Investigator
Hit Die: d8.
Skill Ranks per Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Alignment: Any.
Source: Advanced Class Guide, p. 30
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
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).
Table: Investigator
| Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special | Spells per Day 1st | Spells per Day 2nd | Spells per Day 3rd | Spells per Day 4th | Spells per Day 5th | Spells per Day 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 book. Inspiration can also be used | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Class Features
Alchemy (Su) level 1
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 Table 1–8: Investigator. 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 (Advanced Player’s Guide 32) 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, Classes 1 Table 1–8: Investigator Base Attack Fort Ref Will Extracts per Day Level Bonus Save Save Save Special 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 1st +0 +0 +2 +2 Alchemy, inspiration, trapfinding — — — — — 2nd +1 +0 +3 +3 Poison lore, poison resistance +2 — — — — — 3rd +2 +1 +3 +3 Investigator talent, keen recollection, — — — — — trap sense +1 4th +3 +1 +4 +4 Studied combat, studied strike +1d6, — — — — swift alchemy 5th +3 +1 +4 +4 Investigator talent, poison resistance +4 — — — — 6th +4 +2 +5 +5 Studied strike +2d6, trap sense +2 — — — — 7th +5 +2 +5 +5 Investigator talent — — — 8th +6/+1 +2 +6 +6 Poison resistance +6, studied strike +3d6 — — — 9th +6/+1 +3 +6 +6 Investigator talent, trap sense +3 — — — 10th +7/+2 +3 +7 +7 Studied strike +4d6 — — 11th +8/+3 +3 +7 +7 Investigator talent, poison immunity — — 12th +9/+4 +4 +8 +8 Studied strike +5d6, trap sense +4 — — 13th +9/+4 +4 +8 +8 Investigator talent — 14th +10/+5 +4 +9 +9 Studied strike +6d6 — 15th +11/+6/+1 +5 +9 +9 Investigator talent, trap sense +5 — 16th +12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +10 Studied strike +7d6 17th +12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +10 Investigator talent 18th +13/+8/+3 +6 +11 +11 Studied strike +8d6, trap sense +6 19th +14/+9/+4 +6 +11 +11 Investigator talent 20th +15/+10/+5 +6 +12 +12 Studied strike +9d6, true inspiration 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) level 1
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 level 1
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) level 2
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) level 2
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.
21 more under Poison Resistance: Alchemist Discovery, Amazing Inspiration, Combat Inspiration, Device Talent, Effortless Aid, Eidetic Recollection, Expanded Inspiration, Greater Combat Inspiration, Hidden Agendas, Inspirational Expertise, Inspired Alertness, Inspired Intelligence, Inspired Intimidator, Item Lore, Perceptive Tracking, Quick Study, Rogue Talent, Studied Defense, Tenacious Inspiration, Unconventional Inspiration, Underworld Inspiration
Keen Recollection level 3
At 3rd level, an investigator can attempt all Knowledge checks untrained.
Trap Sense (Ex) level 3
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) level 4
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) level 4
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) level 4
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.
1 more under Swift Alchemy: True Inspiration
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.