I am writing my own Adventure Path and wanted to come up with a few traits for it, i was wondering what are some guidelines to follow when designing traits?
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From SRD -
They can enhance your character's skills, racial abilities, class abilities, or other statistics, enabling you to further customize him. At its core, a character trait is approximately equal in power to half a feat, so two character traits are roughly equivalent to a bonus feat.
Many traits grant a new type of bonus: a “trait” bonus. Trait bonuses do not stack—they're intended to give player characters a slight edge, not a secret backdoor way to focus all of a character's traits on one type of bonus and thus gain an unseemly advantage
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Traits are roughly equivalent to half a feat. The best idea is probably to find some traits paizo have made, and reflavour them as DM_aka_dudemeister suggested.
^This
Not all traits are like that though. The one that gives you 900 additional starting gold is a particular example.
I came up with this one for a game:
Hero of Andoran: You are a national hero. The Revolution started 42 years ago so older characters (68 or older) can choose to be a hero of the revolution. 22 years ago Taldor invaded, so you can be a hero of the Taldoran Incursion if you are 40 or older. If you are younger than 40 then you are a Hero of Andoran. The older your heroics the more widespread your fame.
In Cheliax, Andoren, Taldor or Galt you are well known because of your deeds. Supporters of Andoran will not let you pay for any normal item, housing or food. You receive a 10% discount off any item you purchase from supporters. Rich supporters may give you gifts of valuable items. You receive a +4 to any charisma based checks made with supporters of Andoran.
Children all over Andoran are named after you. Your home town has a statue of you in a heroic pose in the town square and has named the main road after you. Major cities in Andoran also have a street named after you and possibly a piece of art showcasing your heroics. Your heroic qualities are mentioned in revolutionary literature across the inner sea.
Enemies of the nation know you. Charisma checks receive a -4 penalty for any enemies and checks to hide your identity suffer a -2 penalty in all cases. They may use any legal authority they have to hinder you. Keep in mind that the official position of a nation regarding the revolution (e.g. Cheliax) will not be what every citizen thinks of the revolution.
I upped the bonuses to match the penalty so more than a feat for bonuses but worse than a feat in the penalties. I felt it evened out.
Back in the day, a lot of weak feats were probably best done as the current 'traits'. The Net Book of Feats rated theirs with a goal of 5, there were several '3's. A friend has 'shorted' several feats, rendering them effective traits, but he is hard into 3.5.