New PFS player - help me choose traits!

[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:

Quote:

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

Quote:

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

Quote:

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:

Quote:

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?

[Wheldrake]

As far as I understand PFS, the most significant restriction is that you must possess at the table the books from which your various feats, items, abilites and (of course) traits are sourced.

This said, there's a "guide to feats" somewhere linked from these forums, that does what you're wanting, weigh the various traits in terms of bang for the buck.

Personally, I think traits are the one time when you should choose things that complement your backstory instead of ones that give you the most awesome bonuses. The roleplay value of some feats outweighs their game mechanics value.

YMMV.

[Yanick Goossens]

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateCampaign/characterBackground/tra its.html

Reactionary is always good to have as the sooner it is your turn in combat the better. The drawback is that if you pick this one you can not take a second combat trait.

In Faith traits, a nice one is

Spirit Sense: You are so attuned to the spiritual world that it is hard to get the jump on you. You gain a +2 trait bonus on Perception checks to avoid being surprised and to detect invisible or incorporeal creatures.

And also make sure to take a look at the Racial Traits, sometimes it is good to take 1

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

Reactionary is the best pick of what you listed.

My advice on your traits:
reactionary + indomitable faith (+1 Will saves) or some other +1 will save trait

Will saves are a rogue/ninjas worst saves and the +1 really goes a long way.

[Matt2VK]

The standard choice for your type of character is

reactionary + indomitable faith (+1 Will saves) or some other +1 will save trait

Just because they are so dang good.

[Brad McDowell]

I will Third Reactionary and Indomitable Faith. Let me ask about race choice...is Human necessary?

If you were Half Orc, you'd trade that human feat for permanent Darkvision, and be able to grab Sacred Tattoo...an extra +1 to all saves.
If you were Half Elf, you'd at least have Low Light Vision, and grab Arcane Training (the ability to use wands), and either free Skill Focus OR Dual Minded (+2 to will Saves).

[Kodger]

The trait, Fate's Favored, doubles the effect of a Half Orc's Sacred Tattoo.

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

I like half orcs. Dark vision is heavily used and being in darkness helps stealth.
sacred tattoo with trait faiths favored is one of the best trait picks out there. The trait fates favored with half orc sacted tattoo nets +1 to ALL saves making it 3× better then a single +1 to a single save.

Sure your down a feat at level 1 but honestly not much out there at 0 BaB worth the extra feat level 1.

Also with a half orc you could be a brute rogue....I really like seeing sneak attacks with a falchion/greatsword user. 2 weapon fighting rogues tend to really suck anyways. So i recommend brute rogue or single agile weapon builds. PFS is not optimized so you will do fine with either build.

[Gwen Smith]

If you're going with a rogue or ninja, you might consider one of traits that give you bonuses when flanking, like Dirty Fighter or Militia (this is a Regional trait, so you could take it along with a combat trait).

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

Dirty fighter is ok. But honestly with sneak attack classes they get plenty of extra damage. But most.people and the guides rate bonuses to saves and initiatives to be better then situational traits. I personally dont feel +1 flanking damage to be top picks. But it is up to the player and their play styles. My play style involves efficient picks on traits and feats focusing on being really good at a hand full of things and relying on the rest of the group to cover my weaknesses. I've seen PFS tables without frontlines before. So a dedicated flank buddy sometimes becomes none existant. This is why my first PFS character was a mounted halfling gecko rider. Dont need a flanking buddy with ride by attacks and being out of reach.