traits
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
| Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision Last revision Both sides next revision | ||
|
traits [2019/05/01 11:32] dan |
traits [2019/05/01 12:15] 127.0.0.1 external edit |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
| Traits help define a character by describing the tasks they're uniquely good at or struggle with. Traits are similar to the skill systems in many other roleplaying games, but instead of picking from a set list, they're left open to your ideas; you can define your character's strengths and weaknesses in your own terms. | Traits help define a character by describing the tasks they're uniquely good at or struggle with. Traits are similar to the skill systems in many other roleplaying games, but instead of picking from a set list, they're left open to your ideas; you can define your character's strengths and weaknesses in your own terms. | ||
| - | Each character has four Traits, as defined below. How the Traits impact gameplay is defined in the [[Rolling Traits|Rolling Traits]] section. | + | Each character has four Traits, as defined below. How the Traits impact gameplay is defined in the [[Rolling Against Traits|Rolling Against Traits]] section. |
| ===== Types of Traits ===== | ===== Types of Traits ===== | ||
| ==== Competence ==== | ==== Competence ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Competence represents the areas a character is most skilled in. This may be a career, favorite hobby, or something they're just uncannily good at. | ||
| ==== Incompetence ==== | ==== Incompetence ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| ==== Reliability ==== | ==== Reliability ==== | ||
| Line 18: | Line 22: | ||
| If you're having difficulty coming up with your Traits, here are some ideas you can use for inspiration. | If you're having difficulty coming up with your Traits, here are some ideas you can use for inspiration. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Agriculture | ||
| + | * Artist | ||
| + | * Carousing | ||
| + | * Computers | ||
| + | * First Impressions | ||
| + | * Historian | ||
| + | * Hunter | ||
| + | * Local Guide | ||
| + | * Mathematics | ||
| + | * Mechanics | ||
| + | * Medical Care | ||
| + | * Merchanting | ||
| + | * Persuasion | ||
| + | * Rabble Rousing | ||
| + | * Sharpshooter | ||
| + | * Sheriff | ||
| + | * Street Magic | ||
| ===== Maintaining Balance ===== | ===== Maintaining Balance ===== | ||
| Line 23: | Line 45: | ||
| In order to keep the game fair, there needs to be balance between the Traits. For example, a character whose Competence is "all academic pursuits" shouldn't select the Incompetence of "hiding Easter eggs." There's no parity between the two, since the Incompetence doesn't realistically offset the benefits of such a generous Competence. | In order to keep the game fair, there needs to be balance between the Traits. For example, a character whose Competence is "all academic pursuits" shouldn't select the Incompetence of "hiding Easter eggs." There's no parity between the two, since the Incompetence doesn't realistically offset the benefits of such a generous Competence. | ||
| - | Before your traits are finalized, the Game Master should have an opportunity to accept or reject the Traits you've selected. We recommend evaluating them as follows. | + | Before your Traits are finalized, the Game Master should have an opportunity to accept or reject the Traits you've selected based on the following guidelines. |
| - | + | ||
| - | First, it's important to see Competence / Incompetence and Reliability / Struggle should be evaluated as pairs. A character's Competence should be balanced with their Incompetence, but it's OK if the Competence isn't balanced against their Struggle. | + | |
| - | Second, make sure the items in each pair are equal (1) in scope and (2) relevance to the game. | + | First, do the Traits have a similar scope? It doesn't matter if the Traits are very broad or very narrow, so long as they're both that way. If someone specializes in nothing more than a particular card game, then it's fair to struggle with something equally small. But if they specialize in every intellectual pursuit, then they should struggle with something equally inclusive, such as every physical pursuit. |
| + | Second, they should be equally relevant to the game. A strong knowledge of farming is equal in scope to being a bumbling idiot about space travel. But if the entire game is obviously intended to occur in the farmlands of the Midwest, then space travel has no relevance to the game. | ||
| + | Third, keep in mind that Competence / Incompetence and Reliability / Struggle are meant to be opposing pairs. It's OK if Competence doesn't line up with the scope or relevance of Struggle, because they aren't paired up. Competence only needs to be balanced with Incompetence, and Reliability only needs to be balanced with Struggle. | ||
traits.txt · Last modified: 2020/02/13 16:46 by wayne
Page Tools
