Characters typically had a life prior to becoming adventurers. Character traits give you a way to flesh out your character’s background and gain a bit of a bonus from it. Any bonuses or drawbacks from a character’s traits apply immediately at the time of character creation before a character gains the first class level (prior to level 1, even if starting play at a higher level).
Gaining Traits
Each character may begin play with up to two traits of their choice. Each trait must be of a different type, as described below. In addition, some traits have prerequisites which must be met in order to select that trait.
Types of Traits
Character traits are divided into several different categories. When gaining traits, a character may only possess a single trait from each category, regardless of how many traits they are permitted.
Trait Bonus
Many traits grant a new type of bonus: a “trait” bonus. Trait bonuses do not stack with one another—they’re intended to give player characters a slight edge, not a secret backdoor way to focus all of a character’s traits on one type of bonus and thus gain an unseemly advantage. The trait bonus stacks with all other bonus types.
Drawbacks
A drawback is a special kind of trait that grants only a penalty to the character who selects it. A character may select up to two drawbacks in addition to their normal traits. Each drawback gained grants one additional trait choice.
Alternatively, a 1st-level character may take two drawbacks to gain one bonus feat for which they meet the prerequisites.
Character Traits
Akashic Traits
These traits are tied to the powers of akasha. You do not have to use akashic magic to take these traits, but many of the benefits require you to weave veils to be able to use them.
Akashic Traits A
Akashic Traits B
Akashic Traits E
Akashic Traits F
Akashic Traits S
Akashic Traits V
Ancestor Traits
Your character may inherit traits from their distant ancestors, giving them quirks of biology not quite normal for their race. These quirks are represented by the ancestor traits.
Ancestor Traits A
Ancestor Traits B
Ancestor Traits D
Ancestor Traits E
Ancestor Traits F
Ancestor Traits I
Ancestor Traits K
Ancestor Traits M
Ancestor Traits N
Ancestor Traits P
Ancestor Traits S
Ancestor Traits W
Arcane Traits
Arcane traits focus on magic and spellcasting, as well as any formal training your character may possess in the arcane arts.
Arcane Traits A
Arcane Traits B
Arcane Traits D
Arcane Traits F
Arcane Traits G
Arcane Traits K
Arcane Traits M
Arcane Traits R
Arcane Traits S
Arcane Traits T
Arcane Traits U
Arcane Traits V
Combat Traits
Combat traits focus on martial and physical aspects of your character’s background, particularly those related to battle.
Combat Traits A
Combat Traits B
Combat Traits C
Combat Traits D
Combat Traits E
Combat Traits F
Combat Traits G
Combat Traits H
Combat Traits I
Combat Traits K
Combat Traits M
Combat Traits N
Combat Traits P
Combat Traits R
Combat Traits S
Combat Traits T
Combat Traits V
Combat Traits W
Combat Traits Z
Faith Traits
Faith traits represent a character’s religious and philosophical leanings as well as interference from deities, fate, or prophesies.
Faith Traits B
Faith Traits C
Faith Traits D
Faith Traits E
Faith Traits F
Faith Traits G
Faith Traits H
Faith Traits I
Faith Traits O
Faith Traits P
Faith Traits R
Faith Traits S
Faith Traits T
Faith Traits W
Production Traits
A character who is particularly adept at or trained to craft or create products typically gains a production trait. These traits focus on the process and output of goods and services.
Production Traits A
Production Traits C
Production Traits F
Production Traits H
Production Traits M
Production Traits P
Production Traits T
Psionic Traits
These traits are associated with the powers of the mind. You do not have to be psionic to take these traits, but many of the benefits require you to have the psionic subtype.
Psionic Traits C
Psionic Traits M
Psionic Traits O
Psionic Traits P
Psionic Traits T
Race Traits
Race traits are keyed to specific races, which your character must belong to in order to select the trait. You must have the correct race or subtype to select the relevant traits. For example, humans can only select human race traits, but a half-elf who possesses both the human and elf subtypes can select from human, elf, or half-elf race traits. The one exception is the “Any” category, which may be selected by members of any race or heritage.
Any Race Traits
Armad Race Traits
Athik Race Traits
Dragonborn Race Traits
Dromite Race Traits
Duergar Race Traits
Dwarf Race Traits
Elan Race Traits
Elf Race Traits
Gnome Race Traits
Half-Elf Race Traits
Half-Giant Race Traits
Half-Orc Race Traits
Halfling Race Traits
Human Race Traits
Lantean Race Traits
Maenad Race Traits
Moreau Race Traits
Regional Traits
Regional traits are keyed to specific regions, be they large (such as a nation or geographic region) or small (such as a city or a specific mountain). In order to select a regional trait, your character must have spent at least a year living in that region, and characters typically select a regional trait tied to their place of birth or homeland.
Any Region
Empire of Seven Dragons
Frigid Northlands
Kingdoms' Alliance
Southern Wildlands
Stonelands
The Far Shores
The Underdeeps
Western Swamps
Social Traits
Social traits focus on your character’s social class or upbringing as well as on their skill or training related to interacting with others.
Social Traits A
Social Traits B
Social Traits C
Social Traits D
Social Traits E
Social Traits F
Social Traits G
Social Traits H
Social Traits I
Social Traits L
Social Traits M
Social Traits N
Social Traits O
Social Traits P
Social Traits Q
Social Traits R
Social Traits S
Social Traits T
Social Traits U
Social Traits V
Social Traits W
Drawbacks
These negative traits inflict penalties on the character who gains them.
Drawbacks A
Drawbacks B
Drawbacks C
Drawbacks D
Drawbacks E
Drawbacks F
Drawbacks G
Drawbacks H
Drawbacks I
Drawbacks L
Drawbacks M
Drawbacks N
Drawbacks O
Drawbacks P
Drawbacks Q
Drawbacks S
Drawbacks T
Drawbacks V
Drawbacks X