Traits
Rules Sections
Basics | Abilities |
Attributes |
Traits |
Talents |
Skills |
Game Master
Introduction to Traits
In the world of Essentia, traits (SurvT) are essential attributes that Characters utilize to navigate challenges, resist damage, and assert dominance in combat. There are twelve traits, each representing a specific aspect of a character’s abilities. These traits can be used both defensively to resist ongoing damage or effects, and offensively to enhance combat effectiveness.
Alignment with Talents and Combat Abilities
Traits are closely aligned with talents and combat abilities that are associated with the same attribute. For example, traits linked to Physique will influence talents related to physical strength and agility, while traits associated with Intelligence will impact mental skills and resistance. This alignment ensures that a character’s proficiency in talents and combat maneuvers is influenced by their traits and the corresponding attributes, creating a cohesive system where core qualities directly impact specialized skills.
Definition
Each trait embodies a particular aspect of a character’s capabilities—both in resisting harm and in gaining offensive advantages. These traits reflect core qualities that influence both defensive resilience and offensive potential, often working in tandem with talents and abilities aligned with the same attribute.
Mechanics
When a character is subjected to damage, effects, or combat actions, they may choose to use a relevant trait. They roll a die (such as a d20), add relevant bonuses from their attributes and development points, and compare the total to a set DC or threshold.
Outcome:
Success: The character resists the effect or enhances their attack.
Failure: The effect or damage proceeds normally, or the offensive benefit is not gained.
Trait Trees
-
Agility Tree
Description: Represents quickness, balance, and speed. It helps evade ranged attacks and speed-based effects, and enhances offensive precision with ranged attacks.
Application: Resistance to martial ranged attacks, balance disruptions, and speed-based effects. Bonus to martial ranged attack rolls, damage, and critical hits.
ATT: Physique
-
Strength
Description: Embodies brute force, physical power, and intimidation. It allows characters to grapple, break through defenses, and intimidate opponents.
Application: Bonus to melee attack rolls with two-handed and main-hand weapons, damage, and grapple checks.
Offensive: Increased damage output and control in melee combat; can be used to intimidate or push opponents.
ATT: Physique
-
Courage
Description: Represents mental bravery and resolve, helping resist fear, intimidation, and mental control.
Application: Bonus to resist fear effects, intimidation attempts, and mental domination.
Defensive: Reduce effects of fear and intimidation.
ATT: Fortitude
-
Constitution
Description: Indicates physical resilience, providing resistance to poison, disease, venom, bleeding or other ongoing effects after initial damage.
Application: Bonus to rolls against poisons, diseases, and ongoing sicknesses.
Defensive: Resist ongoing sickness or poisoning effects; can also aid in recovery.
ATT: Fortitude
-
Vigilance
Description: Reflects awareness, perception, and alertness, allowing characters to detect surprises and environmental hazards.
Application: Bonus to perception checks, awareness, and avoiding environmental dangers.
Defensive: Better detection of hazards, traps, and ambushes.
ATT: Perception
-
Intuition
Description: Represents a character’s instinctive sense for danger, hidden truths, or upcoming events. It allows characters to make quick judgments, anticipate enemy moves, and sense deception or traps before they are fully revealed.
Application: Bonus to perception checks for sensing danger, detecting lies, or noticing subtle clues that indicate hidden threats or deception, helping avoid ambushes and traps.
ATT: Perception
-
Dexterity
Description: Represents quick reactions, agility, and deception. It helps in avoiding traps, dodging attacks, and performing stealth.
Application: Bonus to dodge, craftsmanship, trap avoidance, and deception checks. Quick strikes, bonuses to offhand martial attacks and close counter evasive maneuvers.
ATT: Artistry
-
Deceit
Description: Focuses on deception, mimicking death, and trickery to mislead opponents.
Application: Bonus to deception checks, feints, and mimicking death.
Offensive: Use deception to create openings or manipulate enemies.
ATT: Artistry
-
Resistance
Description: Represents magical resilience, reducing spell damage and magical effects.
Application: Bonus to resist spell damage, magical effects, and mitigation checks.
Defensive: Reduce damage and effects from spells and enchantments.
ATT: Resilience
-
Toughness
Description: Physical durability and toughness, enabling characters to withstand penetrating and physical attacks.
Application: Bonus to absorbing initial damage, before ongoing effects, resist penetrating attacks, and withstand physical assaults.
Defensive: Increased durability against physical harm.
ATT: Resilience
-
Willpower
Description: Mental strength to resist mind control, temptation, and confusion.
Application: Bonus to resist mental influence, temptation, and confusion.
Defensive: Maintain mental clarity and resistance to mind effects.
ATT: Intelligence
-
Wit
Description: Mental resilience, sharp perception, and the ability to avoid deception or complex traps.
Application: Bonus to perception checks, trap detection, and mental defenses.
Offensive: Use wit to deceive or manipulate opponents.
ATT: Intelligence
-
Luck
Description: Represents chance and fortune, allowing for narrative or probabilistic mitigation and advantages.
Application: Bonus to luck-based rolls, narrative advantages, or random effects.
Both offensive and defensive: Use luck to turn the tide of encounters in unpredictable ways.
ATT: none
Exemplary Levels
Beyond level 60 (e.g., 60[0.001]), the game tracks incremental levels in thousandths, but these do not increase the Attribute score directly.
GM Discretion
Some outcomes or story events may be designated as unaffected by Luck, at the GM’s discretion. For more details, see the SorC Probability Loot, Crafting, and Discovery System.
Additional Considerations
Limitations
Usage of traits can be limited per encounter, per day, or under specific conditions to balance gameplay.
Synergy & Development
Traits can be combined or specialized over time, allowing characters to customize their abilities and tactical options.
Inheritance & Acquisition
Traits may be inherited through race or acquired via class, profession, or experience to foster growth and specialization.
Trait Trees