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I really need a better name for it ...
Anyway, to me, some of the more interesting character ideas are the ones that are non-traditional ... Dwarf fighters, yeah, seen a lot, but dwarven sorcerers? Unfortunately, so much stuff is dependent on ability scores that even a -2 can be a major detriment. Also, some races have stats that don't lend themselves to some traditionally thematic builds. Dwarves seem like shoo-ins for clerics or paladins, but that Charisma penalty makes them less good at it.
So, my idea was a trait that lets you add 2 to an ability score:
1> Only if you have a racial penalty to that score, and
2> Only to determine feat prerequisites and class abilities.
You must choose a specific ability score for each time you take the trait, and you can't generate a net bonus with it, only negate penalties. You can take it more than once for the same stat, though, either negating multiple -2s, or completely negating a -4, etc.
So, a halfling fighter puts a 13 in STR, then takes a -2, having an 11, meaning he can no longer qualify for Power Attack. He takes the Prodigy: Strength trait, then he's considered to have a 13 for feat prerequisites, so he can take Power Attack. However, his STR is still considered 11 for encumbrance, attack/damage rolls, STR skill and ability checks, etc.
A dwarven sorcerer does something similar, a 16 Charisma gets reduced to a 14. Now, he can only cast 4th level spells, and his save DC is 12+Spell Level. Taking Prodigy: Charisma, he can now cast 6th level spells, and his save DC is 13+Spell Level; however, he still only gets a +2 to Charisma skills, etc.
Thoughts?
Well, I'd argue that dwarf clerics are just fine (you can live without Cha anyways) but aside from that quibble I agree that it's a problem that most races seem to be locked out of certain classes by their racial aptitudes.
I am mindful that it is a very powerful trait, but the fact that you can only benefit from it if your racial penalty isn't going to a dump stat should keep it in line.
I like it. It's similar to how some of the half-human races get a bonus to their effective Charisma if they are sorcerers with that elemental focus. Helps in a specific focus, and makes some classes desirable in ways they otherwise might not be, but isn't hugely unbalancing.
For comparison, Spell Focus is a Feat that grants +1 DC to a single school of magic. This Trait would effectively grant +1 DC to all spells, as well as increasing the maximum level of spells available to the caster.
While this is true, it's also fair to point out that you can only benefit from this trait if you have a racial penalty in your primary casting attribute. This means it can only be of use in situations that are extremely unfavorable to begin with.
There are some related abilities already out there:
1) Tieflings have a -2 Cha penalty, but treat their Cha score as 2 points higher for both CRB fiendish bloodlines (abyssal and infernal). Note that Blood of Fiends somewhat undermines this equalization by offering four different tiefling heritages with an actual Cha bonus, which still stacks with the racial trait.
2) Kobolds with their harsh -4 Str penalty can pick up the Small But Deadly feat to negate the impact on damage.
So I'd rather make it a feat than a trait. But I like the idea a lot.
PS: There is a Wis based archetype for dwarven paladins.
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And for those races, this trait (which is supposed to be roughly equivalent to 1/2 of Feat) is significantly better than an actual Feat.
That's the case with about half the traits you can take anyway though.
Think about this: A dwarf sorcerer and a gnome/halfling/half-elf/half-orc/human sorcerer. They both put a (pre-racial) 18 into Charisma, meaning the gnome/halfling/half-elf/half-orc/human has 20 charisma and the dwarf has 16. This trait means the dwarf counts as having 18 - the g/h/h-e/h-o/H sorcerer is still ahead.
For that specific character it's better, but the overall bonus still leaves you behind other races.