As an Investigator, can I just make a note of every clue I see in my notebook, without starting an investigation. Then when it's convenient for me see "a sketch" or "a note" in my own notebook to Pursue a Lead on that? I would like to know if I can just use this to avoid locking myself out of pursing that lead later that day.
For example, I see footprints of a creature, but I have 2 leads already, so I just sketch the footprints, to later on Pursue a Lead from this sketch.
On one hand the Pursue a Lead text mentions I can use hasty sketch of an item or location to start investigation, on the other hand I can also use it to make my own clues to start investigations on anything at all, and I feel like it might be abusing a system a bit?
Yeah, it does seem like something that is a bit too much. The quantity limit on investigations is there - and should be meaningful.
I think the RAI would be that you can Pursue a Lead when you first see the sketch (generally a sketch shown to you by an NPC controlled by the GM) and if you don't do it then, you don't automatically get the opportunity to do it later. Something significant (as determined by GM) has to happen in order for that to be available again.
There are ways of allowing this sketchbook idea without it being a trivialization of the limits of Pursue a Lead investigations. One possibility would be a secret check to create the sketch. Probably Society, Crafting, or maybe Performance. Only successful checks will result in a sketch good enough to be used later to Pursue a Lead on.
The Pursue a Lead allows a sketch to be used as a clue
Pursue a Lead wrote:
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.
If I see a footprint and make a sketch of how I imagine the Creature that left it I should be able to later use that sketch to Pursue a Lead with that Creature as subject of investigation.
But it doesn't have to be a sketch. If I make notes of information I gather, without pursuing a lead, now my notes are a clue themselves, that I can investigate later.
For example I might not want to start investigation on mysterious person that is poisoning a well, because I expect to meet her late in the story, but I can just put details I know on the person in my notebook. In meanwhile I can use my active lead slots on more immediate and small investigations, get free DaS against her minion etc. All that without risking to have to forget a lead on the original person and be locked out of ability to later return to investigating her.
I know there's 2nd level feat Solid Lead, but that doesn't solve every situation where I might lock myself out of important lead...
Yeah, it does seem like something that is a bit too much. The quantity limit on investigations is there - and should be meaningful.
I think the RAI would be that you can Pursue a Lead when you first see the sketch (generally a sketch shown to you by an NPC controlled by the GM) and if you don't do it then, you don't automatically get the opportunity to do it later. Something significant (as determined by GM) has to happen in order for that to be available again.
There are ways of allowing this sketchbook idea without it being a trivialization of the limits of Pursue a Lead investigations. One possibility would be a secret check to create the sketch. Probably Society, Crafting, or maybe Performance. Only successful checks will result in a sketch good enough to be used later to Pursue a Lead on.
Now I've noticed that you updated the original answer. Yeah, what you wrote sounds very sensible.
Yeah, I'm kinda hoping that Investigator gets some pretty noticeable changes to several of its mechanics.
They have. The video that I linked to covers them.
Spoiler:
Pursue a Lead got some clarifications that should make things run much more smoothly for both players and GMs.
Devise a Stratagem got a consolation prize for when your roll is too low to make an attack. (It doesn't interfere with the various options that people have using up until now.)
But the big one is the Person of Interest feat. It's like Hunt Prey for Investigators.
I like what I saw in the video. It's very cool that investigations are now questions and free action Stratagem will be awarded for all related NPCs, so players won't have to constantly pursue new leads. For example if I make "The case of stolen goods" and the question would be "Where is the stolen gold hidden?" there's good probability any bandit related to the heist would be free Devise a Stratagem.
Skill Stratagem is awesome.
One more change to Pursuit a Lead I like is the fact that GM will tell the player if there's a bigger mystery at play when the Investigator tries to investigate. There were cases, when I was DMing for Investigator and I knew the clue investigator found is not related to anything, which I tended to point out. I like that it's now codified in the rules.
Person of Interest feat, is like Gisher wrote, is pretty much Hunt Prey for Investigators. Wow.
I think those changes will really improve how Investigator plays and feels for both players and GMs.
I appreciate moving Red Herring from a feat to a basic mechanic to higlight that it's not a lie detector or a shortcut, it's just a safeguard against investigators losing their limited lead "slots" because somebody got a little too obsessed with a bit of set dressing. I think the feat name confused GMs because it doesn't detect actual red herrings.
E.g. If the murder victim's spouse doesn't have an alibi because they're not willing to disclose that they were with a lover at the time, you get a lead. If the Victim's spouse truthfully says they were in a pub but the players are determined to check the alibi, you don't need to give up on an actually promising lead.
