In Dennis da Ogre's Cafeteria Style Racial Traits thread the thought experiment was put forth to give characters Traits, as are given in Pathfinder Adventure Paths. These could be used to give non-human races more of a region feel, and humans a bit of cultural customizability as well.
Coincedentally a few days ago a group of players and I were statting up some characters for a Beta PbP test drive and one suggested using Traits. We all soon became enamored with the idea, and along with raiding published traits we started fashioning some of our own. Another player suggested we post some for comment, so here goes. If you want, please post your own ideas, or comment if you feel a trait disrupts the balance of a game. I am always wary of modifying crunch, so any constructive critiscim would be appreciated. We are giving each character two.
Some general Traits: (generic setting)
Note: Any Trait that improves a skill that needs to be trained requires character to have that skill in place to benefit.
Bardic mentor: You were lucky enough to apprentice with a master bard when you were younger. +2 to any specific Perform (instrument) you have.
Local favorite: your musical stylings are particularly appreciated in a certain region. Gain a +2 on any Diplomacy check within the area.
Singer of ancient songs: You have studied the past through song. Gain a +2 to your Knowledge(History).
Angel in the wings: Your performing has attracted the attentions of a wealthy patron. This patron can be called upon for assistance on occasion.
Forbidden Secrets: During you quest for arcane knowledge you have stumbled upon several blasphemous texts that detailed the workings of Heaven and Hell. You receive a +2 to a Knowledge (Planes) skill.
Weathered: Years spent wandering streets, alleyways, trails, and wilderness have exposed your body to some of the rougher elements nature has to offer. Your experience allows you to better acclimate yourself to harsh physical conditions, granting you a +1 bonus to Fortitude saves. Suggested by Jagyr Ebonwood
Desert Traveller: You have spent many years traveling in the arid deserts of your homeland and as a result have developed a touch of the camel's constitution. You gain a +2 bonus to all Fort saves or Con checks to avoid taking damage due to thirst or dehydration. Suggested by Mark Thomas84
Shield Maiden: As a standard action when wielding a shield of any kind you may take a -2 penalty to your armour class to provide one adjacent ally an AC bonus equal to the AC bonus of the shield used. Cannot be used with Tower Shields due to their cumbersome nature. Any magic bonus of the shield applies.
"A mother's threatened child inspires protection" Suggested by Larcifer
Some setting-specific ones that could be modified to fit other places:
Note: Tharkad-Kûl is basically a deserted dwarven city rife with undead. The Great Forest is a large forest to the East of it.
Knowledge of the Silent Halls: Your family preserved tales of the days in Tharkad-Kûl and of its paths and ways. Gain a +2 to Knowledge(Dungeoneering)
Heritage of Stone: The blood of the ancient Delvers of Tharkad-Kûl runs in your veins. Gain a +2 Profession (Miner)
Ancestral Crafting: Although many secrets of the Elder Smiths were lost when the Great Death swept through Tharkad-Kûl, your family still holds a few cherished bits of ancestral wisdom close. gain a +2 to Profession(smithing-related)
Mark of the Owl: Left in the open at birth the silver elven children are each visited by a creature of the Great Forest. The favoured are blessed as special by a particular animal and bird in some way, such as a clawmark or bite. It is believed that the mark shows the elf babe holds the spirit of a creature's relation who died recently. Mark of the Owl grants a +2 bonus on all Perception checks. Suggested by French Wolf
League of the Silk Purse: Members of this loose affliation of treasure seekers operate outside the law, receiving information and equipment in return for coin or magical discoveries. A member of the group has access to one contact within town that can help him. DM to decide what form this help takes. Suggested by French Wolf
Daughter of Tharkad-Kul: All allies in a 20ft radius of the "daughter" including the daughter herself gains a +1 bonus to their saves vs fear and death effects; while in the Halls of Tharkad-Kul.
"A mother's gentle word is often enough to sooth her children" Suggested by Larcifer
Any thoughts would be welcome!
The flavor on these traits is quite good. I do feel some approach being too strong for a trait since most of them are quite focused.
If you haven't seen the new traits in the Second Darkness Player's Guide, you should definitely check them out. Most of the skill based ones are +1 to one or two skills, with one then considered a class skill. Skills like Perception, Spellcraft, etc. are typically solo, whereas skills like diplomacy, profession, etc. are in pairs.
In particularly I would call out Mark of the Owl as a bit strong (it's nearly Skill Focus(Perception) which people will often take and stacks), and possibly Singer of Ancient Songs as a smidgen over-generous/focused. One of the concepts of traits described in the Player's Guide is more to broaden a character than to focus it more strongly on its specialty. Most of the "Magic" & "Faith" traits for instance are far better for non-casters.
Love the campaign specific ones you posted - truly delightful - and all were so well described.
Thanks for the input Majuba. We are just kind of noodling these along. I have to read up on the SD Player's Guide a bit closer and see how those traits are constructed. I don't want to munchkinize the characters, especially when this is going to be a PbP playtest of the Beta rules.
I think traits are an interesting idea, but I'm not a fan of Yet Another Small Bonus.
What if you could use them for a re-roll once an adventure? Bardic Mentor would let you re-roll Perform once an adventure, Local Favorite lets you reroll one Diplomacy check an adventure in a certain region...
The traits in Second darkness add a +1 to one or 2 skills and allow the PC selecting the trait to add one of the skills to their class skill list.
For mark of the owl to be more balanced I suggest.
1)Only works in a specific environment, for example:
+2 to perception checks while the character is under a star filled sky
OR
2) Only work for a specific condition, for example:
a +2 to perception checks when searching for traps
If it is a "blanket +2" that is a bit over powered when compared to SD traits.
to equal a SD trait it would be:
+1 trait bonus to perception or disable device and one of these skill becomes a class skill for your character....
I think traits are an interesting idea, but I'm not a fan of Yet Another Small Bonus.
What if you could use them for a re-roll once an adventure? Bardic Mentor would let you re-roll Perform once an adventure, Local Favorite lets you reroll one Diplomacy check an adventure in a certain region...
Thanks for the input tergiver!
Hmm ...this might be a good option in meatspace, but unfortunately we are running PbP, so an 'adventure' can last months. I do agree that heaping more plusses can be difficult, and if the game was running on a table rather than a computer this might be the way to go.
The traits in Second darkness add a +1 to one or 2 skills and allow the PC selecting the trait to add one of the skills to their class skill list.
For mark of the owl to be more balanced I suggest.
1)Only works in a specific environment, for example:
+2 to perception checks while the character is under a star filled skyOR
2) Only work for a specific condition, for example:
a +2 to perception checks when searching for trapsIf it is a "blanket +2" that is a bit over powered when compared to SD traits.
to equal a SD trait it would be:
+1 trait bonus to perception or disable device and one of these skill becomes a class skill for your character....
Yeah I like the +2 focused/regional +1 blanket rule. It tones down the aspect of it. Mark of the Owl might need to be adjusted. Hmm ... I'll have to ask FW how he wants to go with it.
Hmm ...this might be a good option in meatspace, but unfortunately we are running PbP, so an 'adventure' can last months. I do agree that heaping more plusses can be difficult, and if the game was running on a table rather than a computer this might be the way to go.
Oh yeah, I missed the PbP. That does make the number crunching simpler.
I do think the +1 general/open up one class skill would work well even in face-to-face.