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<blockquote data-quote="Trouvere" data-source="post: 5427536" data-attributes="member: 37250">Unlike flaws, which mess about with the fundamental game engine, I rather like traits.&nbsp; Traits seem a quick and easy means of adding some simple customization to a build, a +1 here, a -1 there.&nbsp; Or a -2... it seems quite a few of them are slight downgrades.It's very easy for 2 skill point per level PCs, like two Fighters or especially two Paladins, to be almost mechanically identical, and traits - assuming they didn't choose the same ones, of course - would be a nice way to differentiate them slightly.&nbsp; At low levels, a +1 on a roll can make a fair bit of difference.In world, most traits, unlike flaws, seem plausible as personality shifts, so I'd have no problem with higher level PCs taking them too.Distinctive and Inattentive wouldn't see play.There are three traits which I think need closer inspection:(1) Aggressive.&nbsp; Slightly too attractive for spellcasters?&nbsp; Once some combination of Blur, Mirror Image or Displacement or Fly+Protection from Arrows is available, wizards don't really care about their AC as much as they care about going first.&nbsp; Possibly very attractive for sneak attacking archer rogues, too.&nbsp; It's almost certainly a disadvantage for melee PCs other than chargers, though.(2) Quick.&nbsp; Very attractive to a Barbarian with good Con.&nbsp; 50 ft base speed, still with 8+Con HP/level?&nbsp; I'd consider it.&nbsp; The +10 foot speed bonus is unnamed, so stacks with all other speed increases.&nbsp; I'm dubious about this one.(3) Spellgifted.&nbsp; Not so much an objection, just an observation.&nbsp; You can't cast a spell at a caster level less than the minimum required.&nbsp; At 1st level a spellgifted caster could only cast spells of her chosen school, since her caster level would be 0 in all other schools.&nbsp; At every level when a new level of spells is gained, again only spells of the chosen school could be cast.&nbsp; Interesting.&nbsp; Troublesome for Sorcerers, who are perhaps the archetypal 'spellgifted', but have to be very careful in their spell selection; quite flavourful for specialist Wizards.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Trouvere, post: 5427536, member: 37250"] Unlike flaws, which mess about with the fundamental game engine, I rather like traits. Traits seem a quick and easy means of adding some simple customization to a build, a +1 here, a -1 there. Or a -2... it seems quite a few of them are slight downgrades. It's very easy for 2 skill point per level PCs, like two Fighters or especially two Paladins, to be almost mechanically identical, and traits - assuming they didn't choose the same ones, of course - would be a nice way to differentiate them slightly. At low levels, a +1 on a roll can make a fair bit of difference. In world, most traits, unlike flaws, seem plausible as personality shifts, so I'd have no problem with higher level PCs taking them too. Distinctive and Inattentive wouldn't see play. There are three traits which I think need closer inspection: (1) Aggressive. Slightly too attractive for spellcasters? Once some combination of Blur, Mirror Image or Displacement or Fly+Protection from Arrows is available, wizards don't really care about their AC as much as they care about going first. Possibly very attractive for sneak attacking archer rogues, too. It's almost certainly a disadvantage for melee PCs other than chargers, though. (2) Quick. Very attractive to a Barbarian with good Con. 50 ft base speed, still with 8+Con HP/level? I'd consider it. The +10 foot speed bonus is unnamed, so stacks with all other speed increases. I'm dubious about this one. (3) Spellgifted. Not so much an objection, just an observation. You can't cast a spell at a caster level less than the minimum required. At 1st level a spellgifted caster could only cast spells of her chosen school, since her caster level would be 0 in all other schools. At every level when a new level of spells is gained, again only spells of the chosen school could be cast. Interesting. Troublesome for Sorcerers, who are perhaps the archetypal 'spellgifted', but have to be very careful in their spell selection; quite flavourful for specialist Wizards. [/QUOTE]

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