Hi all.

Does anyone know how forensics are mostly handled in the Imperium of Men or who is responsible for them? I mean on a civilized or hive world. In our current campaign I used some kind of medicae-adept working for the Magistratum doing the more pathological kind of job while a Tech-Priest from the AM took care of the more physical part of the forensics. Not sure whether this fits and was about to also use a Magos Biologis kind of Tech-Priest for the pathological part either. I remember that in one of the Eisenhorn novels (or so I believe) some kind of forensic-physics were mentioned, but neither can I remember for sure nor what kind of people these were.

Does anyone have an idea or some inspiration in this regard?

Luthor Harkon said:

Definitely get on Matt Farrer´s novel Crossfire , which feature one such investigation performed by Adeptus Arbites. Arbites have, according to this book, CSI-like teams called "Verispex" which perform forensic investigations, all in techy-grimdark style of 40k (so they consult machine spirits,use smell-snatcher and tox-wands, but also, more rudimentary, they inquiry witnesses, collect material proofs...) . They also perform autopsies ("We cannot track his DNA as it was corrupted by neurotoxin hidden in...") and for more scientific actions they could ask help from Mechanicus, Adeptus Astra Telephatica or Inquisition (that´s what Acolytes do!), depending on local state of affairs, custums and so on.

I happen to be reading through the Ravenor trilogy right now. The second book (I believe) portraits a crime investigation, although without much detail. The image I am getting is of fairly standard police work, if perhaps slightly outdated. I am getting the vibe of the (now) old school police series from a decade or two (or even three) ago. Lots of paperwork, some tech stuff but mainly it is up to the cop or detective to put the pieces together through determination, connections and every day police work.

The book also depicts information search through computers (cogitators) in a way that seems very alike to our day internet. At least if you strip internet from all the personal webpages and just keep government stuff.

I think it all depends which level you are looking at. There are clearly things available in the 40K setting that rival or supercedes present day state of the art crime science. For one thing they've got psykers....

At least if there is an Inquisitor doing the investigation. On average the resources at disposal are much, much more mundane. As far as I know even Arbites are pretty high up on the food chain with a good amount of education and tech-stuff. From there on it goes down-hill, fast.....

At least that's what I think, hope it helps.

Indeed, by the time of 40k, one would expect someone with competency (mechanically) in skill in Search, Logic and Medicae bits to all be competent forensics folks.

If someone sets themselves up as attempting a forensics investigation, totally go for it. It'd require a fair bit of kit (as mentioned tox-wands, 3D mapping scanners, psy-trackers etc) to get the details but mechanically, a Search test with bonus modifiers (where appropriate) from things like Scholastic Lore (Chemystry, Numerology, Occult), Chem-Use, Medicae, Logic various Common Lores and such.

Quantifying the various modifiers with a clear set of examples and 'types of situation' where each one applies. (If a bonus were applied invoked where it's not necessary, initial successes would first indicate 'largely ruling it out' before moving through the ones which do apply to this situation? E.g. 'SL Occult' but it was just a mundane murder then adding it's bonus means the first degree of success hints that 'it's probably not an occult killing, none of the forensic markers')

Bringing all this in would certainly give the Acolytes an opportunity to diversify their talents and add extra utility to the likes of Adepts and Tech-priests, allowing a sort of 'pseudo' divination skill (as evidence by lots of the CSI stuff, most forensics isn't that magical). In terms of thematics and rule of cool, there's a ton of opportunity. In terms of simply adding extra variety and real-world models to the game, even more!

Nothing like catching a daemon because it left behind obvious-to-a-mortal evidence! Search seems sensible for the basic, very-highly-detailed core of forensics things, but as said: add in modifiers from presence of other skills as/when needed and appropriate.

TorogTarkdacil said:

Sonds great and I was already looking for the "Shira Calpurnia" series for months, but they are more or less sold out everywhere and only able to get hold of for extreme prices. I always hoped BL would release an omnibus of them soon...

bladerunner_35 said:

Yep, I also read it a few months ago and this helped me a lot for my actual Magistratum inspiration in DH.

Xisor said:

Indeed, but I am more looking for what kind of NPCs or organizations would do this kind of forensic work for the Magistratum, instead of wanting to involve my own players acolytes into this kind of profession too deeply.

Quite right. With regards to the Shira Calpurnia books, they're thankfully released in Omnibus as Enforcer this summer!

With regards to the actual offices and departments, I'd say there's surely forensics branches for even the likes of reasonably well-adept criminal organisations. There's little in the way of canon puiblished outlining such things beyond those already mentioned, but I could see them in a hundred 'walks of life'. Small teams of former 'professionals' now making a buck on the side. Mechanicus Materium-Inspectogators could be loaned out on the basis of gaining knowledge vs returned results once their done. A Rogue Trader who travels with 'all the best mod cons' from sat-nav to his own private CSI division. Established Inquisitors (or those entrenched in the running of their ordos) would likely employ hordes of skilled acolytes (or lesser operatives). Governments, Arbites, enforcers, private-security, flesh-auditors, Ecclessiastical Moral Police...

It's a tad obvious to say 'it depends where they are', but the general work ethic and effectiveness of them is pretty basic. A lone PI can achieve so much, but even the most awesomely well equipped Mechanicus Verispectors with a continent's worth of data-looms might still miss vital clues.

As I mentiond with the 'varied skills' mechanism, if you have characters who have a bit of spare time within their history, suggest to them that the 'origins of their skill' might come from actual forensics training! At very basic levels, it's also a good opportunity for sourcing regular/decent contacts (as per Inquisitor's Handbook ).

Luthor Harkon said:

Why make it more complicated than it has to be? Just have the Magistratum personnel investigate the crime scene, taking picts, documenting etc. and let a Magos Biologis do the autopsy at the local morgue. Or am I misunderstanding what it is you are after?

I'd say the local police force have their own, local, ways of investigating crimes. Some are good, some are not. Some use forensics, some ggo for "Salem Witch Trials" -style with spectral evidence based on dreams of 9 year old girl... It all depends on the world you are in.

The Adeptus Arbites are another thing. They have their own Verispex teams with standards on the level of forensics work and regularly consult Adeptus Mechanicus in forensic analysis. But then again Arbites ain't really interested in everyday crime. They are more like FBI and you know things are serious just because they show up at all.

As on inspiration I warmly recommend Crossfire from Shira Calpurnia series. Stay away from Legacy unless you are bored, though, its horribad and 95% of it is rogue trader intrigue with little or no mention fo Arbites.

Polaria said:

Actualy Rogue Traders are some 70%, Ecclesiarchy 15% and Arbites 15% as well. But it doesn´t mean it´s not a great novel. One of the BL best.