Hello everyone!

As I've mentioned here and there before, I have a new Player that wants to join my campaign sometime this month.

He wants to play a detective type character that is ex ISB. After a job gone wrong he decides to work freelance, for the greater good of the universe, and leave the Empire behind.

Anyway, I've seen speculation on here that there may or may not be a Detective spec in the Bounty Hunter book, but on the chance that there isn't, it's probably not worth it waiting on that when said player wants to join this month.

As it stands I would suggest to him the Colonist Marshal, or maybe the Hired Gun Enforcer. Those seem adequate in terms of mixing social and combat capabilities.

How would you tailor a Private Detective character? Any suggestions are very welcome!

Thank you!

Detectives need to be quite generalist in many respects, a good amount of social, some combat, stealth, streetwise and knowledge required. Marshal is the closest, only lacking in the Stealth side of things, and some specialist talents.

The other Social and Combat spec is Performer which is actually quite a good option too, a little combat, a good amount of social, no stealth though.

So far the only single Specialisation that does Social and Stealth very well is the Sentinel Shadow from Force and Destiny, its amazing for a Detective, so long as you don't want combat skills.

For Stealth and Combat combinations the Assassin and Infiltrator rule the roost.

Hopefully an actual Detective comes out in either the Spy or Bounty Hunter books.

Cool!

I DO have access to ALL currently available career books. I'll look more into Sentinel Shadow once I get home from work.

We do kinda want to keep it low-fantasy as far as flailing lighsabers around goes, but said player also wants to be force sensitive eventually, justified through being at the Jedi Temple as a kid for a brief period before Order 66.

So maybe I'll consider a FaD class, I'd have to confirm with the rest of the cast though, since when we originally started we only had the Edge CRB.

Thanks for the pointers!

In this system beginning Force Users are very under powered compared to what most Players expectations are. The Shadow also has zero combat skills. If that's the specialisation they choose then the Influence Force Power is quite good for enhancing their social skills.

The other Spec I didn't mention was the Smuggler Scoundrel and Smuggler Thief, both good options, but again nothing gets everything element of a Private Eye.

If I recall, the back of Far Horizons had some ideas for multi spec characters, among them, a Marshal/Thief, with Good Cop/Bad Cop and Stalker, actually fits the concept really well, and though I personally haven't played one, on paper, seems a solid combo

As private investigator isn't a teaching profession as such, the question should be: What did he do before; as you said he's got an intelligence background. So, he began a Spy I'd say. What happened next?

If there are any deficits in the beginning, it's up to you as the GM to prevent those from crippling the character.

I prefer my players choosing their specs according to the story. If that means necessary and well-explained cross-career specs during creation, I'd rather waive the off-career penalty than enforcing awkward choices.

When the narrative is consistent, I can be very generous. The smell of powergaming, that's what's going to make me niggardly.

As Richard already pointed out: The PI is a generalist, but his most important skill, to me, is Streetwise, then maybe Cool and Charme. I do believe a Charmer would make an excellent investigator.

In this system beginning Force Users are very under powered compared to what most Players expectations are. The Shadow also has zero combat skills. If that's the specialisation they choose then the Influence Force Power is quite good for enhancing their social skills.

The other Spec I didn't mention was the Smuggler Scoundrel and Smuggler Thief, both good options, but again nothing gets everything element of a Private Eye.

I'm not really worried about power, more about general "jealousy" from the other PCs, if that makes sense. Thus I would like to convene with them first.

I also thought about the Smuggler specs, but they didn't seem to go with the things the Detective PC had in mind.

As private investigator isn't a teaching profession as such, the question should be: What did he do before; as you said he's got an intelligence background. So, he began a Spy I'd say. What happened next?

If there are any deficits in the beginning, it's up to you as the GM to prevent those from crippling the character.

I prefer my players choosing their specs according to the story. If that means necessary and well-explained cross-career specs during creation, I'd rather waive the off-career penalty than enforcing awkward choices.

When the narrative is consistent, I can be very generous. The smell of powergaming, that's what's going to make me niggardly.

As Richard already pointed out: The PI is a generalist, but his most important skill, to me, is Streetwise, then maybe Cool and Charme. I do believe a Charmer would make an excellent investigator.

We are very much at the beginning of the process. He dropped this Idea this morning on me, basically a couple hours ago.

The other PCs are at ~250 XP, so I intent to boost the Detective a little, so multiple trees are not out of the question.

I'll also look at the Spy more closely once I get back to my books, thank you.

With that much extra XP the Marshall and Charmer specs are really the best combination, it hits all but the stealth options and has some very thematic talents.

If they do want the Shadow option then Shadow and Marshal make a great combination, the Shadows Well Rounded lets you fill any little gaps the Player sees in the skill list too, such as Charm

One more thing: I have a slight problem with a force-sensitive ISB-agent who hasn't been put to "other use", just saying.

It would be hard enough getting away from them, even so.

Marshal is ideal for a civilian detective, most of the talents are designed to simulate a 'film noir' private eye like Sam Spade.

The Force Sensetivity gives s good reason for the character to be on the run from the Empire, completely self taught and in hiding.

One more thing: I have a slight problem with a force-sensitive ISB-agent who hasn't been put to "other use", just saying.

It would be hard enough getting away from them, even so.

The Force Sensetivity gives s good reason for the character to be on the run from the Empire, completely self taught and in hiding.

Yeah, that part could use some more fleshing out.

As is, his time at the Temple before Order 66 was less than a year as a youngling. He was put into hiding by a Jedi Master just before everything went down the drain.

I thought it would be a good appraoch to have him re-discover his affinity to the force. Maybe because of trauma he didn't remember ever being at the Temple until recently.

Maybe one more reason to shy-away from a FaD "starting" career.

The other PCs also recently screwed the Empire over big-time, leaving minimal evidence. A good reason to have the ISB invloved anyway, and maybe build them into the Detectives obligation.

Thanks again! Really turning my gears big time right now.

Happy to help

If I recall, the Shadow (The Shadow?!) has the Well Rounded talent. That could make up for some of the holes the specialization may have, such as a lack of combat skills.

Nice, as I said before, I'll check it out.

Also, thank you for reminding me that this exists.

Hello everyone!

As I've mentioned here and there before, I have a new Player that wants to join my campaign sometime this month.

He wants to play a detective type character that is ex ISB. After a job gone wrong he decides to work freelance, for the greater good of the universe, and leave the Empire behind.

Anyway, I've seen speculation on here that there may or may not be a Detective spec in the Bounty Hunter book, but on the chance that there isn't, it's probably not worth it waiting on that when said player wants to join this month.

As it stands I would suggest to him the Colonist Marshal, or maybe the Hired Gun Enforcer. Those seem adequate in terms of mixing social and combat capabilities.

How would you tailor a Private Detective character? Any suggestions are very welcome!

Thank you!

When looking for specs, I'd recommend focusing less on "this job needs a specialized spec specifically for it" and more on "what spec fits how this particular character does the job I want him to have?"

Also, work with the player, and see if any spec is close, and then maybe swap out one or two talents -- it's not as if the the specs-as-published are sacred writ.

With that much extra XP the Marshall and Charmer specs are really the best combination, it hits all but the stealth options and has some very thematic talents.

If they do want the Shadow option then Shadow and Marshal make a great combination, the Shadows Well Rounded lets you fill any little gaps the Player sees in the skill list too, such as Charm

Of course the player could always just invest in the stealth skill without taking a specialization devoted to stealth. I guess it depends on how much sneaking around he expects to do, versus social/combat stuff. Never underestimate the power of just a few yellow dice and some greens, even without talents.

Why would a detective type need Stealth? Well, unless you're playing Batman

It seems like a straight-up Marshal is all you would need. If Stealth is really a must-have check into Big-Game Hunter. I'm not all that sure about the talents, but in terms of skills it looks like a win, with Ranged(Heavy) (for when a pistol just won't do), Knowledge(Xenology) (which I think would come in handy for a detective), Stealth and even Survival added in.

EDIT: nevermind my first comment. I was thinking "police detective" not your classic private investigator type. Still, BGH seems like a good fit - possibly more so from a PI point of view.

Why would a detective type need Stealth? Well, unless you're playing Batman

It seems like a straight-up Marshal is all you would need. If Stealth is really a must-have check into Big-Game Hunter. I'm not all that sure about the talents, but in terms of skills it looks like a win, with Ranged(Heavy) (for when a pistol just won't do), Knowledge(Xenology) (which I think would come in handy for a detective), Stealth and even Survival added in.

EDIT: nevermind my first comment. I was thinking "police detective" not your classic private investigator type. Still, BGH seems like a good fit - possibly more so from a PI point of view.

Most detective stereotypes end up having to go into places where people don't want them to go, to get information being kept hidden. So yeah, having at least some ability to sneak around is reasonable for the archetype.

Gambler or Thief.

Don't forget about the Analyst from the Desperate Allies book. A good amount of a PI's work comes down to research, and nothing beats the Analyst.

The best combination for an ISB agent/PI from my perspective would be a Marshall/Analyst - though if taken more from the military/ISB background you could easily use Analyst/Recruit, which specifically works well for someone like Kirtan Loor from the X-Wing books.

If he want's that classic film noir thing, I'd go Marshall/Enforcer.

"Ex-CIA operative" which fits the whole ex-Imp thing he's talking about - Spy/Marshall or Spy/Enforcer.

Don't get too hung up on the names, or even the fluff text - just look at the Skills and Talents... and have a think about Talent synergy.

Have fun - it sounds like he's got a great concept...

It's funny no one (including me) has talked about the Spy career, one that should have this exact spec in it! Just shows the gap the Spy book will hopefully fill.

I do love the infiltrator, but it's talents are so heavily melee combat, it does have all the right skills though, so you could definitely make it work. Unfortunately I think it's the design of the talent tree that turns everyone away, it's very limiting.

Just had the thought that your player could start with Spy Scout and pick up Marshal, it gets them all sorts of useful skills and a broad mix of talents from sneaking to social and combat.

Don't forget about the Analyst from the Desperate Allies book. A good amount of a PI's work comes down to research, and nothing beats the Analyst.

The best combination for an ISB agent/PI from my perspective would be a Marshall/Analyst - though if taken more from the military/ISB background you could easily use Analyst/Recruit, which specifically works well for someone like Kirtan Loor from the X-Wing books.

This is great. We just looked at it and it's really the kinda knowledge based stuff that was kinda missing from the whole picture.

It's funny no one (including me) has talked about the Spy career, one that should have this exact spec in it! Just shows the gap the Spy book will hopefully fill.

I do love the infiltrator, but it's talents are so heavily melee combat, it does have all the right skills though, so you could definitely make it work. Unfortunately I think it's the design of the talent tree that turns everyone away, it's very limiting.

Just had the thought that your player could start with Spy Scout and pick up Marshal, it gets them all sorts of useful skills and a broad mix of talents from sneaking to social and combat.

Yeah, we looked at the Spy and were kinda bummed that the Infiltrator is so combat heavy.

Scout would fill the stealh hole, but thats kinda on the backburner for him.

He really likes the Marshal tree and the investigative nature of the Analyst. Later he'll probably pick up Force Emergent, wich has a little stealth in it and the Influence Power to round things out.

Again, thanks to everyone for the great suggestions!