One of the most exciting aspects of running a roleplaying game is guiding your players through a narrative full of mystery and intrigue. The discovery of leads and clues is a crucial part of this process, as it keeps players engaged, gives them a sense of accomplishment, and drives the story forward. However, designing these scenes can be tricky. You want to give players the freedom to make decisions without feeling like they are being spoon-fed the answers. Different types of scenes allow you to create varied conflicts and sources of tension, while also giving players agency over how they uncover the leads and clues.

Let’s explore nine types of investigation scenes that can help you, as a game master, create engaging moments where players actively discover vital information.

1. Observing the Environment

One of the most straightforward ways for player characters to gain leads and clues is by observing their surroundings. Whether it’s a crime scene, a suspicious location, or an area with hidden significance, the environment can offer subtle hints that players must notice and interpret.

Encourage players to use their senses: sight, sound, smell, and touch. Perhaps they find an out-of-place object, notice unusual markings, or sense that something doesn’t feel right. As a game master, plant small details that lead to larger discoveries – a bloodstain partially hidden under a rug, a broken window that implies forced entry, or strange footprints in the dirt.

Let players take the initiative in how they investigate. Rather than having an NPC spell out what to look for, allow the players to ask questions and explore. If they overlook a crucial clue, don’t hand it to them. Instead, subtly guide them back by making the absence of that clue noticeable.

2. Interviewing Witnesses

Another common scene involves player characters talking to witnesses or people with knowledge of the event or location they are investigating. Witnesses may be reluctant, forgetful, or hiding something, and it’s up to the players to figure out the truth.

Create characters with motivations and personalities that affect how they respond to questions. Witnesses might withhold information out of fear, guilt, or self-interest. Instead of giving straightforward answers, let witnesses offer vague or misleading clues that players need to piece together. For example, a neighbor might claim they saw nothing but mention hearing glass break hours after the incident.

Allow players to choose how they approach each witness – diplomatically, aggressively, or with subterfuge. Their approach should influence the quality of the information they gather. A successful interrogation should require skill, insight, and sometimes even bribes or favors.

3. Researching Documents or Archives

When it comes to solving mysteries, sometimes the answers lie hidden in books, documents, or databases. This kind of scene gives players a chance to delve into libraries, archives, or old records to piece together vital information.

Set the scene in a dusty library, a secret government archive, or even an abandoned office. Players might have to search through disorganized stacks of papers or outdated files. Give them access to fragments of information that, once connected, reveal a larger picture. For example, they may uncover a map that leads them to the next location or find records of a suspect’s past.

Instead of simply giving them the answers, make players work for it. They may need to solve a puzzle to access certain files, decipher ancient texts, or hack into a computer system. The challenge lies in their ability to find the right piece of information without getting overwhelmed by irrelevant details.

4. Following a Suspect

Sometimes, the best way to uncover leads and clues is to track someone who may be involved in the mystery. Following a suspect adds an element of stealth and risk, as players must remain undetected while gathering information.

Introduce a suspect who behaves suspiciously, giving players a reason to tail them. The suspect might lead them to a hidden meeting, an important location, or reveal their connection to other characters. Make the path difficult – perhaps the suspect moves through crowded streets, across rooftops, or into restricted areas where the players have to stay hidden or blend in.

Players must decide how to follow the suspect: Do they split up? Do they use disguises? Each choice should present its own challenges and risks. Let them decide when and how to act, adding suspense and tension as the suspect gets closer to their destination.

5. Eavesdropping

Another way to gather leads and clues is through eavesdropping on conversations. This technique requires players to be stealthy and strategic about where they position themselves and how they gather information without being detected.

Set up a scenario where the characters overhear important information. Maybe they’re hiding in a back alley while shady figures discuss a plan, or they listen in from an adjacent room. The challenge is ensuring the players remain unseen and that the information isn’t too conveniently overheard.

Make the eavesdropping scene tense by requiring players to make decisions on the fly. Do they risk getting closer for better audio? What happens if they’re discovered? Allow the outcome of these decisions to affect the information they gain.

6. Confronting a Suspect

In some cases, the players may choose to confront someone directly to extract information. This method can lead to an intense and emotionally charged scene, especially if the suspect has something to hide.

Create a confrontation where the suspect is cornered but not yet willing to divulge everything. The scene could escalate into a tense standoff, a chase, or even a negotiation where players must balance threats and diplomacy to get what they need.

Let players dictate how they handle the confrontation. Do they accuse the suspect outright, or do they use psychological tactics to make the suspect slip up? The outcome should depend on the choices the players make, creating a dynamic and memorable scene.

7. Investigating a Location of Interest

Infiltrating a significant location – such as a suspect’s house, an office, or an underground hideout—can reveal crucial information. This kind of scene requires both investigation and stealth, as players may be unwelcome or in danger.

Fill the location with leads and clues that players can uncover through careful examination. A hidden compartment, a suspicious document, or even a diary entry can all serve as leads. However, add obstacles such as guards, locked doors, or surveillance systems that players must navigate.

Players must choose how to infiltrate and investigate the location. Will they go in stealthily, break in forcefully, or use a social cover story? Their decisions affect how much information they uncover and what risks they face.

8. Searching Someone’s Pockets

Sometimes the vital clue isn’t hidden in a location, but on a person. Searching pockets or belongings can provide important information about a suspect or an accomplice. This type of scene adds an element of personal risk since the players may need to act quickly and carefully to avoid detection.

The players could pickpocket someone during a casual interaction, search a person who has been incapacitated, or rummage through belongings left unattended. What they find could range from a suspicious note or map to a strange key or magical trinket.

This scene should test the players’ dexterity, cleverness, or speed. If they fail, they could be caught red-handed, escalating the situation into an unexpected conflict. Success might provide them with just enough information to connect the next pieces of the puzzle.

9. Seeking Out an Expert

Sometimes players will need specialized knowledge to understand a clue. This is where consulting an expert comes into play, whether it’s a historian, a scientist, or a seer with knowledge of the arcane.

Introduce an expert character with their own motives and personality. The expert could be reluctant to help, require a favor in exchange for their knowledge, or even mislead the players. Make the interaction interesting by layering it with interpersonal conflict.

Players must decide who to trust and how to extract useful information from the expert. Do they bribe the expert? Do they appeal to their vanity? This scene should give players the freedom to approach the interaction in multiple ways.

Crafting Engaging and Rewarding Investigation Scenes

By using a variety of investigation scenes, you can create a dynamic and immersive experience for your players. The key is to balance tension, conflict, and player agency, allowing the players to be the drivers of their own discovery process. Whether they are observing a crime scene, following a suspect, or confronting a witness, each of these scenes should offer opportunities for players to make meaningful choices.

This approach not only ensures a more satisfying narrative but also gives players a sense of ownership over the story’s progression. These techniques can elevate any RPG campaign, keeping players invested and actively participating in uncovering the mysteries you’ve set before them.

Inspired by a 2019 post from Chris Winkle on the Mythcreants blog, these ideas serve as a foundation for designing scenes that bring both tension and player agency to the forefront of your games.