Hello folks I have a unique sounding suggestion for our shard.


TL;DR Version -- Refactor Forensics

Abstract - This post outlines Suggestions for the improvement of Forensic Evaluation Skill which will result in enhanced Emergent Gameplay through enhanced simulation, quirks, and additional unforseen gameplay objectives.
I, like many players, have achieved GM skill level in Forensic Evaluation and find it lackluster and unidimensional. Although surely and firmly filed under "Useless Skills", I believe Forensics has much potential for cheap thrills, enhanced gameplay, more fun, and the ability to include detective-type, fun and unique quest mechanics.

Currently -  At the moment the metadata returned by Forensics seems to time out before corpses/objects themselves decay. I am also unable to achieve success in using this skill to determine if a player is a member of the Thieves Guild. Though useful for determining if someone might be sneaking about, I find no other good ones, although this may be a personal failing.

(Lots of) Suggestions for Enhancement -

- Allow Forensics to return the Owned property of items, possibly its owner as well.
- Above requires Administration to qualify "Ownership", but the implications of this may not be apparent at this time.
- Add a Stolen property to any items which have been & expose this property. Add some nontrivial way to remove the property. Item ID can be included in this mechanic.
- Lengthen the time in which Forensics can report currently available metadata.
- Add the ability to determine if defeated mobiles were able to meaningfully fight back.
- Create the ability for Forensics to determine if a creature mobile or player had been stolen from.
- Create the ability for Forensics to determine if the Player identified by the skill is/was mounted, perhaps still nearby or their direction of egress, perhaps tie the success to a Tracking check.
- Reduce the success of Forensics in the presence of Lots of Death. (active champion spawn altars or similar zones)
- Add a lastseen to blue/yellow NPCs (maybe not Player Owned Vendors) to allow a detective to shake them down for information. Skill checks for Evaluating Intelligence, Tactics, Biology, Animal Lore, and/or Mace Fighting could be included.
- Can this be added to doors/moongates?  (ex: Opened/Passed through within skill/90 Seconds)
- Involve Guards to reveal any recent Red/Grey/Faction movement.
- Allow Forensics to reveal the victim of a targeted Red/Grey player or Thieves guildmember
- Allow Forensics in concert with perhaps spirit speak to reveal the Form being used by a player (Even though this is mostly obvious).
- Add passive enhancement to Detecting Hidden skill.
- Add Passive ability to reveal additional Blood and/or reveal the Name of the bleeder with skill use. Disable in Champion spawn or similar zones, or make this unreliable under some circumstances/
- Include/Require a new Detective Talisman to enable some of these enhancements, or perhaps simply use the existing Detective [Replica] artifacts.
- Create a rival to the thieves guild - Office of the Detective of Britannia.
- Include this mechanic in the (currently vestigial) Bounty System.
- Add a Passive check to reveal very recent Recall landings. (ex: Display a grey Chaos Shield on the location)
- Tie Forensics to the ability to see who has used an item/altar/quest object or objective, talked to its NPC, etc.
- Add an "Owned By" flag to active Moongates and expose it to Forensic skill.
- Possibility of future fun/unique Detective quests.
- Use Hiding / Stealth / Evaluating Intelligence / Animal Lore / Disguise Kits to counter some of these mechanics. Effects which target players directly should have a meaningful counter, which should be reached for. (which is to say, should be intentionally achieved, not simply available with run-of the mill gear/skill levels)


I believe Forensics has plenty of untapped potential for cheap thrills and totally unique gameplay experiences including dialog based mechanics, detective quests, and any number of unforseen, fun side effects. Great quest rewards would be Decorative items, Legitimate Pardons, Custom Titles, etc. Some/many of these suggestions can be made available at a skill level of 50, 80, 90, to any player, but a few should be made available only  to GM+ Detectives or those who are in the (hypothetical) guild of detectives, or those who have expended time/energy in obtaining particular items/achievements/skill levels in order to allow the possibility of nonchalant pride amongst successful Forensic Analysts. In addition, this could vitalize an exciting opportunity for roleplaying thieves by creating a fun cop/robber environment in some circumstances.

Thanks for reading!