Investigator - Persue a Lead

[Darche Schneider]

Okay, trying to figure out how exactly to get this to go off so that you can use Devise a Stratagem as a free action.

Like if you're coming up against a boss enemy, sure. But like what about normal combat issues?

[Puna'chong]

I think this'll ultimately be up to the DM, but if you're thinking about it you might be able to figure out a broad enough investigation. Is a thug in the warehouse a "subject" of your lead in tracking down the crime boss, or is it just the crime boss?

Otherwise you'd need to find a way to scout ahead, know the creature is coming up, and then find a clue related to that creature, spend a minute examining it, and then go fight it. Or convince your DM that the room with the creature, or the warehouse mentioned above is the subject. The "scope" of the investigation is pretty squishy.

I'm sure there are other ways with feats (I haven't looked too closely), but at level 1 it seems you have to be careful and specific about what you choose as your lead or find a way to scout if you want to preemptively get DaS as a free action.

[Seisho]

The easiest thing would probably be if you are about to take down some kind of evil organisation sinc you can have a clue on the organisation itself and that might qualify all members of that organisation as suspects and stratagem targets

[Aswaarg]

Having a broad subject should not apply to specific subjects of that larger topic. If the subject is a room, you should get the bonud to investigatethe room (not the creatures inside, not the objects that you find, those are independent subjects). If the subject is an organization (a cult for example), you should get the bonus for investigating the cult, but each person in the cult is an independent subject, each room in a church of the cult is an individual subject, etc.

But this is my opinion, I am sure there is going to be a lot if GM variation.

Regarding the question of the post. First of all, I think geting Devise Stratagem on every combat would be too good to be true. You have to build your Investigator thinking that your Devise is going to cost an action always, and in some rare cases you will get the free Devise.

Of course there are ways to improve the chance of making a subject from the next fight, for example you could capture an enemy and make it talk about what is awaiting you, or as said before, having someone doing some recon for you (you dont need to do the stealh, they can tell you what the saw).

[Ascalaphus]

You can't do a "broad enough investigation" to catch all the mooks in it. Look at Pursue a Lead:

APG p. 56 wrote:

You spend 1 minute examining the details of one potential clue, designating the subject related to that clue as the target of your active investigation. This subject is typically a single creature, item, or small location (such as a room or corridor), but the GM might allow a different scope for your investigation. You don’t need to know the identity, purpose, or nature of the subject, but you do need to be aware of its existence. For instance, finding a footprint is enough to investigate the creature that left it, and seeing a hasty sketch of an item or location can be enough to start your investigation of that subject.

Obviously if you have a sweetheart GM who lets you pick something bigger, you can. But the intent of the ability is narrow focused investigations, and you'll get the advantage against a single creature if and only if you found clues pointing at that creature.

[shroudb]

there is a level 10 feat that allows you to do exactly that once per hour, allowing a level 1 investigation to duplicate and massively improve upon that (getting the bonus against every member of an organisation, or everone in a location as an example) is just too much to ask.