be applied to an individual attack, but the decision can be made when the damage is dealt.
Alchemist Discovery (Ex): The investigator can select one of the following alchemist discoveries as an investigator talent: combine extracts, concentrate poison, dilution, elixir of life, enhance potion, eternal potion, extend potion, infusion, mutagen, and poison conversion. When selecting an alchemist discovery, he must be of a high enough level to qualify for that discovery, using his investigator level as his alchemist level to determine if he qualifies. This talent can be selected multiple times; each time grants a new alchemist discovery.
Amazing Inspiration (Ex): The investigator rolls a d8 as his inspiration die instead of a d6. If he has the true inspiration ability, he rolls 2d8 and adds both dice to the result. An investigator must be at least 7th level to select this talent.
Blinding Strike* (Ex): When the investigator deals damage with studied strike, the opponent must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw or be permanently blinded. A successful saving throw reduces this effect to dazzled for 1d4 rounds. The DC of this Fortitude save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the investigator's level + his Intelligence modifier. This talent has no effect on creatures that do not rely on eyes for sight or creatures with more than two eyes (although multiple critical hits might cause blindness, at the GM's discretion). Blindness can be cured by heal, regeneration, remove blindness, or similar abilities. An investigator must be at least 17th level to select this talent.
Combat Inspiration (Ex): When an investigator uses inspiration on an attack roll or a saving throw, he expends one use of inspiration instead of two. An investigator must be at least 9th level to select this talent.
Confusing Strike* (Ex): When the investigator deals damage with studied strike, the opponent must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw or become confused for 1d4+1 rounds. A successful saving throw reduces the duration to 1 round. The DC of this Fortitude save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the investigator's level + his Intelligence modifier. Constructs, mindless creatures, oozes, plants, undead, incorporeal creatures, and creatures immune to critical hits are not affected by this ability. An investigator must be at least 19th level to select this talent.
Deafening Strike* (Ex): When an investigator deals damage with studied strike, the opponent must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw or be permanently deafened. A successful Fortitude saving throw reduces the duration of this effect to 1 round. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the investigator's level + his Intelligence modifier. This talent has no effect on deaf creatures. Deafness can be cured by heal, regeneration, remove deafness, or similar effects. An investigator must be at least 15th level to select this talent.
Device Talent (Ex): The investigator can use the Use Magic Device skill even if he's not trained in that skill. If the investigator is trained in Use Magic Device, he can use inspiration on any Use Magic Device checks without expending uses of inspiration.
Effortless Aid (Ex): The investigator can use an aid another action as a move action instead of as a standard action. An investigator can expend one use of inspiration to instead perform an aid another action as a swift action.
Eidetic Recollection (Su): An investigator can always take 10 on any of his Knowledge checks, even if he's in immediate danger or distracted. An investigator can expend one use of inspiration to take 20 on a Knowledge check, even if he's in immediate danger or distracted. An investigator must be at least 11th level to select this talent.
Empathy (Ex, Su): When attempting a Sense Motive check, the investigator makes two d20 rolls and takes the higher result. If an investigator uses inspiration on a Sense Motive check, he rolls his inspiration die twice and takes the higher result. Once per day, the investigator can expend one use of inspiration to target a single creature that he can see and hear within 30 feet. Upon doing so, the investigator detects the surface thoughts of the target's mind, as if he concentrated for 3 rounds while using the detect thoughts spell, unless the creature succeeds at a Will saving throw. The DC of this save is 10 + 1/2 the investigator's level + his Intelligence modifier. If the target fails, the investigator can continue to detect the surface thoughts of the target creature for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 his investigator level. An investigator must be at least 5th level to select this talent.
Expanded Inspiration (Ex): An investigator can use inspiration on any Diplomacy, Heal, Perception, Profession, or Sense Motive checks without expending a use of inspiration, provided he's trained in the skill.
Greater Combat Inspiration (Ex): Choose a single weapon type (such as sword cane or short sword). As long as the investigator has at least one use of inspiration in his inspiration pool, he no longer has to expend a use of inspiration to use inspiration on attacks made with this weapon. An investigator must have the combat inspiration investigator talent and be at least 19th level to select this talent.
Hidden Agendas (Ex): An investigator learns to obscure his thoughts and endeavors from prying eyes and even intrusive magic. When an investigator uses inspiration on a Bluff check to pass secret messages or on a Linguistics check to create forgeries, he can roll his inspiration die twice and take the higher result. In addition, the investigator can use inspiration on a saving throw against a divination spell or effect without expending a use of inspiration. An investigator must be at least 11th level to select this talent.
Inspirational Expertise (Ex): When an investigator succeeds at a Knowledge check to identify a monster's special powers or vulnerabilities, he can expend one use of inspiration as a swift action to grant allies within 30 feet that can hear him a +4 insight bonus on attack rolls against that monster or type of monster for 1 round. An investigator must be at least 7th level to select this talent.
Inspired Alertness (Ex): Whenever the investigator becomes flat-footed, he can expend one use of inspiration to ignore that condition. He must be conscious to do so, and must decide to do so when he becomes flat-footed. Using this ability doesn't require an action.
Inspired Intelligence (Ex): An investigator can use inspiration on any all Knowledge, Linguistics, or Spellcraft checks without expending a use of inspiration, even if he's not trained in that skill.
Inspired Intimidator (Ex): When the investigator succeeds at an Intimidate check to demoralize an opponent, he can expend one use of inspiration to automatically increase the result of the check by 5 for the purpose of determining the duration of the demoralize effect. He can choose to spend multiple uses of inspiration in this manner to further increase the duration of the demoralize effect. An investigator must be trained in Intimidate to select this talent. The underworld inspiration investigator talent has no effect on this talent.
Item Lore (Ex): An investigator can use Spellcraft to identify the properties and command words of magic items without needing to use detect magic or similar spells. An investigator must be at least 7th level to select this talent.
Perceptive Tracking (Ex): The investigator can use Perception instead of Survival to both find and follow tracks, using the same DCs given for the Survival skill (Core Rulebook 107). An investigator must be trained in Perception to select this talent.
Quick Study (Ex): An investigator can use studied combat as a swift action instead of a move action.
Repositioning Strike* (Ex): When the investigator deals damage with studied strike, he can perform a reposition combat maneuver as a free action against the creature damaged by studied strike. This reposition does not provoke attacks of opportunity. An investigator must be at least 13th level to select this talent.
Rogue Talent (Ex): An investigator can select one of the following rogue talents in place of an investigator talent: assault leader, black market connections, camouflage, canny observer, charmer, coax information, combat swipe, convincing liar, cunning trigger, deft palm, expert leaper, fast fingers, fast getaway, fast picks, fast stealth, firearm training, guileful polyglot, grit, hard to fool, hold breath, honeyed words, iron guts, lasting poison, ledge walker, major magic, minor magic, nimble climber, peerless maneuver, quick disable, quick disguise, quick trapsmith, resilience, rogue crawl, rope master, stand up, strong stroke, terrain master, trap spotter, or wall scrambler. Any talent effects based on rogue level use the investigator's class level. If the rogue talent has a prerequisite (such as the major magic rogue talent requiring the minor magic talent), the investigator must meet the prerequisite before selecting that rogue talent. This talent can be selected multiple times; each time, it grants the investigator a new rogue talent.
Sapping Offensive* (Ex): When the investigator damages a target of his studied combat, that creature cannot make attacks of opportunity for 1 round. An investigator must be at least 5th level to select this talent.
Sickening Offensive* (Ex): When the investigator damages a target of his studied combat, that creature is also sickened for 1 round. An investigator must be at least 7th level to select this talent.
Stealing Strike* (Ex): When the investigator deals damage with studied strike, he can perform a steal combat maneuver as a free action against the creature damaged by studied strike. This steal does not provoke attacks of opportunity. An investigator must be at least 13th level to select this talent.
Studied Defense (Ex): When an investigator with this talent uses studied combat, he can apply that ability's insight bonus to his AC against attacks made by the target of his studied combat instead of to his attack rolls against the target of his studied combat. (The insight bonus on damage rolls remains.) He must choose which type of bonus he gains when using studied combat, and it cannot be changed until he uses studied combat again. An investigator must be at least 9th level to select this talent.
Tenacious Inspiration (Ex): When an investigator rolls his inspiration die, he can roll twice and take the higher result. An investigator must be at least 13th level to select this talent.
Toppling Strike* (Ex): When the investigator deals damage with studied strike, he can perform a trip combat maneuver as a free action against the creature damaged by studied strike. This trip does not provoke attacks of opportunity. An investigator must be at least 9th level to select this talent.
Unconventional Inspiration (Ex): An investigator with this talent can pick any one skill. He can add his inspiration die to checks attempted with that skill without expending a use of inspiration.
Underworld Inspiration (Ex): An investigator can use inspiration on Bluff, Disable Device, Disguise, Intimidate, or Sleight of Hand checks without expending a use of inspiration, provided he's trained in the skill.
Keen Recollection: At 3rd level, an investigator can attempt all Knowledge checks untrained.
Trap Sense (Ex): At 3rd level, an investigator gains an intuitive sense that alerts him to danger from traps, granting him a +1 bonus on Reflex saving throws to avoid traps and a +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks by traps. At 6th level and every 3 levels thereafter, these bonuses increase by 1 (to a maximum of +6 at 18th level).
Studied Combat (Ex): With a keen eye and a calculating mind, an investigator can assess the mettle of his opponent to take advantage of gaps in talent and training. At 4th level, an investigator can use a move action to study a single enemy that he can see. Upon doing so, he adds 1/2 his investigator level as an insight bonus on melee attack rolls and as a bonus on damage rolls against the creature. This effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to his Intelligence modifier (minimum 1) or until he deals damage with a studied strike, whichever comes first. The bonus on damage rolls is precision damage, and is not multiplied on a critical hit.
An investigator can have only one target of studied combat at a time, and once a creature has become the target of an investigator's studied combat, he cannot become the target of the same investigator's studied combat again for 24 hours unless the investigator expends one use of inspiration when taking the move action to use this ability.
Studied Strike (Ex): At 4th level, upon successfully hitting his studied target with a melee attack, an investigator can make a studied strike as a free action against that target to deal additional damage. The additional damage is 1d6 at 4th level and increases by 1d6 for every 2 levels thereafter (to a maximum of 9d6 at 20th level). The damage of studied strike is precision damage and is not multiplied on a critical hit; creatures that are immune to sneak attacks are also immune to studied strike.
If the investigator's attack used a weapon that deals nonlethal damage (such as a sap, a whip, or an unarmed strike), he may choose to have the additional damage from studied strike be nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. If the investigator chose to have an attack with a lethal weapon instead deal nonlethal damage (with the usual –4 penalty), the studied strike damage may also deal nonlethal damage.
The investigator must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. An investigator cannot use studied strike against a creature with concealment.
Swift Alchemy (Ex): At 4th level, an investigator can create alchemical items with astounding speed. It takes an investigator half the normal amount of time to create alchemical items. He can also apply poison to a weapon as a move action instead of a standard action.
True Inspiration (Ex): At 20th level, an investigator can use inspiration on all skill checks—even for skills in which he isn't trained—and on all ability checks without spending a use of inspiration.
In addition, whenever he uses inspiration on an ability check, attack roll, saving throw, or skill check, he adds 2d6 rather than 1d6 to the result. Some talents can affect this. If the investigator has the amazing inspiration investigator talent, he rolls 2d8 instead. If the investigator uses this ability with empathy, tenacious inspiration, or a similar talent, he rolls two sets of inspiration dice and uses the higher of the two results.
