what class to take as FBI forensic analyst?

[Hobbo Jim]

A group that I ask work is planning on running a modern day campaign and my friend was wanting to play FBI forensic analyst or something like that. Was wondering if you guys had any ideas for classes that might bee good for that kind of role play. It would be preferred to stay away from casting but let me know what you guys think!

[Slithery D]

If you can import Pathfinder and wait until August, Pazio is about to release an Investigator class that combines their Alchemist class with a lot of rogue abilities. It's basically intended to replicage Sherlock Holmes.

The playtest version I've seen has a lot of interesting skill boosts and abilities that would fit your desired concept very well.

[Bloodgruve]

Well.. Master Inquisitive from Eberron Campaign Setting is one to look at but it's more 'detective' then Analyst. There is a psionic ability Object Reading (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/objectReading.htm) that I would think fits very well though. As a Seer (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powerList.htm#seerClairsentienceDisciplinePowers) you'd have some other really good powers that would fit the character too.

I think there is one or two other classes that do the 'detective' thing but I can't bring them to mind right now.

Hope this helps.

Blood~

[Doc_Maynot]

Factotum with the Investigate feat from Eberron

[Telonius]

Urban Ranger (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#rangerVariantUrbanRang er) would be a decent model for it. Urban Tracking is basically what you're envisioning. Maybe a level of two of Rogue for UMD, or possibly Bard for some of the "tell me what this thing is" spells and Bardic Knowledge.

[infomatic]

Rilkan Rogue/Incarnate (with Bardic Knowledge sub-level) into Watch Detective (Song and Silence).

But really, if Gloves of Object reading exist, he's out of a job.

Edit: Oops, corrected below. Watch Detective is MotW

[PaucaTerrorem]

Expert. My DM house rules them for PCs. Something like Poor BAB and saves; all skills are in class; 10+Int skill points; 1st, 4th, and every fourth level after that increasing a skill's max ranks by 2 and giving +2 ranks to that skill. Works well in a modern setting.

[infomatic]

You said no casting, but something like a Wilder/Cognition Thief would also work as a psychic detective, the sort of kook that is always showing up in these cop shows. The trick is, while most of them are simply kooks pretending to be psychic, you'd be an actual psychic pretending to be a kook pretending to be a psychic. And if anybody catches on to the ruse, you make their head explode.

[Pyromancer999]

If you can import Pathfinder and wait until August, Pazio is about to release an Investigator class that combines their Alchemist class with a lot of rogue abilities. It's basically intended to replicage Sherlock Holmes.

The playtest version I've seen has a lot of interesting skill boosts and abilities that would fit your desired concept very well.

What do you mean? It's already out. I have it myself.

As for the class, it's very good at being Sherlock/crime analyst, but prepare to be schooled by the rest of the party at all other things.

[Slipperychicken]

Rogues are supposed to be represent detectives, among other things. Although this is often forgotten in a game focused on murdering people for their stuff.


Also, couldn't you try another system for modern? There are certainly better options than D&D 3.5, depending on what sort of game you're going for.

[FreakyCheeseMan]

Artificer makes the most sense to me. You build "Equippment" that lets you answer any question you can. Rather than the usual swords-and-blasty wands, the equippment you build is effectively your laboratory.

[Psyren]

What do you mean? It's already out. I have it myself.

As for the class, it's very good at being Sherlock/crime analyst, but prepare to be schooled by the rest of the party at all other things.

The playtest version is out but they apparently are still making changes.

[Diovid]

Here's what you do:

Use something like factotum 3 / ranger x as your build, optionally take levels of Watch Detective (Masters of the Wild) as mentioned.

Take the following ranger variants/acfs:

Champion of the Wild (Complete Champion)
1st and 13th Half-Elf substitution levels (Races of Destiny)
Rival Organization (Cityscape web enhancement (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a))
Voice of the City (Cityscape web enhancement (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a))
Skilled City-Dweller (Cityscape web enhancement (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a))
Possibly others (see here (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?PHPSESSID=6k99gjtiehoevje8s9lvu0u0g7&topic=7908))

Take the following feats:

Keen Intellect (Dragon Magazine #318)
Investigate (Eberron Campaign Setting)
Research (Eberron Campaign Setting)
Maybe Sociable Personality (Races of Destiny)

[Kantolin]

While you did say that you wanted to stay away from casting, also it's pathfinder...

The Sighted Seeker (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/psionic-prestige-classes/sighted-seeker) prestige class is right up your alley. It is a psionic detective, and a very fun one to try out. Can be easily entered via Ranger if you take the Wild Talent (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/feats/wild-talent) feat or select a psionic race.

It does have its own power selection, but the powers are all /extremely/ subtle detection sort of things. It then has class abilities like 'Mundanely find evidence' and 'mundane analysis', followed by more supernatural 'leaps of insight'.

It feels like a comic book or TV show style detective. The manifesting is extremely subtle to the point where you could easily just call them 'knacks' - you're not shooting fireballs or summoning things or anything.

[Gildedragon]

I will second the factotum suggestion; Ranger is great, but they are more investigators than analysts.

The Investigate feat is kinda odd in that it mirrors Search's use already, so I ain't keen in suggesting it.

If Factotum:
the Urban Tracking feat, and Sociable Personality feats are a must, and tactile trapsmith is excellent.


Skills to max:
Craft (Alchemy/Poison) (former moreso than the latter)
Disable Device / Open Lock
Forgery
Knowledge Architecture and Engineering (figure material resistances, splatter analysis etc fit best here)
Knowledge Local (your most likely victims and suspects. need to identify them)
Knowledge Nature (second most likely vics and suses)
Spot
Search

Social skill such as Bluff, Gather Information, and Intimidate might also be important.

[Pyromancer999]

The playtest version is out but they apparently are still making changes.

Ah, made a mistake. Was thinking of the Super Genius Games class Investigator.