By

Mike Daumen
Product Management
Charles Rice, Chris Davis
Editing
Charles Rice
Graphic Design
David Jarvis
Interior Art
John Longenbaugh
Joseph Wigfield
Layout
David Jarvis

Introduction
Police procedurals, like most mysteries, are
difficult to pull off in roleplaying games.
Should a GM establish the entire trail of clues
and information that stems from each witness
and crime scene, and hope the players don’t
feel railroaded? Will play hinge on a critical
roll that, if it fails, keeps vital information
from the party? Do the players watch enough
crime dramas to make their own way through
the investigation?
These rules seek a middle ground around
the pitfalls of running a technically oriented
police investigation. They allow players to
take the lead, and decide in broad terms how
to advance their case – sometimes coming
up with the evidence they find on their own.
Meanwhile, the GM can insert as many clues,
NPCs, or wrinkles she decides are necessary
or interesting to the overall plot. Several skills
become important, as the steps in a successful
inquiry require a variety of different tasks
– from the frontiers of science to tried-and-
true law enforcement methods.
The Evil that Men Do
The most common mystery for a fictional
police team to solve is a homicide. For one
thing, the victim is unable to voluntarily
provide details about the crime. Most
fictitious murders have few witnesses
of any kind, to compound the obscurity.
Furthermore, these investigations tend to
begin along recognizable lines – although they
are soon distinguished with unique twists and
turns.
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POLICE PROCEDURAL
Another traditional case is the hunt for a serial
killer. Unlike most everyday crime, in which the
victims and perpetrators tend to know each other,
such predators have seemingly unfathomable
reasons for choosing their victims. Unraveling the
connections between them becomes an important
part of the case.
Regardless, a GM can apply these rules towards
non-standard homicides, or even other crimes, with
a minimum of changes. The police might know the
perpetrator at the outset, for example, and most of
the action will involve tracking him. Instead of a
corpse, the party might face a distraught or angry
arson victim – or someone with her own secrets
to keep from the police. They could face a classic
locked-room mystery, from which a priceless
painting or gem has been stolen.
Investigation Protocols
Generally, a murder attracts the attention of law
enforcement when someone stumbles upon the
corpse. This can be an associate of the victim,
or someone who might typically be found at the
crime scene, such as an office worker. The witness
remains available while the initial site investigation
takes place. It is also possible that a beat cop or car
comes upon a murder scene in the regular course of
patrolling an area.
Another alternative is the delivery of an
anonymous tip. Law enforcement personnel
constantly evaluate the particularity and prior track
records of tipsters, because this is a lucrative source
of information about the criminal community. But
there are dangers, if a criminal gives a false tip, to
frame someone else or derail the investigation from
the outset.
As soon as possible after receiving notice of
a crime, one or more investigators will arrive at
the scene of the event to assess the site and
collect evidence. The most common piece of
evidence found here is the murder victim’s
corpse, although it is possible to run a mystery
based on a missing person. In such cases, there
needs to be some evidence that this person
has been murdered and did not flee of their
own accord. Other things are often present,
such as fingerprints or other images left in
soft or impressionable material, the murder
weapon itself, or personal identifiers from the
perpetrator such as fibers or hair.
Armed with this evidence, and the statements of
whatever witnesses are available, the team sets
out to piece together the events that resulted in
the death of a person. Was there a relationship
between the killer and his victim?
What sort of motive did the murder have
– financial gain, revenge or another strong
passion, or an aberration stemming from
a mental defect? Was the murder weapon
used in other crimes, or does it lead back to a
salesperson who might be able to describe its
owner? Are the fingerprints taken from the
windowsill on file with the FBI? Does the DNA
from skin under the victim’s nails match with
that found at similar crime scenes after every
full moon for the past five months?
Eventually, the investigative team will have
collected enough data to have a sharp enough
picture of the alleged killer to move forward.
The suspect may already have answered
questions at the station house before, but
escaped detection with a cool demeanor. He
could be a totally new lead from an unexpected
source. A pattern of unusual deaths may finally
fall into place, with the next one occurring soon
unless the party acts fast!

Procedure
The procedure to follow is relatively simple – a
collection of tasks that generates prerequisites
for other tasks. There are five building blocks
to the process:
•Evidence Points – a physical investigation
of a location or body provides Evidence Points,
which are basically formless clues until they are
analyzed more closely.
•Leads – these are facts or references that
indicate a possible connection to the case,
which demand additional scrutiny.
•Statements – general information taken
from a witness or someone else close to the
people or instrumentalities under investigation.
•Exhibits – generally, EPs can be converted
into Exhibits, which are concrete facts or items
that a tribunal will ultimately use to weigh a
defendant’s guilt or innocence.
•Confession – the most sought after item,
which can end the investigation in a single
stroke.
Starting with a tip or crime scene visit, a
character will make a skill check to determine
whether his activities were successful. If so, the
task will create new resources and steps in the
investigation. While EPs can be kept generic,
the GM should be specific about each new
resource. For example, if the party has already
identified a suspect, a new person of interest can
be a witness – or an accomplice. Perpetrator
exhibits can be fingerprints, hairs, or a phone
call from the suspect to the victim asking him
to come to the murder scene. The statement of
a witness can mention other NPCs as well as
cases that the group has already solved.
POLICE PROCEDURAL
This system easily incorporates specific “pre-
made” clues and settings as well. A GM may
giving the players a tangible stake in the
creation of the campaign. It bolsters the
have an interesting map for a seedy bar or dark
coherence of the plot in their eyes, by
warehouse on the docks that might make for a confirming whatever conclusions they have
tense setting; any number of links could lead
reached in the course of play. If a GM has
investigators there. If she has an idea for an purposefully left the solution open-ended, it
upcoming adventure involving a cursed weapon, can suggest new alternatives and issues for
the PCs can find it at the crime scene, in the
the investigators to face.
suspect’s possession – or perhaps an evidence tech And most importantly, highlighting the
finds it in storage and causes the cycle to begin
players’ contributions to the game maintains
anew. interest in the case over the long term.
Finally, GMs should always consider what
results their players expect from their actions,
too. If they seek tire tracks from the suspect’s car
in the mud surrounding the victim, and this won’t
Endgame
Eventually, the case should proceed far
resolve the case too easily or interfere with future enough so that the PCs have a good idea
complications, make such an exhibit the fruit of
of what happened, and who the culprit
their labor. This has several rewards, including is. Securing an arrest warrant is the
DATABASE CHECKS following procedure: pick a number or roll a d6+1
Some searches of collected data to get the subject’s appearance frequency.
(including newspaper archives or Then roll a number of d20s equal to the size of
evidence collections like CODIS and the database. If any of these dice come up in a
NIBIN) work a bit differently than multiple of the appearance frequency, the subject’s
other research checks. If someone’s entry is in the database. With this mechanism, lower
fingerprints are not in IAFIS, for appearance frequencies result in more positive
example, no skill check will discover checks, so a multiple felon might have a 3 or even
them, no matter how well rolled. The 2.
GM should decide, before rolling
any dice, whether a database Database Size No. of Appearance Rolls
contains information about a
Local/Card File 1
particular subject. State 2
If the GM is unsure or National 3
does not care, she can use the International 4
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final step in the process,
unless the party has other
circumstances which might
justify apprehending the suspect earlier.
Even before they feel they have a strong
case, additional tasks like stakeouts and
wiretaps can confirm what they have found
and surmised. Both types of scenes offer
plenty of opportunities for drama and
danger, especially if the killer is aware of the
investigators closing in on him, and is in a
position to do something about it.
As a final note, each of these tasks can
be run as mechanical exercises, but “extra”
roleplaying is always encouraged, especially
in a charged interrogation, or a quiet stakeout
that quickly gets hot. Certainly, the best
use of these rules mirrors the typical police
procedural on television, where multitasking
investigators run forensic tests a hundred times
faster than their real-life counterparts.
If the party is chasing a serial killer, there
will be simultaneous cases, with additional
victims, enigmatic clues at more crime
scenes, and the exciting moment where the
link between seemingly random killings falls
into place. The GM should be ready to have
the PCs take center stage back from the rules
when the circumstances dictate.
POLICE PROCEDURAL
LEADS tasks like checking a suspect’s financial
These are the types of leads available to
records, running down a list of calls in a
investigators:
victim’s cell phone, or reading a trial transcript
•Person of Interest – unless this involves
for connections to a current crime.
the victim, this is typically someone whose
•Canvassing – police can often find
name comes up in the normal course of the
information about a case despite asking people
investigation. Once the police focus their
with little or no connection to it, provided the
efforts on such persons, they can be reclassified
sample they use is large enough. This can be
as either a witness or a suspect.
as simple as asking neighborhood residents
•Location – while the crime scene is the first
about what they saw on a particular night, or
location that police will visit, other places may
whether merchants remember someone buying
prove just as important to the investigation.
a knife ultimately used in a murder.
Good examples are a suspect’s last known
address or a popular bar a witness frequents.
•Research – often times, an investigator may
realize that a large body of information may
hold an important clue, and the only way to
check is pore over the data. This includes
making rolls for the party, or concealing the DCs if This also mentions if any previously
she wants a party to act on incorrect results. collected evidence contributes to the check,
and if someone can use illegal means to
improve the odds as well.
How to Read an Entry
DC: The DC of the skill check to be made.
Task Name: Taken from a list of common In some instances, the check may be opposed
with a skill check made by an NPC involved

FORENSIC TASKS
This list is in rough chronological order,
taking a group of investigators from the
discovery of the initial crime to the issuance of
an arrest warrant. GMs should note the degree
of success for comparison on the tables below
to determine the specific bonuses that
follow. The GM should also consider
activities.
Skill check: The list of skills that can be
used to complete the task. The GM and players
should always feel free to substitute a session of
roleplaying for a skill check, if it contributes to the
game as a whole.
Synergies: This entry lists any skills that can
assist the main skill check. If a character has five
ranks in the skill listed, he gains a +2 synergy
bonus to the task.
in the action.
Equipment bonus(es): Law enforcement
personnel have a variety a tools to assist
them in apprehending suspects and solving
crimes. Where applicable, equipment from
the master equipment list can be used to boost
a skill check roll. In most cases, bonuses
of the same name do not stack; however, it
is possible to combine multiple bonuses of
different types.

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EXHIBITS
An Exhibit is a piece of evidence with
enough weight to factor at a trial. A good
investigation will have one or more exhibit
from each of the following categories, as this
helps the tribunal understand the particulars
of the crime:
•Corpse – the most important piece of
evidence in a homicide. In other crimes, the
victim is usually present to offer additional
information on the case. If a corpse is not
part of the investigation, there must be other
compelling evidence that indicates someone
has been murdered.
•Perpetrator – establishing the identity of
the killer is an obvious necessity. This can
be done technically, through the analysis
of evidence found on the site; or with the
testimony of witnesses who can place the
accused at the right time and place.
•Instrumentality – the police must explain
how a murder occurred; not merely violent
Prerequisites: In many cases, the party will
need one or more resources before attempting
a task. This applies to the “creation” of
evidence from raw EP, but also refers to the
result of earlier tasks. For example, a detective
cannot conduct an interview before identifying
one or more persons of interest.
Result Chart: This is the breakdown of
what can happen with the skill check. The
GM may need to keep track of both the margin
of success/failure, and whether the final roll
was odd or even. In most instances, if the GM
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POLICE PROCEDURAL
details, but also the likelihood that the
suspect could carry them out. This includes
technical questions like the use of a particular
weapon, or whether a defendant had access
to it in the first place.
•Circumstances – this covers any unusual
questions, such as a particular condition
at the crime scene, or whether a lack of
witnesses in a crowded place makes sense,
that a defendant might seize upon to
exonerate himself.
•Motive – most murders, no matter how
heinous, tend to have a logical reason for
happening. Even if a defendant was with
the victim at the right time, accusing him or
murder makes no sense if they are lifelong
friends with no history of conflict.
wants to keep the party guessing as to the fruits of the
labors, she can make the rolls secretly and report the
results.
Special Results/ Modifiers
GM Plot: this is a link to a prior case – perhaps an
earlier adventure, or a matter the GM wishes to bring
up for the sake of storytelling.
Bad Rep: future tasks involving Knowledge
(Streetwise) have a -5 penalty, and all witnesses begin
with an Unfriendly disposition for Diplomacy checks
Enmity: the person involved automatically
has a Hostile disposition towards the
investigators, and may seek revenge or to
otherwise thwart the PCs in the future.
Botched: the result appears good (reroll as a
success), but will be harmful at trial.
Unimpeachable: the result gains a bonus at
trial, or cannot be attacked by defense counsel.
Red Herring: the investigators get a false
clue (reroll as a success) selected by the GM
Convert to Exhibit (X): burn X EP to get an
Exhibit
Heat: the person under investigation
becomes aware of police interest and may
protect his interests accordingly. Witnesses
who know the person may become Unfriendly
or otherwise unwilling to cooperate.
Negative: the investigators get certain
knowledge that the person or thing is not
involved in the crime. This is not as good as a
success, but it is still valid information.
Red Tape: A bureaucratic slipup has left
this task incomplete. Unless a PC has a contact
that can address the problem, the attempt is
unsuccessful.
Reputation: A PC’s standing in the law
enforcement community can help accomplish
things quicker than normal.
All Points Bulletin: Police personnel will
mount a manhunt to find the suspect. The GM
can reduce the DCs of skill checks used in this
search by the suspect’s Reputation.
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Task List
TIP EVALUATION SITE INVESTIGATION AUTOPSY
In many instances an anonymous source Police investigators seek to reach a crime scene When the police suspect that a death is the
alerts the police that a crime has occurred. as soon as possible after the offense has occurred, result of homicide, a medical examiner will
In order to keep this a viable source of in order to preserve evidence. Exposure to the typically examine the body once it arrives
information, however, tipsters often demand elements, insects, and the mere passage of time into police custody. The autopsy can confirm
that their identities remain protected. can degrade pieces of physical evidence. Potential the manner of death as well as uncover other
Seasoned investigators evaluate the witnesses may still be in the area and may vividly facts about the victim or killer, to assist in any
severity of the offense and the accuracy of recall their impressions of what happened. investigation that follows.
similar leads before deciding to act on a tip. Skill check: Investigate Skill check: Investigate
Skill check: Sense Motive Synergies: Search; plant evidence Synergies: Knowledge (Earth & Life sciences);
DC: 15 or vs. Bluff if tip is false Equipment bonus(es): scene plant evidence
Equipment bonus(es): audio DC: 15 Equipment bonus(es): autopsy, visual
Prerequisites: none Prerequisites: Location Lead DC: 15
Prerequisites: Exhibit (corpse)
TABLE 1:A TIP EVALUATION TABLE 1: C: AUTOPSY
Roll (d20 + success margin) Result Roll (d20 + success Result
1-10 Location Lead (crime scene) 1-10 1d3 EP
11+ Person of Interest Lead 11-20 1d4+1 EP
15+ odd Person of Interest Lead (victim) 9-19 odd convert to Exhibit (3)
20+ even Person of Interest Lead (suspect) 16-20 1d6+2 EP and Exhibit

BACKGROUND CHECK
TA B L E 1 : B SITE INVESTIGATION Many persons with potential connections to an investigation
Roll (d20 + success margin) Result have record of interaction with the police. As a result,
Automatic Exhibit (Corpse) [if present]
Automatic Exhibit (corpse) or Person of Interest Lead (victim) detectives often need to gather information about these
Fail (greater than -5 50% chance) Botched collection subjects to determine if they are viable targets for greater
Fail (-5 to 0) None scrutiny. This also applies if the victim is relatively unknown.
1-15 1d3 EP* Skill check: Research
16-29 2d4 EP* Synergy: falsify (Forgery)
30+ 1d8+2 EP and Exhibit DC: 10
Prerequisites: Person of Interest Lead
*These EP can be converted to exhibits at a 3:1 ratio if the investigator wishes. For
TABLE 1:D: BACKGROUND CHECK
example if an investigator rolls a 16 and collects 6 EP, he can immediately convert Roll (d20 + success margin) Result
them into exhibits or save them until later in the investigation. Fail (greater than -5) Red Herring
Fail (even) Heat
Fail (-5 to 0) None
1-10 1d3 EP
11-15 Lead
16+ Exhibit

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 POLICE PROCEDURAL

TABLE 1: D: INTERVIEW is a good way to

Roll (d20 + success margin) Result defuse any tensions
LINEUP
Fail (greater than -5 odd) Botched Statement The police can try a specialized form of
when sensitive
Fail (greater than -5 even) Red Herring identification if they have a potential suspect
matters arise.
Fail (-5 to 0) None in custody, and an eyewitness willing to try
Skill check:
1-5 EP and accurately point him out. However, in this
6-10 even Canvassing Lead Diplomacy
highly charged encounter, investigators cannot
7-11 odd Research Lead Synergy: Sense
tip the scales against the alleged perpetrator,
12-16 Statement Motive, prior
and must provide several alternatives. This
17-24 Exhibit Statements (+3); trick
25+ Confession [if Suspect] always runs the risk that the wrong person gets
(Bluff)
selected.
TABLE 1: E: IDENTIFICATION Equipment
Skill check: witness’ Spot
Roll(d20 + success margin) Result bonus(es):
Synergy: Knowledge (Streetwise); fixed ID
Fail (greater than -5 odd) False Identification interview, audio
Fail (greater than -5 even) Botched Identification Equipment bonus(es): recognition
DC: 15 or vs. Bluff
Fail (-5 to 0) No Identification DC: 15 or vs. Disguise
Prerequisites:
1+ Person of Interest Lead (Suspect) Prerequisites: Person of Interest Lead
Person of Interest Lead
(Witness and Suspect)
(Witness or Suspect)
TABLE 1: F: LINEUP
IDENTIFICATION INTERROGATION
Roll(d20 + success margin) Result Instead of a friendly conversation with
Fail (greater than -5) False Identification Witnesses to a
someone involved with a case, police can
Fail (-5 to 0) No Identification crime tend to not stay
1-9 Inconclusive Identification choose a harsher style of interaction, in the
in constant contact
10+ Exhibit (Perpetrator)/Conclusive Identification hopes of scaring information out of them.
with the perpetrators.
Because this encounter is adversarial, the
In order to preserve
TABLE 1: G: INTERROGATION their memories
possibilities for impropriety are more, and
Roll (d20 + success margin) Result defense counsel can demand to be present.
Fail (greater than -5 odd) Red Herring and begin an
Skill check: Intimidate
Fail (greater than -5 even) Botched Confession investigation,
Synergy: Sense Motive, Statements (+2)
Fail (-5 to 0) None police will try to
and prior Confessions (+5); trick (Bluff) or use
Fail (-4 to 0 even) None + Enmity get descriptions of
1-9 odd Research Lead of force
anyone involved as
2-10 even Canvassing Lead Equipment bonus(es): audio, interview
soon as possible.
11-19 Statement DC: 20 or vs. Bluff
Composite sketch
20+ Confession [if Suspect] Prerequisites: Person of Interest Lead
artists and mugshot
(Witness or Suspect)
INTERVIEW books can assist in this process, as well as certain
The police often give potential witnesses software.
and suspects the opportunity to describe the Skill check: Craft (Visual Art)
scope of any involvement with a homicide Synergy: Knowledge (Streetwise); fixed ID
victim before relying on an arrest. Conducting Equipment bonus(es): recognition
a non-adversarial interview with such subjects DC: 15
Prerequisites: Person of Interest Lead (Witness)

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 POLICE PROCEDURAL
EVIDENCE ANALYSIS
This task covers the host of procedures
used to identify physical evidence collected
RECORD CHECK
A variety of law enforcement agencies keep informa-
in connection with an investigation, from
tion collected during the course of criminal investigations
DNA analysis to looking at fibers through
for future reference. This includes data about suspects,
a microscope. Mechanically, it transforms
like ballistics records from bullets recovered at crime
collected EP into more usable factors.
scenes, but also things willingly provided by the public,
Skill check: Investigate
such as prints done during a public fingerprinting drive.
Synergy: falsify
Like some evidence matching tests, a successful skill
Equipment bonus(es): ballistics, blood,
check may not provide positive identification; instead, it
computer, drug, dust print, fingerprint,
could reveal that a potential suspect is not in a database.
genetic, impression, molecular
The GM should decide beforehand if a specific data-
DC: 15
base includes the information sought.
Prerequisites: EP
Skill check: Profession
TABLE 1: H: EVIDENCE ANALYSIS Synergy: Reputation Bonus
Roll (d20 + success margin) Result DC: 10
Fail (greater than -5 odd) Red Herring Prerequisite: Person of Interest Lead or Exhibit
Fail (greater than -5 even) Botched Exhibit
Fail (-5 to 0) None EVIDENCE MATCHING
1-9 odd Research Lead In contrast to evidence analysis, matching allows
2-10 even Person of Interest Lead police to compare physical evidence with other
11+ Exhibit items evidence accumulated from other investiga-
tions. This task includes things like ballis-
TABLE 1: I: RECORD CHECK tics comparison and fingerprint matching.
Fail (greater than -5) Red Herring Skill check: Spot, Knowledge (Physical
Fail Red Tape Sciences or Earth & Life Sciences)
Success Negative/Person of Interest Lead (suspect)
Synergy: GM plot
Equipment Bonus(es): topographical
TABLE 1: J EVIDENCE MATCHING imager/stereomicroscope [bal-
Roll (d20 + success margin) Result listics], microscope, comparison
Fail (greater than -2 odd) Red Herring microscope
Fail (greater than -5 even) Destroyed Exhibit DC: 20
Fail (-5 to 0) None
1-20 Negative/Person of Interest Lead (suspect) Prerequisites: Exhibit
15+ Unimpeachable Exhibit
20+ Exhibit (Perpetrator)

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 POLICE PROCEDURAL

TABLE 1: K: RESEARCH RESEARCH PROFILING:

Roll (d20 + success margin) Result Often, leads can result from One of the more modern investigatory
Fail (greater than -5) Red Herring the consultation of large techniques asks police to “think like a
Fail (-5 to 0) None
accumulations of data. This criminal,” building a psychological rendition
1-9 odd Person of Interest Lead
2-10 even Canvassing Lead task includes poring through of a likely perpetrator. This can not only lead
11-19 Location Lead someone’s records, or searches to additional sources of evidence, but also
20+ Exhibit through media or technical predict what a suspect might do in the future.
archives. Skill check: Knowledge (Behavioral
TABLE 1: L: CANVASSING Skill check: Research Sciences)
Roll (d20 + success margin) Result Synergy: Knowledge Synergy: Profile class ability
Fail (greater than -5) Red Herring (applicable) DC: 20
Fail odd Bad Rep DC: 20 Prerequisites: EP or Person of Interest Lead
Fail None Prerequisites: Research Lead (Suspect)
1-9 odd Research Lead
2-10 even Person of Interest Lead CANVASSING STAKEOUT
11-20 Exhibit Sometimes, nothing but Police with a hot lead may choose to sit on it
21+ Statement legwork can make headway for a variety of reasons, content to watch and
in a difficult case. This task see if more information reveals itself. In such
TABLE 1: M : PROFILING covers mundane things like tasks, the investigators seek to maintain a low
Roll (d20 + success margin) Result
Fail (greater than -5 odd) Botched Exhibit door-to-door questioning profile and hope to be in the right place at the
Fail (greater than -5 even) Red Herring of neighborhood residents right time.
Fail None in search of witnesses or Skill check: Spot
1-9 EP or Person of Interest Lead (Suspect) information. It also includes Synergy: Profession, Knowledge
10-15 Exhibit visits to merchants and (Streetwise)
16+ 2 Exhibits technical specialists in the DC: 15
TABLE 1: N: STAKEOUT hopes of discovering the Prerequisites: Person of Interest Lead
Roll (d20 + success mar- Result purchase or other details of an (Witness or Suspect) or Location Lead
Fail (greater than -5 even) Bad Rep important instrumentality to a SEARCH WARRANT
Fail None crime. Before entering a private location to look
1-11 odd Canvassing Lead Skill check: Gather for evidence, the police must get permission
2-10 even Research Lead Information
11-15 Location Lead or Person of Interest Lead Synergy: Diplomacy, from a judge to do so. This ensures that a
16+ Exhibit legal basis exists to justify the invasion of
Knowledge (Streetwise) privacy that such a search entails.
TABLE 1: O: SEARCH WARRANT DC: 20 Skill check: Knowledge (Civics)
Roll (d20 + success margin) Result Prerequisites: Crime Synergy: Profession; falsify (Forgery)
Fail (greater than -5 even) Botched Warrant Scene, Canvassing DC: 20
Fail No Warrant Lead, Location Lead, or
1-10 Warrant; site investigation task Prerequisites: Person of Interest Lead or
Exhibit Location Lead
11+ Unimpeachable Warrant; site investigation task

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 POLICE PROCEDURAL
WIRETAP WARRANT
This task combines the principles of TABLE 1: P: WIRETAP WARRANT
a stakeout and a search warrant, by listening to a private phone Roll (d20 + success margin) Result
line in the hopes that someone using it will reveal something Fail (greater than -5 even) Botched Warrant
useful. Because of its intrusive nature, this also requires Fail No Warrant
1-10 odd Person of Interest Lead
judicial scrutiny of the police’s suspicions that this tactic is
2-10 even Research Lead
justified. 12-20 Exhibit
Skill check: Knowledge (Civics) 15+ Unimpeachable Warrant
Synergy: Profession; falsify (Forgery) 21+ Confession
DC: 20 for Suspect; 25 for Witness or Location
TABLE 1: Q: SUBPOENA
Prerequisites: Person of Interest Lead (Witness or Suspect) Roll (d20 + success margin) Result
or Location Lead Fail (greater than -5 ) Botched Subpoena
SUBPOENA Fail (even) Enmity
Many people are suspicious of the police’s intent, frightened Fail (-5 to 0) No Subpoena
1+ Interview or Interrogation task
that their interaction will be risky, or otherwise unwilling to
17+ Unimpeachable Subpoena
cooperate with an investigation. In such cases, investigators
can force reluctant civilians to comply with judicial backing. TABLE 1: R: ARREST WARRANT
Because of the charged nature of this process, it not only Roll (d20 + success margin) Result
requires a constitutional foundation to use, but may involve Fail (greater than -5 even) Botched Warrant
legal efforts to counteract it. Fail Enmity
Skill check: Knowledge (Civics) 1+ Warrant
15+ odd Unimpeachable Warrant
Synergy: Profession; falsify (Forgery)
21+ All Points Bulliten
DC: 15
Prerequisites: Person of Interest Lead (Witness or Suspect) Cheating Many of the tasks contain a Synergy
entry describing the illegal action that
ARREST WARRANT In the perfect world, there would be could further an investigation. An
The culmination of an investigation is the collection of no crimes to investigate. The fact investigator willing to do so can get a
enough proof to convince a magistrate that a suspect is the that anyone is capable of wrongdoing, bonus to the resultant skill check. If
likely perpetrator. Once this happens, police have the legal however, means that investigators can another skill is indicated, the character
justification to detain a target in contemplation of facing pros- also bend the rules. This is not a question must succeed with this new skill, at
ecution. of evil, or even vengeance; many of us the same DC, to gain a bonus equal
Skill check: Knowledge (Civics) might consider ignoring constitutional to the success modifier. Otherwise,
Synergy: Profession, Exhibits (+2), Statements (+1), Con- niceties to address a genuine threat to the PCs can choose a bonus; but in either
fession (+3); falsify (Forgery) public. case, the maximum is +5. Planting
DC: 30 Nonetheless, rules against this exist evidence involves using an Exhibit of the
Prerequisites: Person of Interest Lead (Suspect) to ensure that a respect for law endures character’s choice, which is simply added
in our society. PCs still willing to solve to the case.
crimes by any means can interact with Although this tends to help in the
both these rules and the actions they seek short run, GMs should consider how
to suppress. these actions can affect the rest of the

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investigation and especially what follows
after. When they come to light, illegal
techniques can lead to the suppression of
the evidence they uncover, or even outright
exoneration of the defendant. If a GM is
not running the subsequent trial, or if the
judge determines the illegality wouldn’t
have changed the outcome, law enforcement
agencies will still come down on egregious
offenses, harming careers and causing their
own criminal charges. Finally, the GM
should emphasize a character’s emotions if
his actions spring the guilty on a technicality,
or cause an innocent to lose their freedom
– or worse.
LIST OF EVIDENCE ANALYSIS &
MATCHING TESTS W/ EQUIPMENT
INVOLVED
One or more types of equipment can
provide a bonus to such tests, but only the
best one from each category may apply
(except where indicated in the table). The
GM should decide in advance what items are
in an agency’s lab.
Drug Analysis: drug and molecular
Ballistics check/match: ballistics
Chemical identification: molecular and
microscopy
DNA sampling: microscopy and genetic
Hair/fiber sampling: microscopy
Blood Analysis: blood and microscopy
Matching: add matching, plus
microscopy or visual.
POLICE PROCEDURAL
USING THE INVESTIGATOR ADVANCED
CLASS
This class provides the Profile class ability, with
which a character can collate information about
a specific target that allows for improved skill
checks. This ability works as written with re-
spect to Persons of Interest that have been prop-
erly identified. If the subject of this class ability
has not been identified by other means, the bonus
is halved. If the party subsequently makes the
target at a later stage, the regular bonus can be
used.
Additionally, Investigator characters can add
their Investigator class level to Profiling tasks in
these rules. Other class abilities, such as Discern
Lies and Sixth Sense, can be used when the
underlying skills are used for a task.
CRIME SCENE CLUES
Here is a short list of clues that might appear
at a homicide scene, for a party whose work
demands a quick answer.
Fingerprints
Body tissue and genetic material
Discharged firearms and gunpowder residue
Bloodstains
Footprints and tire impressions
Bullet holes
Clothing fibers
Personal documents
Electronic records
“Out of place” substances
Evidence of concurrent crimes (or lack thereof)
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 POLICE PROCEDURAL

AUTOPSY CLUES
Here is a shorter list of potential clues that an TABLE 1 : S: FORENSIC EQUIPMENT
Item Bonus Type Amount
autopsy should reveal, leading to further tasks.
Drug Testing Kit drug +1
Mass Spectrometer molecular +2
Wounds Gas Chromatograph molecular +3
Identification techniques Microscope microscopy +1
Foreign substances in the body Stereomicroscope microscopy, ballisticsNS +2
Burns Comparison Microscope microscopy [matching] +2
Signs of struggle Scanning Electron Microscope microscopy +3
Conditions indicating the time of death Camera, Pocket visual [scene] +1
Plant and animal effects on a corpse left Camera, Expert visual [scene] +2
Videocamera audio, visual [scene] S +2
outdoors
Tape Recorder audio, interviewS +2
Trajectory String ballistics [scene] +1
GETTING FINGERPRINTED Laser Trajectory Kit ballistics [scene] +2
There are many mundane reasons for having Topographical Imager ballisticsNS [matching] +3
one’s fingerprints collected outside of the criminal Identikit recognition +1
Composite Sketch Software recognition +2
justice system. Many state and municipal
Polygraph interviewS +1
agencies require it as a condition for employment. Blood Reagent blood +1
J. Edgar Hoover used fingerprint drives in the Blood Testing Kit blood +2
1940s and 1950s, often involving celebrities Blood Splatter Kit visual, blood [scene] S +1
and flashy news events. These brought positive Luminol visual, blood [scene] S +1
publicity to the FBI while expanding the size Fingerprint Kit fingerprint, scene +1
of the early database. More modern reasons Impression Mold Kit impression, scene +1
include high-profile anti-crime and child or elder Dust Print Lifter dust print, scene +1
safety campaigns. In today’s world of electronic Entomology Kit autopsy +1
Data Capture Kit computer +1
commerce, some banks use thumbprints as
Drive Imager computer +2
additional measures against identity theft; a PC SIM card reader cel phone +1
with ties to a bank manager or security guard may Electrophoresis Sampler genetic, molecularS +1
be able to get access to them as a long shot. Thermal Cycler genetic +2
Mug Shot Booklet database, recognitionS +1
Card File database +1
State Database database +2
National Database database +3
International Database database +4
N Stereomicroscope does not stack with Topographical Imager
S Stacks with other bonuses of this type

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Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the
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Police Procedural Copyright 2007, RPGObjects,
Author Michael Daumen.
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