GUMSHOE Investigative Spend Example Benefits

These are some sample benefits you can get from spending Investigative Pool Points. Find the GUMSHOE SRD here.

• Optional Clues
• A 0 pt Spend, simply using the Ability after any Core Clues have been found will reveal a flavor clue.
• A 1 pt Spend might reveal a minor optional clue that sheds light on the bigger picture.
• A 2 pt Spend might reveal a major optional clue that reveals much more about the case.
• A clue has to actually be present, you can suggest a spend to find a clue, but if there are none to be had, the Keeper will tell you and you keep your points.
• Gain an Advantage in a future contest of General Abilities 
• By using Oral History to get some of the town stories, you might learn of the habits of some townsfolk that make getting into a place unnoticed easier later.
• You might notice that a particular wall seems a bit unsteady and uncover there's a small hole in the base of the building that a smaller person could get through.
• Make a favorable impression on supporting characters
• You chat up the cops and share work stories, making them more inclined to help you out.
• You might make friends with a local.
•  Can lead to a flashback scene.
• This can provide related clues that couldn't be found with the physical evidence present. Such as to remember a defensive tactic you saw in the war.
• You might recall a lecture from a mentor that relates to what is in front of you.
• The Keeper will determine specifics.
•  Resolve a moral dilemma
• Flashing a badge, a warrant and Intimidating people into cooperation might get you info for free. But a 1 pt Reassurance spend will do it with annoying people or engaging in behavior you don't want your character performing.
• Using Flattery to chat up a secretary at the county registrar and spending the night with her might get you some information, but if you're uncomfortable with that, maybe a Credit Rating spend to show her an innocent good time (or out right bribe her) will get you the same information.
• Speed up an Investigation
• A Credit Rating spend might allow you to get together all the equipment you need to get out of the town today rather than tomorrow.
•  Get you some dedicated pool points.
• Use Library Use to create a dedicated pool of information related to local geology.
• Use Reassurance with some fellow soldiers to create a dedicated pool of information related to knowing local army movements.
• Most of the characters have acquired a dedicated pool of some kind via their occupational specials. Use these as guidelines.
• Once per Case, an impressively roleplayed Investigative Spend might allow an Investigator to recover 1d6 Stability.
• This is up to table consensus. Generally any roleplayed description of a spend that gets a "that's awesome" or similar such response should get this reward. But only once per case per Investigator. Also, as a Keeper, you may want to wait until Investigators are down some Stability first.

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