Sleuth Home - Message Boards - Newbie Questions

Dec-4-2004 18:11

Is there a skill limit, or can I slowly build up all the skills?

Dec-4-2004 18:17

hmmmmmmmmm,,,,,,,,,,, so far all i know is that you get points after you complete a case that you an use whenever.

Dec-4-2004 19:44

Skill points will become scarce the more exp points you get, but I have read of some of the veteran detectives who have attained all the skills.

Dec-4-2004 20:18

You can get all of the skills eventually, but as they warn, the pace really slows down. On the other hand, as I've developed my own style, I have found that I don't even want all the skills - I don't use the tough skills, for instance, and others like stress detection just don't seem that helpful.

Ben added the special skills (pickpocket, hypnosis and safe cracking) a few months ago. He will probably come up with something new just when you thought you had everything. Its one of the things I love about this game.

Dec-4-2004 20:41

Right. I like the stress detection, myself, but I wouldn't get it right away. The points do slow waaaay down, so prioritize what you get.

Also, I don't personally see any point for a tough detective getting charming skills or vice versa. All it leads to is mistakenly clicking on the wrong thing. And if you are wearing tough gear, you might be sorry to click on Sweet Talking, even if you have the skill.

I do know at least one person who has all the skills, though. I'm sure there are a number of people who have done this. Then the points just sit around and accrue....

Dec-5-2004 10:17

i thought daru said she has them all and someone else to elsley maybe?

Dec-5-2004 10:56

You won't realy need thelock picking skill becuase you can just leave, and come back. the person will b there. but i've never actualy lock picked so i don't know what will happen.

The 3 skills i think that you'll need the most are:
-judge of character- that way they won't close up on you cause you'll know which way is best: nice or tough?
-Interigation: some people like being talked tough to, don't ask me.
-Sweet talking: for the talk nice people.

And a good optional one is either the bend rules or bribe skill. they come in andy with the shop keepers. For instance: i found that the bank keeper always gave me the best info ect. when i bribed him, on the other hand the brtender didn't like my bribes and instead i asked him to bend the rules and then that worked well. i ushaly have to sweet talk the music teacher ect.

Dec-5-2004 11:11

Lock picking can be VERY useful. It eliminates the need to ask up to 2 questions. Research is another helpful skill that eliminates one suspect for you.

See Dr. Maltese's answer on the tough vs charm please.

Bribing is not a skill, but a last resort. After you bribe them, no more questions will be answered.

Look through the newbie boards for more good info on choosing your skills. Moonsh, Dr. Maltese, Reda, Jstkd, Delvin, and many other highly respected vetern detectives have given this info in a simple manner many times. There are different approaches to solving the cases. You'll have to find your preferred method, but we are always happy to help.

The best advice I recieved was to get the expensive skills (after a FEW basics) first, since the skill points do become so scarce.

Dec-5-2004 13:20

Yes, I think Detective M.P.'s advice, though well-intentioned, could lead the unwary astray.

For example, the judge of character skill is viewed by many as a total waste. Just build up charming OR tough skills AND gear. Then don't waste your time or skills points on the other skills until much later, if then.

cfmdec's advice is completely on target, in my book! Lock picking is useful, although I wouldn't get it until later, and same with research.

Evidence skills are more important than these, in my opinion, unless you are in an agency and getting help in searching cases and/or in using people's contacts to help solve.

But the highest priority on my list would be:

Tough: All levels of Interrogation (suspects) and Intimidation (townspeople)

Charming: All levels of Sweet Talking (suspects) and Rule Bending (townspeople)

Once someone clams up on you, it can make the case impossible to solve. So I think preventing clamming is most important.

As cfmdec says, different methods are preferred by different people, but this is what has worked very well for me.

Dec-5-2004 13:58

For reasearch nothing ever comes up for me.

Dec-5-2004 14:14


One strategy I've rethought is when it comes to buying advanced smarts, I would get cheaper ones first - using this reasoning:

Lets say I need both advanced hair and handwriting. I'll have to wait either 11 skill points (a long time) if I opt to hold out for handwriting; but only 6 skill points if I opt to get hair first. I'll still have to earn 17 points to get both, but from point 6 through point 11, I am playing with ONE of them, instead of none if I wait.

I don't think that one kind of evidence shows up more often than any other. Hair may be cheaper to buy, but when it pops up as evidence seems pretty random, so you want to have the most complete skill set the earliest. Its going to take exactly the same amount of time to get all of them, so why not have the bigger skill set sooner.