Investigative abilities are divided into the following sub-groups: Studious, Interpersonal, and Technical. The purpose of the sub-groups is to allow you to quickly find the best ability for the task during play, by scanning the most likely portion of the overall list.
| Recent Updates | Updated descriptions for: Embezzle; Numismatics; Occult Studies |
Investigative abilities are central to any GUMSHOE character; they enable you to gather information and drive the plot forward. The number of points each player spends on investigative abilities varies according to the number of regularly attending players, according to the following table. The GM leads the group through the list of investigative build points, ensuring that each one of them is covered by at least one member of the group.
| # of players | Investigative Build Points |
|---|---|
| 2 | 31pts |
| 3 | 23pts |
| 4 | 21pts |
| 5+ | 19pts |
You’re an expert in the dry and dusty matters of human existence, with an emphasis on matters political, historical and cultural. You can:
You’re trained in the properties, interactions and practical applications in combination of essential substances, metals and prime matter. You can:
You’re an expert in assessing the value or quality of goods and artefacts. You can:
You know how buildings are planned and constructed. You can:
You’re an expert on works of art from an aesthetic and technical point of view. You can:
You study celestial objects, including the stars, planets, comets, meteors and so forth. You can:
You convince people of your authority, right of access, or commonality of purpose with a stream of nonsensical or inconsequential talk.
You know your way around a bureaucratic organisation, and the wheels within wheels that negotiating one entails, whether it’s a government official or some jobs worthy guild clerk. You know how to get what you want and expedite a meaningful outcome with a minimum of fuss. You can:
You have experience with the reading, interpretation, and creation of maps.
You have a way with words combined with the imbibing of strong drink that enables you to loosen jaws and open tight lips in a convivial atmosphere of candour and good will. You have a measured and carefully managed approach that allows you to extract and sift through a stream of (often increasingly dubious) information, while also keeping your head clear and faculties intact.
You’re an expert at breaking and making codes, ciphers, referential symbology and similar mechanisms intend to obscure and wrong-foot in the communication of sensitive information through accessible channels.
You possess expertise in matters of accounting, which you can exercise to interpret the incomes and outgoings of an individual, business or estate. You can:
You know how to engage and hang around with members of social classes other than your own, chatting and exchanging thoughts with them in a way compatible with their world view. You are comfortable with the nuisances and idiosyncrasies of groups both common and urbane. You can:
Note: this ability confers neither fame nor notoriety. It cannot replace actual contacts and networks, referencing vague and acceptable gossip and trends.
You’re adept at locating, extracting and storing important clues and finds. You can:
You are an expert in the principles and structures underlying languages. You can speak a smattering of different languages, sufficient for the basics of conversation, while also understanding the essential rules and structures that form each tongue. You can:
For each point assigned to Linguistics, you can choose a specific language of the Old World as an area of more indepth understanding. You can read and write any chosen language with greater fluency and confidence, handling more esoteric or technical texts or engaging with heavily accented locals.
You study coins, tokens and medals and can:
You’re an expert in the theories and superstitions that surround the business of magic.
Your knowledge of the occult does not confer any ability to work magic, summon otherworldly entities, ward against preternatural foes, or otherwise mess with powers best left well alone. You can, at best, fake your way through a ritual or pass your grasp of occult lore off as the informed ravings of a fellow believer.
You’re familiar with occupational disciplines, and broadly acquainted with their regional, cultural and social variations, idiosyncracies and practices. Any points allocated to Profession must be assigned to a specific field of knowledge, including:
You get people to do what you want by putting them at ease. You can:
You understand and can communicate in forms of non-verbal communication. For each point assigned to Secret Signs, you can choose one of the following as a specialty:
You use overt displays of sexuality to ply interested individuals for information.
You know how to behave among crooks, thugs, substance abusers, hookers, beggars and other habitués of the criminal underworld. You can:
You study religions in their various forms, both ancient and modern. You can:
Your skilled in the art of extracting information through interrogation backed by the application of physical discomfort and injury. Through the application of severe pain, you can encourage a victim to volunteer information, without forcing them into a situation where they’ll tell you anything just to make the anguish stop.