Investigate

**Check:** A character generally uses Perception to discover clues and Investigate to analyze them. If the character has access to a crime lab, the character uses the Investigate skill to collect and prepare samples for the lab. The result of the Investigate check provides bonuses or penalties to the lab workers.

**Analyze Clue:** The character can make an Investigate check to apply forensics knowledge to a clue. This function of the Investigate skill does not give the character clues where none existed before. It simply allows the character to extract extra information from a clue he or she has found.

The base DC to analyze a clue is 15. It is modified by the time that has elapsed since the clue was left, and whether or not the scene was disturbed.

 Scene is outdoors
 Scene slightly disturbed
 Scene moderately disturbed
 Scene extremely disturbed

**Collect Evidence:** The character can collect and prepare evidentiary material for a lab. This use of the Investigate skill requires an evidence kit.

To collect a piece of evidence, make an Investigate check (DC 15). If the character succeeds, the evidence is usable by a crime lab. If the character fails, a crime lab analysis can be done, but the lab takes a -5 penalty on any necessary check. If the character fails by 5 or more, the lab analysis simply cannot be done. On the other hand, if the character succeeds by 10 or more, the lab gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its checks to analyze the material.

This function of the Investigate skill does not provide the character with evidentiary items. It simply allows the character to collect items he or she has found in a manner that best aids in their analysis later, at a crime lab.

**Try Again?:** Generally, analyzing a clue again doesn’t add new insight unless another clue is introduced. Evidence collected cannot be recollected, unless there is more of it to take.

**Special:** A character can take 10 when making an Investigate check, but cannot take 20.

Collecting evidence requires an evidence kit. If the character does not have the appropriate kit, the character takes a -4 penalty on his or her check.

**Time:** Analyzing a clue is a full-round action. Collecting evidence generally takes 1d4 minutes per object.

**Research**

Investigation can also be utilized outside of a forensics lab and it can be used for researching information on various topics.

**Check:** Researching a topic takes time, skill, and some luck. The GM determines how obscure a particular topic is (the more obscure, the higher the DC) and what kind of information might be available depending on where the character is conducting his or her research.

Information ranges from general to protected. Given enough time (usually 1d4 hours) and a successful skill check, the character gets a general idea about a given topic. This assumes that no obvious reasons exist why such information would be unavailable, and that the character has a way to acquire restricted or protected information.

The higher the check result, the better and more complete the information. If the character wants to discover a specific fact, date, map, or similar bit of information, add +5 to +15 to the DC.

**Connect the dots**

You can attempt to connect knowledge you already possess with new information that you discover through research and investigation. If researching a topic for an extensive period of time, you gain a +2 bonus to associated knowledge topics for 24 hours afterward. If a knowledge check was failed previously and research was done on the topic, you are allowed another knowledge check at a +4 bonus to see if you can connect this new research to what you already know.

**Try Again?:** Yes.

**Special:** A character can take 10 or take 20 on a Research check.

Computer Use can provide a +2 synergy bonus on a Research check when searching computer records for data (see Skill Synergy).

**Time:** A Research check takes 1d4 hours.

**Investigate Unchained**

Characters who have selected the signature skill feat for investigate unlock additional abilities when they attain 5, 10, 15, and 20 ranks in a skill.

With sufficient ranks in Investigate, you earn the following.

**5 Ranks**: The DC for investigating based on the number of days passed only begins increasing after two days. If researching to find a specific bit of information, the increased DC difficulty from searching for specific information is -2 lower than it would have been otherwise.

**10 Ranks**: Your evidence is only unusable if the check fails by 10 or more. If researching, it only takes 1d3 hours now.

**15 Ranks**: If the investigation check succeeds by 5 or more the lab gains a +2 circumstance bonus for analyzing it. If the check succeeds by 10 or more it grants a +4. If researching, The increased DC difficulty from searching for specific information is -5 lower than it would have been otherwise.

**20 Ranks**: Researching only takes 1d2 hours, When investigating a scene that has been disturbed, lower the level it has been disturbed by one step.