Welcome to the introduction to character stats' companions: traits and skills. Here we'll review what they are, how they work, and the banks of traits and skills available to choose from. So, let's get started!
Overview
Not to be mistaken for talents, which are optional characteristics written into profiles, traits and skills have a close relationship with the stat system—with the potential to directly influence the result of a challenge roll. (See the stat guide for more detail on those.)
Similar to abilities found in games, traits and skills both offer bonuses, with rarer varieties granting larger boosts. Some might raise the total of a stat roll, while another might offer an extra roll where the highest die is kept. Though traits and skills are fundamentally similar, traits typically offer wider, or 'blanket' bonuses, and are limited to one per character. Skills, on the other hand, can have three assigned per character, and tend to be more scenario-specific.
Use & Rules
All characters gain one trait and one skill on creation, available from the common lists below. Additional traits and skills may be earned from events, or through purchase via the site shop. When a new trait or skill is unlocked, it gets logged in the inventory thread. Adding, changing, and removing skills is also logged in your character’s profile.
Specifics for using each individual trait and skill are included in their descriptions, but all traits and skills apply only during challenge rolls.
To use one
- Verify your selected trait/skill applies to the scenario or stat being rolled.
i.e. The trait 'Solid Citizen' applies to CON and DEX rolls. The skill 'Protective Charm' applies to de-escalating hostile situations. - Add your chosen trait/skill's effect into your rolled result per its description.
i.e. If a character with the trait 'Bar Brawler' (STR and CON) rolled 11 on a STR roll, the final value would be 11+1, for a total of 12. - Document your character's utilized trait/skills alongside your roll in your response.
i.e. Avarl rolls 16 while trying to deck someone. His response would include something like this, at either the top or bottom of the post: 17 (16+1) - Bar Brawler
There aren't many, but we do have a few guidelines we ask writers to abide by when it comes to traits and skills.
- Characters may have ONE trait and THREE skills active at a time.
All a character’s earned skills are banked in the Inventory Log. - No more than one trait or skill may be added or switched a month.
There is a one month cooldown between adding and switching traits/skills. - Traits and skills may not be altered while participating in an event.
Changes with the potential to impact how a character performs during an event must be done before the event. - Traits and skills cannot be traded between characters.
Earned and purchased traits and skills may be used only by the character who unlocked them.