Traits for an Investigator

[Ooze licker]

Half Elf Investigator - any ideas on what traits to pick?

The only one I'm considering at the moment is the one that let's you use your INT for a CHA skill (diplomacy).

[Ooze licker]

I've taken Empiricist archetype.

[Some Other Guy]

Student of Philosophy gives you Int instead of Cha to diplomacy to change attitudes and bluff to convince the truth.

Clever Wordplay gives you Int instead of Cha to the skill of your choice.

Bruising Intellect gives Int instead of Cha to intimidate.

Armor Expert lets you wear a mithral breastplate with no penalties.

One of the +2 initiative ones is always good.

Something to increase fortitude saves is also good.

And there's other cheese ones like Finding Haleen, one that is equivalent to uncanny dodge, Fate's Favored, and others I can't remember.

[Ascalaphus]

I'm a fan of Inspired, it lets you reroll one skill check per day. If you're gonna be a skillmonkey, better be really good at it.

[Deadmanwalking]

Student of Philosophy effectively allows Int on both Bluff (for everything but feinting) and (in combination with Empiricist) all Diplomacy. Take that.

For your other Trait, as Some Other Guy notes an initiative or Save booster is always solid. While Armor Expert can be handy and Fate's Favored is good if you ever get Luck bonuses. Inspired is a solid choice, too.

[Ascalaphus]

Fate's Favored is of course a good trait, but not nearly as good for you since neither your class nor race grants luck bonuses. Not as good as it is for half-orc inquisitors for example.

Armor Expert... depends. If you're going for high Dexterity, there's something to be said for Mithral Kikko instead. At Dex 24+, it's just as effective as Mithral Breastplate, but no trait required.

Inspired is better for investigators I think, than for many other classes, because it gives you the ability to become exceptionally reliable with skills. It's generally a sound strategy to take the strong point of a class and exaggerate that even further. Your inspiration class ability already makes skills reliable, but the trait will help you out when that's not enough.

[graystone]

Deadmanwalking wrote:

Student of Philosophy effectively allows Int on both Bluff (for everything but feinting) and (in combination with Empiricist) all Diplomacy. Take that.

This. It's an awesome combo. For the other... Either one to buff weak areas (like saves) or Precise Treatment.

[Just a Guess]

Alchemical Prodigy (Newer Version) wrote:

Benefit(s): If you have the alchemy class feature, your alchemist level is considered 1 higher when calculating the duration of your extracts.

[Ooze licker]

Students of philosophy it is - too good to pass up, thanks for all the suggestions!