Difference between revisions of "Investigation"

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==Pointer==
 
==Pointer==
Once you possess a clue you immediately [[inspect]] it, and make a check against [[study]]. If the check succeeds you gain a pointer from the clue. If the check fails you have a penalty to all future attempts to inspect the clue. Extra tries require a project, and any failures add more penalties. If there are no more pointers to discover, a successful check will tell you so. Pointers are small statements linked to the clue, usually to a person, object, or another location. Following pointers may lead to new clues, and pointers themselves are used to solve a mystery. Not every pointer on a clue may be valid for solving a mystery. Some clues may have no valid pointers at all, or pointers for two different mysteries. If you use an invalid pointer to solve a mystery, it spoils the proof and you fail (often with disastrous consequences for the wrong culprit or an unprotected victim). A pointer may be [[intricate]], forcing a penalty on your inspect check.
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Once you possess a clue you immediately [[inspect]] it, and make a check against [[scholarship]]. If the check succeeds you gain a pointer from the clue. If the check fails you have a penalty to all future attempts to inspect the clue. Extra tries require a project, and any failures add more penalties. If there are no more pointers to discover, a successful check will tell you so. Pointers are small statements linked to the clue, usually to a person, object, or another location. Following pointers may lead to new clues, and pointers themselves are used to solve a mystery. Not every pointer on a clue may be valid for solving a mystery. Some clues may have no valid pointers at all, or pointers for two different mysteries. If you use an invalid pointer to solve a mystery, it spoils the proof and you fail (often with disastrous consequences for the wrong culprit or an unprotected victim). A pointer may be [[intricate]], forcing a penalty on your inspect check.
  
 
==Fraud==
 
==Fraud==

Revision as of 04:53, 30 October 2015

In an investigation the band seeks clues to prove the solution to a mystery. You can become involved in a mystery either by finding a clue or by talking denizens who need the mystery solved. Investigations usually happen during narration, but may be interspersed between different game sessions and other modes. The most notable thing about an investigation is the solution may be completely obvious to you, but you can't get credit or rewards until you can back your solution up with a certain number of legitimate clues. Figuring out the mystery before you have all the clues just makes gathering the correct clues easier. You present your clues to a judge, and then gain the rewards if the clues are correct. If you were hired to solve a mystery the judge is likely the individual who hired you. Otherwise the judge is usually a ranking official, or someone who has the authority to act on your solution.

Clue

You may search for clues in any location. Clues are objects related to a mystery, and are treated like any other asset. There is no check for clues, you simply find them if you look. If clues are inaccessible the referee instead notes that clues are present. A perception check may be required to find places where inaccessible clues may be (such as on a person, or locked somewhere out of reach), but even if the check fails you know clues are present somewhere in the location.

Pointer

Once you possess a clue you immediately inspect it, and make a check against scholarship. If the check succeeds you gain a pointer from the clue. If the check fails you have a penalty to all future attempts to inspect the clue. Extra tries require a project, and any failures add more penalties. If there are no more pointers to discover, a successful check will tell you so. Pointers are small statements linked to the clue, usually to a person, object, or another location. Following pointers may lead to new clues, and pointers themselves are used to solve a mystery. Not every pointer on a clue may be valid for solving a mystery. Some clues may have no valid pointers at all, or pointers for two different mysteries. If you use an invalid pointer to solve a mystery, it spoils the proof and you fail (often with disastrous consequences for the wrong culprit or an unprotected victim). A pointer may be intricate, forcing a penalty on your inspect check.

Fraud

You can use a project to create a fraudulent clue with a scam sneak check. You create pointers up to your success margin, plus a pointer back to yourself. If you fail, the margin is the number of witnesses that see you plant the fraudulent clue. The same kind of check may be used to create forged documents if you have the materials.

Cue

A cue is similar to a clue, but is not a physical piece of evidence you may pick up and examine. A cue is not automatically detected, it is usually seen as the result of a perception check or gained as a reward. A cue can not be possessed or inspected, but some abilities or devices may allow you to turn a cue into a clue such as a picture, journal, or a recording. A cue has only one pointer, and if you find the cue you automatically gain the pointer. A cue's pointer may be used in a proof. Examples of cues can include tracks, overheard conversations, and subtle patterns.

Proof

To solve a mystery and get the reward you must have proof. During a proof you must present a minimum number of correct pointers to a judge. If too few pointers are presented the proof fails and the investigation continues. If enough pointers are presented but any of them are not valid for the mystery then the proof fails. You gain no reward (so it is clear it failed) but the mystery concludes and the judge will act on the false proof. A failed proof may cause a tragedy such as an innocent suspect being convicted, or the true perpetrator striking again. You must find an additional pointer to add to your proof before you can offer it again. A correct proof may mitigate effects of the failure but you still won't receive the normal reward. Rewards for a successful proof vary, but could include completed goals, gained assets, or even clues to deeper mysteries. A standard mystery requires 3 pointers to solve. More complex a mysteries may require 5 or more pointers, but offer richer rewards as compensation.

Special Investigations

  • Conspiracy. The reward for solving a mystery may be a clue to a deeper mystery. Conspiracies are usually made up entirely of such clues, so you have to successfully prove multiple mysteries to even have a chance at solving the conspiracy. Even finding a judge can present a challenge.
  • Puzzle. The clues are all information about the solution of the puzzle, and using the correct pointers in the correct order will solve it. Puzzles will often have time limits, and may even occur during the rounds of an encounter.
  • Trial. A mixture of investigation and a dispute. Using a pointer grants you a bonus when trying to convince the audience, and a successful proof grants you the authority assistance regardless of the actual social ranks involved.

See Also



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