Character Traits

## Overview:

Character traits are a gameplay mechanic that can affect the player character and NPCs in a variety of ways. They can be either beneficial or detrimental, or even both. They can boost or harm things like skills, stats, XP gain, among other things, and lead to a more dynamic gameplay. Some traits are permanent and their effects will be static throughout the whole game, but some aren't, and can be lost or new ones gained, depending on the player's actions. For example, an overweight character can lose the Overweight trait after a period of time of not eating enough from day-to-day. Most of the traits are simply hobbies, separate from occupations, that provide a character with skill or stat advantages over zero from the very beginning of the game. Some traits are extremely similar to occupations and should not be confused with each other. For example, all levels of the Mechanic trait gives similar bonuses as choosing the Mechanic occupation, but choosing both does not cause the bonuses do not stack. Traits are completely separate from occupations, and though both can provide extra, often unique gameplay effects, occupations are more like presets where skills points are already spent. Choosing a trait does not spend any skill points whatsoever - only trait points.

In the beginning of the game, during the first story mission \_\_\_\_\_ , the player chooses their occupation and traits. They are given 21 trait points to allocate into whichever traits they would like their character to have. Some traits have different levels to them - with the highest level costing the most trait points but providing the most benefits. This allows for the player to allocate their trait points more wisely - more on what they deem as a priority, and less on what they deem not as important. For example, the trait Camper has three different levels: Camped occasionally, Camped seasonally, and Camped weekly. Camped weekly provides the most bonuses in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, but costs 5 whole trait points. Camped occasionally provides much smaller bonuses, but only costs 1 trait point. Camped seasonally is a balanced, middle-of-the-road trait that costs 3 trait points. This way, the player can customize their playing experience by choosing traits in an infinite number of combinations of different traits and their different levels.

Choosing traits in the beginning is optional, however, and a player can choose to play a character with NO traits at all, if they wish, but it is not possible to play a character possessing ALL of the traits.

## Strategy:

Since the player is only given 21 trait points in the beginning, only 4 traits can be picked at the highest level (5 points used) at max, if desired, with one point left over. Another example is picking 7 medium level (3 points used) traits, as they all add up to 21 points. Alternatively, 21 traits at the lowest level can be picked. However, a combination of different traits of different levels can be easily achieved, and exhausting all of the usable trait points can still be possible. Not all trait points have to be used. Choosing some traits make others unavailable (ex. you cannot be an occasional camper and a weekly camper at the same time!). Bonuses in some traits, like those in camping, are also present in other traits, like hiking, and these bonuses do not stack! So, read each trait description carefully!