Urban Tracking: Is this worth anything at all?

[phaedrusxy]

I have a character that is styled after Sherlock Holmes (from the books), with a touch of Batman and the Punisher rolled in (basically, he's an investigative vigilante who has no qualms about executing those he judges as guilty). Right now it is a Spellthief 1/Wizard (Diviner) 5/Incantatrix 1. I plan to go into Unseen Seer after Incantatrix 3 (or 4).

There are a million feats that I want for this guy, but of course I can't fit them all in. I did pick up the Investigate feat which is excellent for this kind of character (and probably useless for most others), and of course Uncanny Forethought because it is the best wizard feat and fits this kind of super-genius tactician to the T.

I've been considering swapping out the Spelltheif level for Urban Ranger for the Urban Tracking feat, but I'm not really sure it is worth what I'd lose. It seems like to me that the "normal" usage of Gather Info should get you enough information to find out where people you're looking for might be, and then you could use other methods (stakeout, infiltration, scrying, etc) to determine which one they are actually in. So this feat really isn't doing much that you couldn't do without it.

I'd be giving up some Sneak Attack, Trapfinding, and the future capacity to steal/borrow higher level spells (and Persist them) via the Master Spellthief/Incantatrix combo. So... I think I've basically answered my own question here... Just wondering what others opinions are on Urban Tracking, really.

Edit: I guess it explicitly lets you track down people using Gather Info, and it shortens the time required to 1 hour (instead of 1d4+1) per check. Is that worth a feat (or trading out class levels)? Probably not.

[Jackinthegreen]

Depends on divination use and perhaps the target's protections against being found through magical or mundane means.  And what other options will be taken instead.

[Chemus]

Changeling rogue sub 1 (RoE p 122) for Social Intuition makes it d4+1 x 10 mins (1/6 the time) to gather info, plus other stuff. Mayhap the DM would allow it as a spellthief sub? Also, ask the DM if Social Intuition would interact w/ the urban tracking in the same fashion as it does w/ gather info.

Add'ly, the dungeonscape trapfinding ranger would net you trapfinding again, if you can afford it in the build.

[Vizzerdrix]

Tracking is a trap in any form. The DM will have you find the bbeg when they choose and not a moment sooner. If you simply must have it, get a bloodhound.

[phaedrusxy]

Tracking is a trap in any form. The DM will have you find the bbeg when they choose and not a moment sooner. If you simply must have it, get a bloodhound.

I absolutely disagree with the first sentiment, but I did wind up just buying a dog for this character. Tracking isn't about finding the BBEG, it's about preventing enemies from fleeing to show up and be a pain in the ass later, or determining what happened during an encounter that you come upon the remains of, etc. I've found it to be fun and useful, but it just isn't worth the cost of what I'd have to give up for this character, especially when you can buy it for the cost of 25 gp.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

" ... Investigate ... "

Huh.
That must be where wotc got the idea for some of the 5e Investigate skill.

[PlzBreakMyCampaign]

He means the bloodhound Prc.

But I disagree with that style of DMing. A campaign should be a campaign and if the PCs didn't build correctly, then they will have a long struggle. Tell them up front they need to cover all skills and have a tracker, etc

[phaedrusxy]

He means the bloodhound Prc.

A 25 gp guard dog trained for hunting is certainly less of an investment than a PrC. In most cases, the dog will be good enough for the job, also. This is what I wound up going with on my character.

[Vizzerdrix]

He means the bloodhound Prc.

Who did? Not me. If you are going to invest a feat for tracking (it should be a natural part of survival checks anyways) then take wild cohort instead. It is a better use of a feat, giving both more crunchy goodness and flavor.

[Craiconn]

Another way to get Tracking is to have a Rat (who has Scent) as your wizard familiar ... and Psychic Reformation 1 of his 2 starting feats out in for the Track feat. 

This will allow you to stick with the Spellthief class for all those Master Spellthief shenanigans.

[PlzBreakMyCampaign]

I thought we were talking about making track useful. It's uselessness is part of the general "let's invalidate an entire skill usage with a whole line of spells!" train of thought. Plane shift makes mundanes sad. There are ways to get over it, but its about as hard as doing anything else in 3.5 without spells.