RosenMcStern Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 (*Don't like that name though, because they're not like Pendragon (Personality) Traits. More like HW/HQ 'Keywords'? At least it's a better name than that!) Frogspawner is right, as the word Trait is historically related to personality in BRP-derived games. Any suggestion for an alternate name? "Aspects" is not a solution, as it is used in Fate with a slightly different meaning. Quote Proud member of the Evil CompetitionTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rust Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 The only thing that comes to my mind is the Ringworld RPG that used "Root Skills" and "Branch Skills", although with a different mechanism than the one you use for your system. If it were Traveller, the Traits would be called "Specializations", although it is also not exactly the same mechanism. Quote "Mind like parachute, function only when open." (Charlie Chan) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosenMcStern Posted December 13, 2010 Author Share Posted December 13, 2010 Uhm, it is not exactly the concept I am looking for. Look at the definition: a Skill is what you can do, a Trait is what you are. You may have Close Combat 50%, but it is the fact that you are a Hoplite that gives you a bonus when using a spear and a shield. The key notion is that Traits can be applied to several skills: some Traits are explicitly labeled as multi-use, while others are supposed to apply to one skill only. But yesterday, during the first playtest, the players suggested "creative usage" of some traits, for instance applying their Weapon traits to Craft rolls to repair them. Quote Proud member of the Evil CompetitionTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rust Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 I am afraid my English is not really up to the task. A thesaurus offers these as synonyms for approximately that kind of ability: aptitude art bent capability capacity competence expertise facility finesse gift knack mastery proficiency prowess qualification savvy talent technique Quote "Mind like parachute, function only when open." (Charlie Chan) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GianniVacca Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 (edited) I suggest: character abilitycharacter specialitycharacter talentcharacter specialisationprofessional abilityprofessional specialityprofessional talentprofessional specialisation Unless I'm mistaken, this will function in a similar way to MRQII's heroic abilities, so character/professional ability is probably my preferred choice. Edited December 13, 2010 by GianniVacca Quote 「天朝大國」,https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/92874/celestial-empire 很有意思: http://celestialempire.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosenMcStern Posted December 13, 2010 Author Share Posted December 13, 2010 Unless I'm mistaken, this will function in a similar way to MRQII's heroic abilities, so character/professional ability is probably my preferred choice. Erm, in fact you are mistaken. Traits make up approximately two thirds of a character's initial experience - maybe more. They are what makes a character basically competent, not what makes him excel. Quote Proud member of the Evil CompetitionTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Vile Traveller Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 In that case I'd go with Gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GianniVacca Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Ooops. This is what happens when you're trying to follow a thread without having read the initial document in the first place "Gift" seems fitting then, as in "this character has a gift for this or that". Quote 「天朝大國」,https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/92874/celestial-empire 很有意思: http://celestialempire.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosenMcStern Posted December 14, 2010 Author Share Posted December 14, 2010 But it hints at a special ability or an innate predisposition, which Traits are not - or not exclusively. Let us go for a concrete example: the Traits for Robin Hood would be: English, Noble, Horse, Sword, Bow, Forest, Hide, Sneak ... and some others, like Jump or so. They would probably also include Crusader and/or Bandit. Would you call English or Crusader a Gift? Quote Proud member of the Evil CompetitionTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilous Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Good old «Talent» could work? or Background (Talents) Plot Word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GianniVacca Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Keyword? Quote 「天朝大國」,https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/92874/celestial-empire 很有意思: http://celestialempire.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosenMcStern Posted December 14, 2010 Author Share Posted December 14, 2010 I suppose keyword is appropriate, although it clashes a bit with how it is used in HeroQuest. Quote Proud member of the Evil CompetitionTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rust Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 I just asked a friend of mine who teaches English which term she would use to describe this kind of ability of a character. She almost immediately answered: "This could be an aquired trait." Quote "Mind like parachute, function only when open." (Charlie Chan) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mugen Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 What about "Specialties" ? Another possibility is to call percentile scores "aptitudes" and use the term "skills" for your "traits". Also, the concept is very similar to what Legend of the Five Rings 3rd and 4th editions call "Emphasises". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalaba Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Uhm, it is not exactly the concept I am looking for. Look at the definition: a Skill is what you can do, a Trait is what you are. Let us go for a concrete example: the Traits for Robin Hood would be: English, Noble, Horse, Sword, Bow, Forest, Hide, Sneak ... and some others, like Jump or so. They would probably also include Crusader and/or Bandit. Would you call English or Crusader a Gift? I'm confused. If traits are what you are, then why is Robin Hood a horse, a sword, a bow, a hide, a sneak, or a jump. Surely, these are skills - what someone does - not what someone is. As far as naming goes, I would suggest 'Talents' for abilties that are innate, and 'Skills' for abilities that are trained. Quote "Tell me what you found, not what you lost" Mesopotamian proverb __________________________________ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosenMcStern Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 It appears the traits must be named differently in order for the difference to be clear. Swordsman, bowman, forester, horseman, etc. The only appropriate alternatives I see now are: Traits, Keywords, Features. Quote Proud member of the Evil CompetitionTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Green Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Pulp Cthulhu supposedly uses a similar system to describe character elements outside of skills. In that game, they're called Traits, so that might be a no-go if you're wanting to avoid confusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trifletraxor Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 I vote for "Keywords"! SGL. Quote Ef plest master, this mighty fine grub! 116/420. High Priest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Walters Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 How about "Qualities"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puck Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 The word "Concept" has been used several times in the thread to describe this. What about "Concepts"? Quote 294/420 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threedeesix Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 It appears the traits must be named differently in order for the difference to be clear. Swordsman, bowman, forester, horseman, etc. The only appropriate alternatives I see now are: Traits, Keywords, Features. I like Aptitude Definition of APTITUDE 1: inclination, tendency <an aptitude for hard work> b : a natural ability : talent 2: capacity for learning <an aptitude for languages> 3: general suitability : aptness It sounds like it covers a broader spectrum than "skill" and would be more descriptive of the character in general. Rod Quote Join my Mythras/RuneQuest 6: Classic Fantasy Yahoo Group at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RQCF/info "D100 - Exactly 5 times better than D20" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonewt Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 How about: motif Definition: central theme Synonyms: concept, design, idea, logo, notion, pattern, structure, subject element Definition: essential feature Synonyms: aspect, basic, basis, bit, component, constituent, detail, drop, facet, factor, fundamental, hint, ingredient, item, material, matter, member, part, particle, particular, piece, portion, principle, root, section, stem, subdivision, trace, unit, view quality Definition: characteristic, feature Synonyms: affection, affirmation, aspect, attribute, character, condition, constitution, description, element, endowment, essence, factor, genius, individuality, kind, make, mark, name of tune, nature, nature of beast, parameter, peculiarity, predication, property, savor, sort, trait, virtue, way of it Or from the world of Object Oriented programming: property (and skills are methods ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDLeary Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 from the world of Object Oriented programming: property (and skills are methods ). Hmmmmm... on to something here. Perhaps we could call them Classes, and give each one pre-defined Methods! SDLeary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vagabond Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Hmmmmm... on to something here. Perhaps we could call them Classes, and give each one pre-defined Methods! SDLeary Which, of course, implies Inheritance ! Seriously, "quality" was my first thought ... Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric L. Webb Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I like Aptitude Definition of APTITUDE 1: inclination, tendency <an aptitude for hard work> b : a natural ability : talent 2: capacity for learning <an aptitude for languages> 3: general suitability : aptness It sounds like it covers a broader spectrum than "skill" and would be more descriptive of the character in general. Rod Im with Rod on this, Ability or Abilities may work as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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