(Re)-watching the Detective

I wrote about the Detective class and adapted it for White Box in a previous blog. But I'll cover it again here before suggesting a different way of adapting it for Dragonslayer.

Marcus Rowland - a stalwart of the UK RPG scene - contributed the Detective class to White Dwarf 24 back in 1981.

Ah, classic White Dwarf from the '70s and early '80s. What a trove of RPG inspiration it was! Not least from Marcus Rowland. It was the illustration of the Detective Brownie that caught my attention!

Marcus Rowland introduces the class in these terms:

The detective is a new AD&D character class whose functions are the solving of mysteries and the restoration of Law.

This rather nicely fits the Detective into the mythic world of D&D, especially the Law-versus-Chaos theme of early D&D. Rowland limits Detectives to being Human, Elven, or Half-Elven, but that seems weird to me, given the Elvish link to (albeit Good-aligned) Chaos. Halfings and Dwarves are far more likely to be mystical enforcers of Law, but I would allow Half-races to dabble with Detective work, if only to allow the possibility of a Half-Orc chewing a cigar and growling 'Just one more question!' in a bad Peter Falk impression.

In the world of Dragonslayer, Detectives seem to fit well as a Cleric/Monk sub-class. Rowland's prerequisites cover all six abilities, which seems too strict. If we base them on Dragonslayer Monks, then Dex 12, Int 15, Wis 12 seems appropriate, with Intelligence and Dexterity as the prime requisites for experience bonuses.

Ability Requirement: Dex 12, Int 15, Wis 12
Race & Level Limit: Human U, Half-Elf 6, Half-Orc 5 (or U, if Colombo-themed), Dwarf or Halfling 7 (or U if Hercule Poirot themed)
Prime Requisite: Intelligence & Dexterity
Hit Dice: d6
Starting Gold Pieces: 40-160 (4d4 x10)

Detectives have an attack progression and save as Clerics/Monks. Rowland lets them use chain mail and shields, but I think the Thief restriction to studded leather fits better. Any one-handed weapon is allowed: I don't see why Detectives should not use "spears, lances, flaming oil, and poison" as Rowland proscribes.

This table adapts Rowland's class, with progression slightly slower than Clerics at first, but getting faster at high levels. Spells kick in at 3rd level (rather than 4th as in the original).

Level	Title	Hit Dice (d6)	XP	Level 1 Spells	Level 2 Spells	Level 3 Spells	Level 4 Spells	Attack Mod
1	Snoop	1	1750	-	-	-	-	+0
2	Tail	2	1750	-	-	-	-	+0
3	Shadow	3	3500	1	-	-	-	+0
4	Blood Hound	4	7000	2	-	-	-	+1
5	Gumshoe	5	14,000	2	1	-	-	+2
6	Eye	6	28,000	3	2	-	-	+2
7	Copper​​	7	56,000	3	2	1	-	+3
8	Sleuth	8	112,000​	4	3	2	-	+3
9	Investigator	9	225,000	4	3	2	1	+3
10	Detective	10	400,000	5	4	3	2	+4

+ 200,000 XP and +1 HP for each level after 10th. Spells follow the pattern of clerical spells from a level lower (i.e. 5/4/3/3 at 11th level, same as a 10th level cleric)

Role: Detectives are secondary fighters and scouts.

Weapons & Armour: Detectives may wear leather or studded armour. They may not uses shields or two-handed weapons (except bows).

Language: Detectives learn an extra language at 2nd level and every level thereafter. These languages can include Thieves Cant and Ancient Common.

Saving Throws: Detectives save at +2 versus charm or emotion-control (including fear)

Thief Skills: Detectives can Hear Noise, Climb Walls, Find/Remove Traps, and Appraise as a Thief of the same level. Starting at 3rd level, they can Hide in Shadows, Pick Pockets, Move Silently, and Open Locks as a Thief two levels lower. They cannot backstab.

Disguise: Detectives can Disguise themselves as an Assassin.

Tracking: Detectives can Track opponents as a Ranger, but only in urban or underground environments. In urban environments they must have seen the target within 2 turns (20 minutes) of commencing tracking. Underground, the chance of Tracking is reduced by 10% every time the target uses a staircase or secret door and 25% every time there is a combat encounter.

Sage: When Detectives reach 10th level, they become Sages: treat as the ability to cast Legend Lore but only from his or her study/library/laboratory. By tradition, there is only one 10th+ level Detective in a city; if another arrives, the two must engage in non-lethal competition and the loser either leaves or becomes a non-adventuring consultant.

Spells: Detectives gain quasi-clerical spells at 3rd level with a focus on detection and mystery solving (plus some spells aiding in escape). Like clerics, Detectives may not memorise the same spell more than once per day without use of a magical item.

I've adapted Marcus Rowland's spell list, drawing in some of the Dragonslayer spells, generally making the spells a bit more impressive and abolishing expensive material components.

1st Level Detective Spells

Comprehend Languages - as the 1st level Magic-User spell

Date
Duration: 1 round
Range: 10 feet
Cast on evidence (e.g. a footprint, a bloodstain, a picked lock) this spell reveals how much time has elapsed since an event related to the evidence took place.

Detect Charm​ - as the 2nd level Cleric spell

Detect Evil - as the 1st level Cleric spell (may be reversed at will)

Detect Enemies
Duration: 1 Turn
Range: 10 feet/level
The caster senses the presence of creatures who have hostile intentions towards him or herself (but not creatures that are merely dangerous to all passersby, like dangerous animals or plants or mindless undead).

Detect Illusion​ - as the 1st level Illusionist spell

Detect Lie - ​as the 4th level Cleric spell but cannot be reversed

Detect Pits & Snares - as the 1st level Druid spell

Detect Secret Door
Duration: 1 round/level
Range: 30 feet
The caster automatically spots secret doors or secret compartments for as long as the spell lasts (and the caster may move at combat speed while the spell is in effect).

Escapology 1
Duration: 1 round
Range: touch
The caster or the person they touch is instantly freed from ropes or simple bindings. The spell has a verbal component so the caster m,ust be able to speak to cast it.

Feign Death - as the 2nd level Cleric spell

Grade Metals
Duration: 1 round
Range: touch
The caster becomes aware of all the metals that an object is made up of and their relative proportions. This allows a Detective to use their Appraise power successfully on precious metals. It does not reveal whether metals are magical, but it will detect the presence of mithril.

Know Alignment​ - as the 2nd level Cleric spell

Snare - as the 3rd level Druid spell

2nd Level Detective Spells

Detect Evasions - as Detect Lies, but reveals evasions and half-truths as well as outright lies

Detect Invisibility - as the 1st level Illusionist spell

Detect Magic - as the 1st level Cleric spell

Escapology II - as Escapology I but also works on chains and metal fetters

Locate Object - as the 3rd level Cleric spell

Read Codes - this improved version of Comprehend Languages translates messages in code or cipher into something the caster understands

Reflect The Past
Duration: 1 round per level
Range: special
The caster enchants a mirror which reflects events happening in the past at its location (up to 1 hour ago per level of the caster). Demons, devils, and demi-gods might notice and react to observation by this spell.

Speak With Animals - as the 1st level Druid spell

Speak with Dead - as the 3rd level Cleric spell

3rd Level Detective Spells

Escapology III - as Escapology I but allows escape from metal boxes, riveted manacles, or otherwise 'escape proof' captivity; it also releases the target from the clutches, gluey secretions, or tentacles of monsters that trap victims

ESP - as the 2nd level Magic-User spell

Forget - as the 2nd level Magic-User spell

Knock - as the 2nd level Magic-User spell

Speak With Plants - as the 4th level Cleric spell

Suggestion - as the 3rd level Magic-User spell

Truth
Duration: 1 round/level
Range: touch
The person touched must respond to all questions with absolute truthfulness; this might require a roll to hit if the target is unwilling and not restrained and if the caster misses the spell is wasted. Only innately deceptive creatures (devils, some faerie beings, etc.) are allowed a saving throw.

Ungag - as Escapology I but has no verbal components and causes a gag to fall from the caster's mouth, allowing the casting of further Escapology spells; it also frees the target from monsters which have choking/suffocating attacks

Vision of the Past - as Reflect the Past but creates a 3-dimensional image in a cloud of smoke and reaches back 1 day per level.

Water Breathing - as the 3rd level Druid spell

4th Level Detective Spells

Escapology IV - as Escapology I but allows escape from magical prisons (such as a Maze spell)

Find The Path - as the 6th level Cleric spell

Maze - as the 5th level Illusionist spell, but the range is Touch and the target receives a saving throw

Oracle of the Past - as Vision of the Past but reaches back one year per level of the caster; if the caster goes into a trance they receive a vision going back one century per level, but this reduces the Detective to 1d4 HP when they awaken and wipes all other spells from the mind.

Polymorph Self - as the 4th level Magic-User spell

Read Divine Magic - as the 1st level Cleric spell

Speak With Monsters - as the 6th level Cleric spell

Stone Tell - as the 6th level Cleric spell

True Sight - as the 5th level Cleric spell