E6 - Sherlock Holmes?

[Kasz]

I've been toying with the idea of a Sherlock Holmes style character. Due to my appreciation of the books and the recent live action...Elementary, Sherlock and Sherlock Holmes.

Now Factotum seems like an excellent method of displaying his eclectic studies.
Although a Swashbuckler could gain INT to damage, which is very Holmes.
Precision damage could be applicable (especially onto unarmed strikes if you look at the film).
So that makes me think of Kung Fu Genius...
Obviously a Factotum could work for Tripping... also maybe for Iajutsu against flat footed foes.
Maybe a Factotum 4/Monk 2, taking invisible fist.

What's the best way to replicate his ability to scan and survey a crime scene? Just Search Checks?
The best way to replicate his speech is probably trapping people in their own lies. So just Sense Motive/Diplomacy with a helping of bluff.

I'm not against spellcasting. I even think Bard, Cloistered Cleric or Archivist might work... but I just can't seem to put the ingredients together right.

I love Watch Detective but I can't fit it into the build due to the nature of E6, if I did it'd only be the first level... which isn't a bad bonus...but probably not worth it.

Any ideas for a competent master detective who isn't totally useless in a fight.

[Jackinthegreen]

Some sort of Urban Ranger perhaps?  He does track people down quite well.  I'd expect he has Favored Enemy: Human.

[Eviltedzies]

The spell Instant Search lets you make a search check as a free action and gain a +2 to the check. That plus spot/listen boosting items will have you noticing all kinds of crime scene shenanigans.

[Kasz]

The spell Instant Search lets you make a search check as a free action and gain a +2 to the check. That plus spot/listen boosting items will have you noticing all kinds of crime scene shenanigans.

Handy little spell. Thanks.

Some sort of Urban Ranger perhaps?  He does track people down quite well.  I'd expect he has Favored Enemy: Human.

Ah, more options.... good suggestion though. Will look into it.

[SorO_Lost]

I'd make a case for Sherlock is not just intelligent, but wise in D&D.

Literately, "Wisdom describes a character’s willpower, common sense, perception, and intuition." per SRD. One of Holmes most well known, and showcased, traits is his deductive reasoning which would be Wisdom based. Couple wisdom Skills are quite fundamental as well. Like dirt is dirt but to Sherlock, from ten feet away, it's a GPS signal (spot), his memory (autohypnosis), and able to read and deduce a person's real intentions and history (epic sense motive: read their minds!).

Lot and lots of Int/Wis synergy would be the way to go. Monk 2/Shiba Protect 1 grants Wis to AC/Attack/Damage and those Monk levels also help with Shiba's Feat Requirements. Factotum has lots of Int to X stuff. And you can hit this thread up for more.

[Kasz]

Wisdom is important and I like the Shibi Protector idea but it requires +5 BAB and 3 feats. If I have levels of Factotum and Monk, I'll never qualify for Shibi Protector.

[SorO_Lost]

Wisdom is important and I like the Shibi Protector idea but it requires +5 BAB and 3 feats. If I have levels of Factotum and Monk, I'll never qualify for Shibi Protector.

Oooh I forgot about the BAB requirement. Hmm... Maybe the link has some stuff you can squeeze in?

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Psi 2 power Object Reading might be about right on some of it.
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/objectReading.htm

[DavidWL]

Changeling Rogue 1 (w/ subsitution level)/Binder 1/Factotum 3/Jordain Vizier 1
Feats: Dreamtelling (from Heroes of Horror)

Binder gives a lot of flexibility, great social, bird scout, etc.
Changling Rogue = great skills + amazing social stuff/ gather information
Factotum as normal
Jordain Vizier = eidetic memory (note that it functions in 3 ways, all useful)

Very focused on social/knowledge/flexibility, weak on combat.

Best,
David

[Kasz]

Object reading and eidetic memory seem like they would work, good suggestions.

Problem with me and E6, too many ingredients, not enough space in the oven.

[phaedrusxy]

Object reading and eidetic memory seem like they would work, good suggestions.

Problem with me and E6, too many ingredients, not enough space in the oven.

Gloves of Object Reading are pretty cheap, and at will.

[SorO_Lost]

Heh, amazing item. And why? Corpses are objects, an object that at the time of death, without a Will stating otherwise, became unowned and in the possession of the killer. Think about that...

Why, one could say the killer owned him. 

[phaedrusxy]

Heh, amazing item. And why? Corpses are objects, an object that at the time of death, without a Will stating otherwise, became unowned and in the possession of the killer. Think about that...

Why, one could say the killer owned him. 

If the killer actually moves the body to hide/dispose of it, this is really pretty clear cut. If he stabs them and leaves them to bleed out (and so they die after he leaves), maybe not. But still, great (and hilarious) idea.

I do agree that this is one of the best cheap items in the game, and I always buy one if I can afford it and it fits my character at all.

[Kasz]

Heh, amazing item. And why? Corpses are objects, an object that at the time of death, without a Will stating otherwise, became unowned and in the possession of the killer. Think about that...

Why, one could say the killer owned him. 

Well that's Forensics taken care of, in one item.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

  necro-Feel-ia

Priced at 2*3*500 = yeah cheaper than *2000.

I vote DavidWL's build then.

[phaedrusxy]

Changeling Rogue 1 (w/ subsitution level)/Binder 1/Factotum 3/Jordain Vizier 1
Feats: Dreamtelling (from Heroes of Horror)

Binder gives a lot of flexibility, great social, bird scout, etc.
Changling Rogue = great skills + amazing social stuff/ gather information
Factotum as normal
Jordain Vizier = eidetic memory (note that it functions in 3 ways, all useful)

Very focused on social/knowledge/flexibility, weak on combat.

Best,
David

Unless you use partial BAB, this build is going to have a BAB of +2, right?

Jordan Vizier is a really interesting dip, though. What about Cloistered Cleric 5/JV 1 as a build? All of your levels would stack for the Eidetic Knowledge check, as CC has Lore as a class ability. You'd also have the Instant Search spell mentioned earlier, and if you take the Kobold domain, could find traps as a rogue. You'd also have a good skill list and number of skills.

Edit: Crap... base will of +6 is a bitch. You're pretty much hosed trying to not lose a CL and meet that... Church Inquisitor almost gets you there... and fits pretty well thematically, also.

Edit2: Ah, noticed the code of conduct. No casting... Bummer.