| nonsequitrist |
As the title says, I'm a new PFS player, though I've spent a fair bit of time with a reasonable broad selection of resources. I hope this forum is a good place to seek help on choosing traits, and I have not erred in posting.
The character in question is a ninja, and I suppose some of his ability scores might be relevant, so:
Str: 10 Dex: 18 Con: 14 Int: 10 Wis: 10 Cha: 14
I've narrowed down my choices to four traits. I'm fairly decided on one of them:
Crowd Dodger: You spent much of your youth on crowded streets, dodging quickly around and under others. You gain a +2 trait bonus on Acrobatics checks to move through another creature's space and to avoid attacks opportunity for leaving a threatened square.
Though I will likely take Mobility and Spring Attack as later feats, Crowd Dodger, it seems to me, will synergize with Mobility and may provide an attractive combat option even when Spring Attack does not. For the period before I get those feats, it will be even more useful for getting in position to flank, which I assume is one of my prime responsibilities to my group.
Another I'm considering is
Expert Duelist: In your youth, you spent countless hours perfecting the art of the duel, focusing your efforts on defeating a single foe. You gain a +1 trait bonus to your Armor Class so long as you are adjacent to a single foe. This trait bonus is not applied to your Armor Class for touch attacks or when you are denied your Dexterity bonus.
This is a faction feat for the Sovereign court. (I'm human, and one of my first two feats is Dodge.) Given my lightly armored state, I reason that a further increase in my AC would be a good idea. Expert Duelist has a limitation, obviously, but as a ninja with a high Acrobatics total, potentially with Crowd Dodger as well, my ability to take a position ensuring that I have only one adjacent opponent should help. My AC in such a situation, when I am not flat footed, would be 18 at level 1.
Another attractive option is
Reactionary: You were bullied often as a child, but never quite developed an offensive response. Instead, you became adept at anticipating sudden attacks and reacting to danger quickly. You gain a +2 trait bonus on initiative checks.
Until I get Uncanny Dodge I am vulnerable to being flat footed fairly often, and any boost to initiative helps mitigate that vulnerability. Even after I get Uncanny Dodge, being able to act while opponents are flat footed will continue to be helpful, particularly in challenging scenarios where everyone needs to perform well. Basically, you can never have enough initiative boosts?
Finally:
Lover of the Law: You receive a +1 trait bonus on saving throws against charm and compulsion effects, and may attempt a new saving throw with an additional +1 bonus (for a total of +2) if you are directed to break the law.
This trait is a religious trait for Abadar, a god who is associated with Taldar. My intended faction is also associated with Taldar, and my alignment fits with Abadar, making Abadar a reasonable choice of deity. My Wisdom bonus is 0, so my Will save is really awful. Considering the damage an invisible, turncoat ninja can do to his party on a failed Will save, this trait is quite compelling. Being able a roll a new save with an additional bonus is almost crazy-good. This trait is rather situational, though the situation is potentially disastrous. In contrast, Reactionary delivers benefit in every combat.
I'm really quite torn. Any thoughts?