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This got a bit long. I hope it all makes sense.
So I am finally getting back into Pathfinder after a long absence. I'm going to start running Rise of the Runelords in a week and a half.
I've read through Burnt Offerings and most of the way through The Skinsaw Murders. A sidebar inside The Skinsaw Murders mentions keeping track of the Player Character's 'sins' for later use in Sins of the Saviors. It brought to mind World of Darkness, which I have been playing quite a bit of recently, and their Vice/Virtue system.
Since I have decided to use Hero Points in my game, I thought of an idea to incorporate the Vice/Virtue system as a method by which the PCs can recover Hero Points. I have also included a separate method to track Sin and Virtue in case a player elects to give his character a bonus feat in lieu of using Hero Points.
Once per encounter, a character may petition to recover a Hero Point for indulging in a Sin. Additionally, once per encounter, a character can use a Sin to add +2 to a related d20 roll. For example, a character might call on their Sloth to convince an NPC to help her (so that they don't have to do it themselves) and receive a +2 bonus on her Diplomacy check.
Once per session, a character may petition to recover all Hero Points (3) for fulfilling a Virtue. Additionally, once per session, a character may call upon a Virtue to add +4 to a related d20 roll. For example, a character might call upon Justice when fighting a bandit and add +4 to his attack roll.
For the first story (Burnt Offerings), players may freely choose any Sin or Virtue. I will record their choices each time. At the conclusion of the first three stories, I will remove two of their least used Virtues and Sins from their available list, so that beginning with Fortress of the Stone Giants, and continuing on through Sins of the Saviors, the characters will have a defining Virtue and Sin.
The Sins (and their opposite Virtues) are Envy (Compassion), Gluttony (Justice), Greed (Charity), Lust (Purity), Sloth (Courage), Pride (Reverence), and Wrath (Mercy).
Envy is indulged when a character has a personal hand in harming a rival or taking something that rival values. Compassion is fulfilled by providing emotional or spiritual support for another, even at personal risk.
Gluttony is indulged when a character does something destructive to himself or someone he cares about. Justice is fulfilled when a wrong is righted at personal risk to the character.
Greed is indulged when the character, through risk, acquires something at the expense of another. Charity is fulfilled by providing physical support for another, even at personal risk.
Lust is indulged when a character satisfies an urge in a way that victimizes another. Purity is fulfilled by abstaining from temptation, even though the character could gain significantly from the action.
Sloth is indulged when a character successfully avoids a difficult task, but succeeds regardless. Courage is fulfilled when the character withstands overwhelming pressure to change his goals.
Pride is indulged when a character exerts his desires over others, at potential risk to himself. Reverence is fulfilled when a character bows to another's wisdom, even at personal risk.
Wrath is indulged when a character unleashes his anger in a situation where it is unwarranted or dangerous. Mercy is fulfilled when a character stays his hand, even though doing so is risky.