The Inevitable Guidebook Trait System

Echoes of Potential Trait Foundation System

Traits define the abilities or shortcomings of a character. Unlike traditional classes in an rpg, which typically limit characters to one or two compatible options, traits allow for a broader range of combinations. Each trait comes with its own unique set of prerequisites; some may even necessitate possessing other traits before they can be acquired, referred to as compound traits. Additionally, traits can interact with each other in various ways, such as synergies, resistances, or conditional effects, influencing the character's performance and capabilities.

Dissecting Your Power The Anatomy of Traits

To better understand how traits function within this system, here's a breakdown of their key components

• NAME The unique identifier for the trait.

• TIER Indicates the general power level and rarity of the trait, potentially impacting its cost and availability.

• SOURCE The type of trait and how it's acquired (Simple, Compound, Flawed, Legacy, etc.). This tells us if it's inherent, learned, triggered, or bestowed.

• CATEGORY A thematic or mechanical classification of the trait (Profession, Protoion, Species, Title, Class). This helps organize traits and hints at their gameplay function.

• DESCRIPTION A detailed explanation of the trait's effects and mechanics.

• PREREQUISITE Specific traits, actions, or narrative conditions a character must meet to acquire this trait.

• SYNERGIES Other traits that interact positively, enhancing effects, reducing costs, or unlocking new capabilities.

• RESISTANCES Types of damage, effects, or status conditions that this trait offers resistance or immunity against.

• CONDITIONS Specific circumstances, states, or triggers that fundamentally define the parameters of a trait's application or effectiveness.

• BACKGROUND The broad archetype defining the character's core focus and potential paths (Martial, Arcane, Divine, Skillful, Utility, Social).

• COST Resources (points, currency, materials, or narrative-based) required to acquire or unlock the trait.

Addressing Traditional Class Archetypes

The Trait Foundation System prioritizes flexibility, allowing you to craft unique characters unbound by traditional rigid class restrictions. However, certain trait combinations can strongly evoke the feel of traditional class archetypes. Here's how that works

• Emergent Classes By strategically selecting traits with specific Backgrounds, Categories, and synergistic effects, you organically build a character that embodies a class archetype without being locked into it.

  • Example A skilled warrior isn't just a "Fighter." They could be a Knight (Title), a Swordsman (Class), or a Duelist (Compound Trait combining weapon skills and attributes).

• Freedom of Specialization You can focus on a specific archetype (ex a stealthy assassin), or mix traits from different archetypes for unique hybrids (like a holy warrior blending Divine and Martial traits).

• Narrative Layers Traits like Titles, Legacy Traits, and narrative-based Prerequisites allow you to further define your character's story within their archetype. Are you a self-proclaimed mage, or did you graduate from a prestigious Arcane academy?

Benefits of this Approach

• Customization Fine-tune your character's strengths, weaknesses, and role within the party.

• Evolving Power Your "class" can evolve as you acquire new traits, adding surprising twists to traditional archetypes.

• Narrative Integration Your character's journey is woven into their chosen archetype through their background, traits, and story choices.

The Origins of Power - Exploring Trait Sources

A trait source is the acquisition method needed in order for ownership of a trait to be valid. This provides insight into a trait's nature, whether it's inherent, learned, triggered, or bestowed. Here's a breakdown of common sources

SIMPLE TRAITS

Serve as essential elements shaping a character's foundation. They provide basic abilities or modifiers crucial for defining capabilities and actions.

COMPOUND TRAITS

Unlocked through acquiring a specific mix of Simple Traits, representing advanced skills or specializations. These offer more potent or distinctive effects, enhancing proficiency in specialized areas.

ASCENDED TRAITS

Rare and immensely powerful, propelling a character to unprecedented levels of strength. They may be linked to significant story progress, exceptional achievements, or hidden prerequisites, marking milestones of extraordinary accomplishment.

FLAWED TRAITS

Offer substantial advantages at the cost of considerable drawbacks. Embracing these traits introduces a complex balance of risk and reward, enriching decision-making and adding layers to character development.

TRIGGERED TRAITS

Special abilities that activate under certain conditions, such as specific combat scenarios, locations, or character actions. They encourage strategic thinking and adaptability, tailoring responses to diverse situations.

LEGACY TRAITS

Connect a character to their heritage or significant past events. These can provide mechanical advantages, unlock unique story elements, or evolve with each generation, weaving history and legacy into the character's journey.

HIDDEN TRAITS

Shrouded in mystery, revealing themselves only when certain conditions are met or actions are performed. Their discovery adds an exciting element of surprise and exploration to character development.

ALLIANCE TRAITS

Awarded for affiliation with particular factions or groups. They reinforce team identity and encourage alignment with group objectives, influencing character development through shared goals and values.

Forging Your Path - A Guide to Trait Prerequisites

Within the Trait Power System, Prerequisites are specific requirements a character must fulfill in order to gain or unlock a particular trait. These requirements can include possessing certain Simple Traits, belonging to a specific Species or Protoion, achieving a certain Trait Level, or fulfilling various narrative conditions.

Understanding Prerequisites & Restrictions

• Trait Progression Prerequisites ensure logical and balanced power and specialization progression. They create a sense of growth, forcing characters to work their way towards advanced or rare traits.

• Customization Prerequisites allow for personalized character builds. Players can strategize and make choices based on their desired traits and paths.

• Restrictions and Limitations Prerequisites maintain balance and thematic consistency. Not every trait should be immediately available, and some might be inherently restricted based on a character's background or choices.
  
  

Types of Prerequisites in the Trait Power System

CORE TYPES

• Trait-Based Requires possession of specific Simple or Compound Traits.

• Lineage-Based Tied to Species, Protoion, or inherited background.

• Level-Based Requires a trait to be at a specific level/progression point.

• Narrative-Based Linked to canon events, quests, or discoveries.

ADDITIONAL TYPES

• Resource-Based Requires specific currency, materials, or components.

• Reputation-Based Dependent on standing within a faction or organization.

• Skill Check-Based Requires success in a skill check.

• Environmental Linked to locations or conditions the character has experienced.

• Alignment-Based Restricted based on moral or ethical alignment.

SPECIALIZED TYPES

• Time-Based Unlocked only during a specific time period (season, festival, etc.).

• Secret/Hidden Requires uncovering specific knowledge or completing a hidden objective.

• Legacy Linked to the actions or traits of previous characters or ancestors.

• Cosmetic Alters a trait's appearance but not its mechanical function (may have other prerequisites).

• Event-Driven Tied to special in-world events.

From Spark to Radiance - Mastering the Trait Level System

Think of your traits as having an internal dimmer switch. As you use and develop a trait, it grows brighter, unlocking its full potential. Here's how to visualize the levels of trait mastery

• PENUMBRA (WEAKEST) The spark of potential is there, but the trait offers only minimal effects or abilities.

• DUSK The trait starts to show its power, but it's still unreliable or limited in scope.

• DIM You're starting to see results! The trait functions consistently, but its effects are somewhat subdued.

• GLIMMER Things are getting interesting! The trait offers a noticeable boost in power and effectiveness.

• RADIANT Your trait shines brightly! Expect potent effects and reliable performance.

• BLINDING You've become exceptionally skilled. Your trait dazzles, reaching a high level of mastery and specialization.

• ECLIPSE (STRONGEST) Only achievable with the most powerful traits – this is true mastery! Your trait exhibits extraordinary power and flexibility.

The Building Blocks of Your Character Understanding Trait Categories

A trait category is a thematic or mechanical classification of the trait. Understanding a trait's category offers hints about its function within the game and how it might interact with the world. Here's a breakdown of common categories

• PROFESSION - Represents a skilled vocation requiring specialized knowledge, often learned through apprenticeship, guild membership, or mystical tutelage. Professions offer tangible services or crafts vital to the realm.

  • Examples Alchemist, blacksmith, bard, healer, scribe

• PROTOION - A classification based on the origin of an entity's soul. This implies different soul types grant distinct blessings, burdens, or predispositions within the magical currents of the world.

  • Examples Etherborn, Nexal, Sorcerer, Undead

• SPECIES - A kindred of beings sharing common ancestry and traits, capable of producing offspring that inherit their form. May encompass both the familiar and the fantastical.

  • Examples Humans, elves, dwarves, goblins, griffins

• TITLE - A designation of rank, honor, lineage, or accomplishment. Titles can be inherited, earned by heroic deeds, or granted by those in power.

  • Examples Duke, Countess, Baron, Dragonslayer, Archmage, Master Smith, Oracle, Chosen of [Deity]

• CLASS - A broad background defining a character's abilities, talents, and path in the world. May encompass those skilled in combat, magic, or more subtle arts.

• ATTRIBUTE - Simple, innate traits representing a character's physical or mental capabilities. These often form the foundation upon which other skills and abilities are built.

  • Examples Strong, Flexible, Intelligent, Weak, Clumsy, Dull

A Measure of Might The Trait Tier Ranking System

The Trait Power System utilizes a mineral-based ranking system to indicate a trait's rarity and overall power level. This system places limits on the number of high-tier traits a character can possess, ensuring balance and preventing characters from becoming overpowered.

Power Multiplied The Art of Trait Synergies

Within the Trait Power System, synergies are interactions between two or more traits, the environment, or even the traits of other characters, creating emergent effects and expanded possibilities that wouldn't exist in isolation. These synergies can enhance existing abilities, trigger entirely new ways to interact with the world, or offer unique storytelling opportunities.

Key Points About Synergies

• Strategic Depth Synergies encourage careful consideration of trait combinations, not just for individual power, but for the unique narratives they enable.

• Customization The variety of potential synergies offers extensive freedom for personalization, allowing for distinct character identities, problem-solving approaches, and compelling story angles.

• Evolving Power As characters acquire new traits, face fresh challenges, or interact with a changing world, the potential for even more impactful synergies emerges, creating a sense of discovery and growth.

Identifying Synergies

• Read Trait Descriptions Pay close attention to a trait's thematic focus, keywords, and even potential drawbacks for clues about how it might interact with others.

• Matching Themes Consider traits with similar elemental properties, narrative implications, or a focus shared on internal vs. external influence. These are more likely to synergize in unexpected ways.

• Experimenting & Collaboration: The truest potential of your traits often lies in how they interact. Experiment! See how your unique combination of abilities responds to different situations.  Perhaps test them in a safe environment to get a feel for their potential synergies. Don't be afraid to collaborate with others  -  sometimes the most surprising and powerful effects emerge when your traits work in tandem with those of your companions, or even the environment itself.

Core Synergy Types

• Trait Enhancement Synergistic traits amplify or modify each other's effects, increasing potency or adding additional bonuses.

  • Example: A Cryokin with exceptional tracking skills (Hunter Trait) might notice subtle changes in temperature caused by a fleeing target's footprints, enhancing their ability to follow a trail.

• Resource Efficiency Traits create synergy by reducing the cost of activating certain abilities, conserving valuable resources.

  • Example: A Hydrokin with the Water Affinity Trait might find that when near a significant water source, manipulating existing water for their abilities expends less of their own internal energy reserves.

• Cooldown Reduction Synergies reduce the cooldown time before an ability can be used again, allowing for more frequent usage.

  • Example: A Kineticist who has trained extensively in breathing techniques and meditation (Focused Mind Trait)  may find that the mental focus exercises allow them to recover more quickly after channeling powerful kinetic forces, reducing the time needed before they can unleash another blast.

• Conditional Activation One trait unlocks a special effect only when used in conjunction with another, creating unique tactical options.

  • Example: A Shadowkin with heightened senses (Acute Senses Trait) might only be able to access secret passages or hidden chambers when cloaked in darkness.

• Passive Enhancement The mere presence of certain trait combinations offers a passive bonus, even without actively using abilities.

  • Example: A constantly tinkering Inventor (Tinkerer Trait) with a strong connection to nature (Nature Affinity Trait) might subconsciously design creations that mimic natural forms or utilize unexpected organic materials.

• Utility Synergies One trait enhances non-combat abilities of another, improving exploration, crafting, or social interactions.

  • Example: A charismatic leader (Charismatic Trait) with the Voice Mimicry Trait finds they can subtly  project their voice to appear as if it's coming from elsewhere, enhancing their ability to persuade crowds or give rousing speeches.

• Environmental Synergies Traits interact based on the current environment or location, offering situational advantages.

  • Example: A character with powerful telekinetic abilities (Telekinetic Trait) might be able to manipulate sandstorms in a desert environment with far greater precision and ease than in other locations.

Understanding Trait Conditions

Conditions are integral aspects of a trait that define the parameters under which it operates.  They can offer both advantages and limitations, influencing how a trait functions within the game's mechanics.

Types of Conditions

Conditions can be broadly categorized into three types:

State of Being Conditions:

These Conditions are tied to the character's inherent qualities, both physical and mental.

Examples:

Clumsy: Limitations on physical actions due to coordination issues.

Altruist: Susceptibility to emotional strain when witnessing suffering.

Intuitive: Increased sensitivity to subtle cues or hidden information.

Resource-Based Conditions:

The trait requires specific resources, materials, or external conditions to function.

Examples:

Mana Dependent: Spells or abilities consume a magical energy source.

Gear Reliant: Specific traits are tied to equipment and may have limitations if that gear is lost or damaged.

Fueled by Emotion: Certain abilities might require a specific emotional state to trigger or maintain.

Environmental Conditions:

The trait's effectiveness is influenced by the character's surroundings, location, or broader world circumstances.

Examples:

Aeromancer: Power tied to wind and weather patterns.

Lunar Sensitivity: Trait is strengthened or weakened based on phases of the moon.

Hallowed Ground: Certain abilities function differently within consecrated areas.