This chapter lists the various
traits that a character may be given during the creation process. Traits come in three types: variable traits, talents, and complications.
Variable traits are traits that can act either as a talent or a complication, depending upon whether the trait earns the character points (a complication) or if points must be spent to get the trait (a trait).
Talents are generally positive things that help your character excel at something. Talents have a point cost, which can be paid either by using some of the points that go to the character’s skills or sub-disciplines, or by buying complications. Conversely,
Complications are generally negative traits that your character has, which the character has to deal with and can get in the way of their success in certain situations. Taking a complication gives the character points back (they are listed as having a negative point cost), which can be spent on skills and/or sub-disciplines, or as a way of buying off a talent.
In game-play terms, traits usually provide a modifier to the outcome of any dice roll where that particular trait may apply, at a rate of +/- 1 per point for the trait. This can include self-control Checks, a (usually) voluntary roll made to gauge a character’s reaction to a given situation. Traits can compound upon one another in certain situations, making certain actions almost guaranteed of success and others guaranteed failures. All traits must be role-played where appropriate; if a character does not role-play a trait, the GM may inflict whatever penalty they wish on the character during the resolution of the adventure. Usually, this will be the loss of a skill point or two that the character might've otherwise earned for an adventure, or the reduction of the level of the trait in question (
for more details on giving skill/sub-discipline, talent and complication points, see Chapter 11.1).
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