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Nov-26-2006 20:36

Hey All!

Looking for opinions between Surveillance and Hypnotism - what do you think is better?

I have all my tough except Stress Det, all my smarts, and all Factions except Surv., Hyp, and Safe-cracking.

I am not interested in Charm skills at all.

What do you all think?

Nov-26-2006 23:01

I would recommend Surveillance. I have Hypnotism but I am a charming detective (in real life too ;). Hypnotism success rates are based on your charm, which, assuming your current outfit is your standard gear, is rather low. Surveillance success is based on smarts, which for your current gear is a lot better than charm.

Nov-27-2006 06:11

Ranier with the idea that SMRT already has a couple of people with safe cracking I would go with Surveillance. It is going to unlock one clammed suspect (sometimes) and hypnotism will give you extra suspects on the motive question.

I would say that getting all three at this point in your detectives career is a good thing, there is not a real wrong choice here. Then to start working on the charming skills.

Nov-27-2006 06:38

I'm going against the grain here, but with good reason.

I would pick hypnotism. Both are useful, both work dependent on your balance gear, and you'll probablly get the one you don't pick after the one you do pick, right?

In that case, being a very smart detective, I believe Surveillance costs 11 skill points while Hypnotism costs 12. Get the harder-to-earn skill first so that your second one is easier to get and therefore quicker.

But there really isn't a wrong way to go on this one, Ranier :)

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Nov-27-2006 09:19

Like others have said - you can't really go wrong :)

That aside, I'd get hypnotism first. It might be different for you given your smartypants archtype, but I find that surveillance doesn't really work as well/often as I'd like, even if I run back and forth changing into smart gear. Pretty much 50/50 -- whereas, like you, I'm in very UNcharming gear most of the time, and find that I can usually count on hypnotism to shorten the time it takes me get the full suspect list by at least a question or two. Plus, for the time being you can get someone else in the agency to do your spying for you, which isn't true of hypnotism - i.e. I think it's a better solo skill.

haha and leave the safe-cracking to biggie ... she's got that spork and stuff...

Nov-28-2006 01:52

I agree with crunch. Hypnotism can get your suspect list much faster. surveillance doesnt always work and mostly I can finish the cases without it.
That said, Im charming and wear charm gear. Im not sure how Hypno would work if you wear tough.

Nov-28-2006 04:25

mmm I'd go hypno. I can bump up to 25 in smarts and surveillance still doesn't always work all the time. Great when it does but it's too hit and miss.

Nov-28-2006 07:44

Hmm ironically Crunch, I don't have safecracking :)

Ranier, as one of the toughest wenches out there, I have both. I find hypnotism to be FAR more useful, and it made not a bit of difference that I could tell by switching to charm equipment.

Surveillance is cool but I use it so rarely, since it only works about half the time, even with the PITA system of switching equipment.

Nov-28-2006 07:45

oh and forget safecracking, we've got plenty of that :)