Talk:Traits (4E)

4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons

This version is being prepared for publication and has major edits compared to the main page --Starfox 13:25, 28 May 2010 (CEST)

Characters in Dungeons and Dragons, 4th editions, are very focused on adventuring. Players are free to role-play any skills or traits related to daily life outside the adventuring career. This article presents a system to learn and use noncombat abilities without affecting the rest of the game.

Traits

Traits are an optional set of rules that give characters more options out of combat. They are purchased separately from the skills, feats and powers described in the Player's Handbook. The talent rules can be added to the game without retrofitting existing characters, merely adding more depth on top of the normal rules.

Basics

Traits are non-combat versions of feats. They give special abilities that are used to define a characters background and are used to represent your character’s livelihood outside of adventuring. This includes role-playing gimmicks and background options. They are also used to purchase talents (non-combat skills).

All characters start with three traits at level 1. After that, you gain traits at the same rate as you get new feats; at level 11, 21, and every even level. You can retrain one talent at each new level, in addition to normal retraining limits.

There are three types of traits. Like so much else about traits, these classifications are a general guide and not hard and fast rules. Personal traits are innate abilities, similar to feats. Almost all campaigns can use these. Perks are social advantages or privileges. Subplots are recurring events that comes up again and again in your character's life and are often a hindrance; the advantage with them is that you get more screen time.

Some DMs might ban some or all perks and subplots as too invasive, or just say that a particular plot or perk does not fit the situation in the game. You should ask each time you want to take one. This also serves to inform the DM that you have such a trait, allowing him to use it in the game.

How to Use Traits

Traits are a way to flesh out character without adding substantial benefits. They help define a role, background, and interests outside adventuring. Unlike feats, there are few perquisites to fulfill and little need to plan ahead.

You generally don't chose traits in advance; instead you let circumstances in the campaign dictate how your character develops. Contacts, Romances, and Nemisis are good examples of this - traits you choose after encountering a situation or person in-game that is interesting enough to associate your character with on the log term.

Traits are used to learn Talents, non-combat skills that define your interests and gives you an occupation outside your life as an adventurer.

Some traits naturally evolve into others and should be retained to reflect this. A Hier that comes into his inheritance might retrain as a Baron, an Influential Friend might become a Contact as you catch up to them socially. But these are exceptions, generally you are not expected to retrain old traits as you achieve new ones that are similar but more powerful, as explained in the introduction to Paragon Traits. Likewise, you have great freedom to assign traits as you please, but you should strive to pick ones that make sense; for certain rogues it might make sense to be the Sheriff, but if you want to play a freewheeling thief, another perk might be a more reasonable option.

Many campaigns have a theme, and include ways for characters to interact with this theme. For example, a police story might track contacts, ranks in the police, and your reputation on the street. Players choosing police work as their focus have opportunities to shine. Traits gives the DM a way to handle such themes, and also provides an equal opportunity for characters to shine in other fields, outside the main scope of the story. In the police campaign mentioned above, one player character might be a cleric assigned to aid the police force. Besides being a cop, he is also an Ordained Priest and might advance to become a High Priest. The character's dealings with his church might never be the focus of the campaign or be played out in detail, yet the character has a career, builds his own clout, and develops socially just as those who focus their lives on the main theme. In fact, it is often easier to advance in a hierarchy that is not in the limelight; the DM might make the position of Lord Justice something the players have to work hard to earn but which also has a direct impact on the game. In comparison, the role of High Priest is easier to get because you do not have to achieve in-game goals to earn it, but it naturally has much less effect on the game.

Heroic Traits

These deal with personal abilities and subplots and relationships on the local level.

Adopted Race

Perk

You have very good relations with a race other than your own, to the point that you are considered a member of this race for social purposes. You are considered to be as honorable as any other member of this race, accepted as one of their own. If you choose humans as your adopted race, this only applies to one human culture; humans are too diverse for any one nonhuman to become accepted among all of humanity. The same could apply to other widespread and diverse races in your campaign.

Agent

Perk

Prerequisite: Level 4

You have an agent who will act on your behalf and represent you. While unwilling to risk his or her life, the agent will carry out instructions to the best of his ability, and look out for your interests when you are otherwise occupied. He will also travel to represent you in other places and can be sent on missions on his own. In return, the agent expects advice, patronage, and that you use your contacts on his behalf.

An agent is an NPC two levels lower than yours of a class and race agreed upon with the DM. If your agent is killed, you will want to retrain this talent.

Special: The agent is and NPC and is thus designed by the DM. You can take this talent several times, each time gaining a separate new agent.

Artiste

Personal

You get a +3 feat bonus to Actor, Dancer, Lover, Musician, Orator, and Singer.

Authority

Personal

Benefit: You get a +3 feat bonus to Lawman, Merchant, Sailor, Soldier, and Valet.

Blue Blood

Perk

Your family is old and recognized for its nobility, one of the most prestigious in the land. In a campaign where most everyone is a noble (a chivalry campaign, for example) you may even be of royal blood.

Those who care about such things will see you as a born leader, and your career often benefits. It is easy for you to be invited to parties and social functions, and you have relatives in high places. Your word is given due consideration, you are considered a valuable and reliable witness, and you will mostly be assumed to have a good reason to be where you are and doing what you're doing, even if it might seem fishy. Even those who don't respect nobility find it hard to ignore your manners and bearing, it is clear that you are a person not to be trifled with.

You're not automatically wealthy, some nobles are dirt poor. If you get caught with your hands dirty, Blue Blood may backfire; everyone loves a good scandal.

Cause

Perk

You are a champion for a certain cause, and know among others dedicated to and against this cause. This gives you a set of friends and enemies depending on the exact cause you choose when taking this talent. Causes can be religious, political, or focused on some kind of activity, such as charities. They always have an element of idealism about them; a thieves guild is not a cause.

Charming

Personal

It is easy for you to get into social events, make acquaintances, and generally be very popular in a non-domineering sort of way. There is something about you that makes others care for you if you succeed on a Charisma roll against Will defense. People would ordinarily be hostile might kidnap you instead of kill you.

Clan

Subplot

You are a member of a clan or brotherhood, usually an extended family but sometimes a small tribe or very close-knit group of sworn friends. You do not live your everyday life with your clan (pick Family for that), but you keep in constant touch, sharing joys, sorrows, and information as well as intervening to help each other.

Contacts

Perk

Contacts are persons you know and who are friendly to you and sympathetic to the same ideals as you, but not your direct servants or allies. They will gladly supply information, acting as your eyes and ears. They also willingly perform services for you at normal cost, which can be a boon if they deal in something that is outlawed, rare, or otherwise hard to come by. Over time, your network of contacts grows, you gain new ones while some of your old contacts become obsolete.

This talent gives you a number of contacts equal to half your level, with a minimum of one contact. You generally acquire a new contact once per level, replacing an old one at odd levels and gaining a new one at even levels. Sometimes, your contacts change slower or quicker than this, but can never have more contacts than your level indicates.

A contact should ideally be someone you met and befriended during play. In this way, you can gain influential contacts; kings, courtiers, important heroes and other famous individuals. You can flesh out your stable of contacts with NPCs of your own invention, but these are generally not as important or influential as the ones you meet during play; typical examples are city guardsmen, traders, shopkeepers, local clergy, or minor mystics.

Deduction

Personal

Once per day when you are speculating as to the intricacies of the plot, the best course of action, or about the motivations of a given character, you can have the GM tell you whether your speculation is correct or incorrect.

Disguise

Personal

Prerequisite: Trained in Bluff.

With a few minutes of work you can disguise yourself as another person of your approximate size and same basic body shape. Imitating a specific individual is also possible, but takes a day of preparation and you need to find appropriate clothes, wigs etc which can be costly, especially if impersonating someone rich. Make a Bluff check opposed by passive Insight to pass inspection. Others inspecting you closely (a minor action) can make an Insight roll against 10 + your Bluff skill modifier to sense something is wrong.

Normal: Anyone with Bluff can don a disguise, but it takes longer to put on and needs more special materials.

Drifter

Subplot

You spend a lot of time on the road, and have a tendency to just happen to be there when it happens. Any time another character is alone and needs help, you can show up if it's at all plausible. Even in non-dangerous scenes you have a tendency to just be there.

Eerie

Perk

There is something odd and unusual about you, that makes others leave you alone. This might be a mannerism, such as talking to yourself or staring vacantly into space, or an indefinable aura. The end result is that people expect odd tings from you and around you, and will pay no heed to such occurrences unless they cause some kind of direct harm. They might think you a harmless eccentric or leave you alone out of fear. If there is a witch-hunt in the area, this can backfire; people too cowardly or reserved to do something themselves might still report on you.

Fame

Personal

Prerequisite: Trained in the Celebrity talent.

Gain a +3 feat bonus to the Celebrity talent.

Family

Subplot

You live with your family, usually either parents and siblings or spouse and children. Your family has a home appropriate to your station and gives you a base of security and respectability. The DM can involve some or all of your family in the plot.

Fans

Perk

Prerequisite: Trained in the Celebrity talent.

You have a group of followers who look up to you, but who do not work for you. On many occasions, they will turn up and offer to help, fawn over you, or just hang around. This is often helpful, but sometimes annoying. Fans will not accompany you on adventures and never enter dungeons.

At any time, you have a number of fans equal to your Charisma score hanging around. All your followers are NPC minions no higher than two levels lower than you. All details are determined by the DM. Rarely, a powerful person or even a monster might turn out to be a fan, in which case he or she is likely to be extra pushy and demanding.

Fashion Sense

Perk

You have good taste, knowledge of fashions, and an understanding of what to wear to provoke a reaction. This lets you dress well for every occasion, and gives you the savvy to dress oddly without causing a scandal.

Fixer

Perk

You have market connections, and can sell or bye almost anything, even contraband, illegal items, loot that needs to be fenced, and other goods that are normally hard to trade in. You still pay market prices; this is mainly useful if you want to trade in prescribed goods or keep a very low profile.

Followers

Perk

You have a group of followers who work for you. They serve in some capacity; for example as a garrison, police force, ship’s crew, caravan drivers, or guild thieves. They report to you, and you can give them orders slightly outside the scope of their normal activity, but they will not accompany you on adventures and never enter dungeons.

You have a number of followers equal to your Charisma score, and it they take losses they return to this number as soon as plausible - either because you get new followers, or because defeated ones return to action.

All your followers are identical NPC minions two levels lower than you of a class and race agreed upon with the DM.

Special: You can take this talent several times, each time getting a separate group of followers.

Gold Digger

Personal

You are good at ingraining yourself with rich and powerful people. Having you around and spending money on you makes people feel rich and successful. This makes it easy for you to live off others and join parties and social occasions as a hanger-on. Actually gaining riches or influence will require more effort.

Guild Member

Perk

You are a member of an established guild; a conservative organization that exists to further the professional interests of its members. Heroes tend to join artists', mages', mercenaries', and thieves' guilds, but there are many other guilds organizing all kinds of occupations. A guild provides little direct help, but has facilities you can use with skills, martial practices, and rituals and can provide access to markets. Guilds are a great source of trainers, aides, and expertise. They also have medical resources, act as insurers and advocates, and have a pension fund, but such services are generally of little interest to adventurers.

Handyman

Personal

You get a +3 feat bonus to Jeweler, Leatherworker, Mechanic, Smith, Stoneworker, and Tailor.

Heir

Perk

I'm his daughter-in-law elect! - He'll marry his son - (He's only got one) - To his daughter-in-law elect!
- The Mikado by William S. Gilbert

It is well known that Something Marvelous is coming your way. Typically, you pick a paragon perk you are about to inherit (or an epic perk if you are of paragon level). People will know you are the heir apparent and fawn over you accordingly, tough there are no direct benefits whatsoever.

Integrity

Subplot

Prerequisite: Good or Lawful Good alignment

You have a great deal of integrity, and it shows. People find you to be a fair arbiter, an impartial witness, and a trustworthy leader; even if you never strive for positions of responsibility people tend to put their trust in you and turn to you when they need someone to assume responsibility.

Influential Friend

Subplot

You have a friend in a high position, corresponding to a perk talent one tier above your own. This can be a childhood friend, an accidental acquaintance, a lover, or otherwise someone in an official capacity who you know privately. For example, at the heroic tier, you might have an influential friend with an Army or who is a Minister, while at the paragon level your influential friend can even be a King. At the epic level, you can potentially have a divine being as your influential friend.

Inclined to act in your favor, an influential friend has many other obligations and this makes him unreliable. An influential friends likes you and wants to correspond with you or spend time with you, but is aware that showing you preferential treatment is somewhat irresponsible and thus does not provide the full support of a Mentor. Pressuring an influential friend can produce grand results in the short term, but may easily backlash.

Knight

Perk

You are an acknowledged member of a warrior caste with a code to uphold. This is not nobility, but close to it. In many cultures, knighthood is a martial archetype, but it need not be; Chinese knights were martial artists and a fantasy world can easily have supernatural guardians with a similar creed. As a knight (or local equivalent) you are known to follow a code, which makes you trusted and respected. Your word is held in high regard. You can expect free room and board almost anywhere you go. People turn to you with their troubles and expect you to help.

Lackey

Perk

Prerequisite: Level 4

You have a lackey who will provide for and serve you as long as it involves little personal risk. The lackey will travel with you, take care of your mounts or carriage, arrange for food and lodging, set up camp, stand guard, and do other domestic duties. A lackey avoids combat and only fights if sorely pressed. Sometimes, a lackey might provide more exiting services, such as opening a locked chest you bring back to camp, scouting, or acting as a foil, but never in competition with another player character. A lackey can have an interesting background or personal relationship with you.

The lackey is and NPC two levels lower than you, of a class and race agreed upon with the DM, and designed by the DM.

Special:. You can take this talent several times, each time gaining a separate lackey. If your lackey is killed, you will want to retrain this talent.

Language

Personal

Choose a language. You can now speak, read, and write this language fluently.

Special: You can take this talent more than once. Each time you select this talent, choose a new language to learn. Unlike the Linguist feat, this has no prerequisite.

Lip Reading

Personal

Prerequisite: Training in Insight.

You have the ability to decipher what people are saying merely from looking at their lips moving, as long as you can get a reasonably good view of a speaker's lips and know the language. Certain parts may be obscure or missing or require an Insight roll to understand correctly. If they have reason to be careful, an Insight roll against their Bluff is required.

Medium

Subplot

When you take this trait, select one type of spirit from the table below. You are aligned that particular type of spirits, who sometimes give you visions and advice. Each type of spirit is associated with a particular skill; you can use that skill to seek information. Thich is much the same as asking around using the Streetwise skill, only the answers are colored by the nature of the spirits you commune with. No-one but you or another medium can sense or interact with these spirits in any way.

Type	Skill	Origin	Notes
Ghosts	Religion	Shadowfell	Individualistic. Wants to carry out unfulfilled desires from their lives.
Nature spirits	Nature	Natural world	Care about environmental issues, the daily life of animals, and primal rituals.
Elementals	Arcana	Elemental Chaos	Wild. Sometimes out to right a perceived wrong, many just want to vent their rage
Fey Spirits	Arcana	Feywild	Mischievous. Wants to bring magic into the world, for good or ill. Loves riddles and tricks.
Abberant Spirits	Dungeoneering	Far Realm	Incomprehensible. Give visions both hard to decipher and profoundly disquieting.
Virtues	Religion	Astral Sea	Idealistic; some are benign, others infernal. Visions have to do with morals and ideals.

Mentor

Perk

You have mentor or employer that sees you as a trusted agent. The mentor is a constant source of information, employment opportunities, and often useless advice.

The DM is encouraged to use the mentor as an adventure hook and patron, and might tailor benefits and rewards to the mentor’s outlook on you. You can also turn to the mentor for help and advice, but a mentor will not accept being used and will avoid becoming directly involved in the action. The mentor is a powerful figure, which might or might not mean that he is a high-level character. A rich merchant, influential queen, or behind-the-scenes monster can function as a mentor just as well as the classic warrior lord or wizard sage.

The exact details of your mentor are up to the DM and unknown to you. A mentor might have a secret agenda and use you as a pawn in it, but is rarely hostile to your ideals.

Mistaken Identity

Subplot

Your identity are commonly mistaken; either for a specific person or for a role other than your own. You are known for traits and abilities you do not possess, based on misinterpretation, rumors, or just plain lies. A commoner fighter could be known as a magical prince, a holy man, or a demon summoner. People influenced by your Celebrity status will have heard of this false repute, and react accordingly. Others gathering information about you will only find the mistaken identity information unless they pass the check with a margin of 10 or more.

Nemesis

Subplot

Your fate and purpose is linked to a particular enemy. You and this enemy are bound to run across each other again and again, and you have a mysterious way of ending up in one-on-one encounters with this enemy. In addition, your nemesis advances in power as you do, and has an amazing ability to survive and return to fight another day. And should he die, there is always someone else on the sidelines, ready to step in.

The DM has to approve your choice of nemesis; it is generally best to pick a nemesis you've met during play and that proved particularly interesting, memorable, and loathsome.

Ordained Priest

Perk

You are an ordained and recognized member of the official clergy of an important religious order. You can officiate at ceremonies and perform religious functions; this makes you a trusted individual and makes sure you are aware of the local gossip. People will naturally turn to you with spiritual and supernatural problems.

Note that not all divine characters need to have this talent. Many clerics have internal duties within their churches and almost never meet lay people, others are free wanderers with no official sanction or responsibilities. Some churches do not have the formal structure this feat implies at all.

Perfect Recall

Personal

You have perfect recall; years afterward, you can call up the precise words of a conversation or recall details of a room seen only at a glance. This allows you to analyze as scene from memory as though you were actually present there. You can retroactively use the Perception skill to notice things you didn't to look for when you were actually there, which in turn might give more information from knowledge skills.

Player

Perk

You are never seen in social circles without a beautiful companion on your arm and is known as a man or woman of the world. You are well known at night spots and get VIP treatment in most establishments. Depending on your style, your companions might be lovers, friends, artists you patronize, or just about anything else you can come up with. Your relationship with these people is congenial and warm, but never very serious; you neither expect nor give exclusive attention to any one of them.

Power Signature

Personal

There is something special about the way you use powers. This is a purely visual effect and does not change what the powers actually do, but it makes your power-use distinctive and noticeable. Choose one visual effect for your powers; this can be something like flaming skulls, psychic shock waves, or celestial light. A martial character would usually have a more mundane power signature, such as carving your initials or leaving a signature item behind, tough some actually leave traces of ephemeral energy when they perform their amazing moves.

A power signature generally makes it easier for others to recognize your handiwork. If you succeed at a Celebrity roll, people will recognize your power signature even from a distance and react accordingly. It can serve as an alibi (I could never have done that; everyone knows my magic is green) or as a lead for an investigator. It is possible to fake your power signature, so it is not enough to count as evidence against you.

Presence

Personal

Prerequisite: Trained in Intimidation.

You are very good at projecting your image, be it scary or dazzling. This is great for becoming the center of attention. You can make an Intimidate roll as a free action when someone first spots you, on a success they take note of you. They do not become friendly or hostile; they merely focus some of their attention on you.

Professional Fame

Personal

Prerequisite: Trained as a Celebrity.

Your fame is based on your professional abilities, not on your magnetism and presence. Select any one ability except Charisma; your modifier in the Celebrity in now based on that ability rather than on Charisma.

Romance

Subplot

You have a complex and troubled romance that enhances your role in the campaign. This is not just any relationship, but one involving someone you cannot easily get together with; your king and sovereign or the daughter of an arch enemy, perhaps even a nemesis. There are usually other complications as well; unrequited love, duty, racial differences, and other hindrances. Alternatively your romance is trouble-prone, and needs constant help and attention.

Having a quiet relationship does not need this trait; this is for a romance that takes up some actual screen time. Still, you might want to pick it for a normal relationship, just to pin it down and make it a more definite part of the game world.

Romance-Prone

Subplot

You constantly tend to get romantically entangled, but these romances rarely last.

Scholar

Personal

You get a +3 feat bonus to Architect, Apothecary, Governor, Painter, Scribe, and Stargazer.

Scrounging

Personal

You have a tendency to pick stuff up and keep it around for no clear reason, and an ability to find uses all this junk. This lets you improvise and scrounge for food and gear in trash bins and ruins. Use your Dungeoneering, Nature, or Streetwise for this, depending on the environment. You can come up with improvised weapons like staves, clubs and daggers, as well as makeshift tools that negate the penalty for lack of a toolkit. You do not need to exactly specify your equipment list. You can specify items that are in your pack, without specifying them ahead of time. Such an item must be reasonably common in the area, the DM can veto items he considers outrageous. It can neither weight more than 1 lb per point of Strength you have nor cost more than 5% of a magic item of your level. When you specify an item like this, you immediately pay its normal cost.

Secret Agent

Perk

You are the member of a secret society, a fanatic group with a specific agenda. As long as you obey all orders with enthusiasm and devote yourself to the organization, you can expect their support. Fail them even a little and things can turn sour. In general, a player character secret agent will not be given suicidal orders, but of you don't live up to the expectations of the organization, you can expect very stern reprisals indeed. You can expect the full support of the organization; this can range from payment for special missions, information, fencing your loot and other trivial services to a suicide assault against your enemies by fanatic brothers in the cult. Typical secret societies are cults, spy rings, cabals, mystic orders, and the most close-knit of criminal gangs.

Secret Identity

Personal

You know how to keep a low profile. Your personal life is your own, and people in general do not know who you are or what you can do. This might be because you have a secret identity or simply stand back and let your companions take the limelight. Streetwise rolls to find out things about your personal life suffer a +10 difficulty modifier.

If you are a Celebrity, you are a mysterious adventurer who’s true identity no-one knows. Regardless of how famous you are, you won’t be generally recognized unless in your heroic identity.

Sheriff

Perk

You have law enforcement powers and can make arrests, repossess goods, hand out fines, and otherwise disperse justice. You can deputize others to act under your supervision. You have a limited area of jurisdiction, but even outside this area, a sheriff is accorded much more respect from other law-enforcement officials than a civilian. If you are ever caught with your hands dirty, you can expect the full force of the law to strike down on your errand behavior.

Signature Item

Perk

You possess an item that has a great potential as a magic item. You know a special ritual to transfer the power of other magic items into your signature item.

Choose one specific type of magic item to be your signature item. This must be a weapon, implement, suit of armor, or neck slot item. Your signature item does not start out with this enchantment, but you know a special variant of the Create Magic Item ritual that only works on your signature item. You can only enchant your signature item with the one enchantment you choose when you selected the item, or with a generic “plus only” enchantment if your level is too low to create an item of your chosen type. You can use another magic item to power the ritual, using its full value to pay all or part of the enchantment cost.

If your signature item is lost or destroyed, you will want to retrain this talent.

Special: You can take this talent several times. Each time you do, it applies to a different item.

Signature Mount

Perk

Prerequisites: Special Mount, Mounted Combat

Your Special Mount will advance in level as you do, using the normal rules for increasing monster levels.

Special Mount

Perk

Prerequisites: Mounted Combat

You have acquired the services of a special mount, often of a type not easily found. Choose a creature of your level or lower. The mounts from Adventurer’s Vault are generally available, and the DM might allow you to select a truly exotic creature if it makes sense in play. Elite, Leader, and Solo monsters are generally too strong to be special mounts. The mount will carry you in combat and allow you to use its Mount ability, but will not otherwise partake in adventures or fight except to defend itself.

Talented

Personal

You gain training in one talent.

Special: You can take this talent more than once. Each time you select this talent, choose a talent in which you are not trained.

True Identity

Subplot

Benefit: You have a secret but significant identity, and this identity is destined to become known and/or play a part in upcoming events. You can be such magnificent things as the long-lost child of the old king, the destined savior of all lizardfolk, or a dragon bound to human form and abilities by a curse. The DM has to approve your choice, and its usually best to pick your true identity in play, once you know what the campaign is all about.

Victim

Subplot

Benefit: You have a tendency to end up as a victim; when someone is to be captured, mugged, or otherwise fall victim to a subplot, it tends to be you. Taking this trait means you'll accept that the DM hand-waves situations where you fall into peril and have to be rescued or work to escape, but DMs are of course encouraged to try and make this as fun and non-disruptive as possible.

Unusual Background

Personal

Benefit: You have an unusual or incredible background, such as having been teleported across half the world by a crazed wizard. While this does not allow you to take options the DM does not want in his game, it can serve as an excuse to play something odd or unusual. Obviously, you have to take this talent before you pick the odd option, usually at level 1. You can only respecify it if the campaign changes so that your background is no longer unusual.

Paragon Traits

These traits become available at level 11. At this level, character can assume social obligations and responsibilities, gaining power and influence thereby, but also assuming responsibilities. The practical benefits of such a position rarely applies to adventuring, but are reward in itself as it gives you prestige, social status, and gives you a role in the campaign. It is generally a good idea to have an Agent to run the practical side of such a position of responsibility, leaving you free to adventure.

In many cases, paragon traits build on heroic traits, but they generally do not replace them, nor have them as prerequisites. Instead, paragon traits build on and expand upon heroic traits. For example, it is possible to be a Baron without having Blue Blood, but if you have both you get the additional respect due a true blue-blooded scion of an ancient lineage. You can retrain Blue Blood to take Baron, but in this case this means you have advanced beyond your origin; your family is ancient but not originally baronial, and you are still seen as an upstart when you become a full baron. The effect of lacking relevant heroic traits has been explained in the description of some paragon traits. Even when it is not explicitly said, paragon traits expand upon but do not supersede similar heroic traits.

Peerage: Some paragon traits elevate you to the peerage; the ruling class. Not all peers are formal nobility, but as a peer you do have regional influence and wide-ranging respect. A peer has access to government and court, can arrange to be invited to almost any social event, and is generally considered to be a part of the ruling elite.

Paragon feats gives you access to great prestige and recognition, and you should choose such a position sensibly. While it is certainly possible for a rogue to be a High Priest in church that has gone political, such a position is generally more appropriate to a divine class character. The DM has final say on what traits you can pick. If your area of expertise is the focus of the campaign, you should expect to have to work for your advancement; becoming a baron might be the focus of a feudal campaign and something you have to do great deeds to accomplish. In other games, being a baron is just a backdrop, a wayside honor largely irrelevant to your adventuring activities. In this case it is usually easier to gain, but the impact on the campaign is much less.

Army

Perk

You have a horde or army of low-level followers to call upon. When in active service, these followers take time and money to maintain, tough a successful campaign generally pays its own expenses and you can have them employed to patrol or as a garrison to defray costs. The army has a comprehensive look-and-feel; an infantry force, engineering corps, barbarian horde, or cavalry squadron. You build it like an encounter, with an XP budget equal to the gp cost of a magic item of your level. No member of your army has a higher level than half your own level. An army can be used for military campaigns, as guards, and for other tasks that need a lot of people; they are not very useful on adventures.

Special: This feat can be taken several times, each time with a different army, often different in style.

Baron

Perk, Peer

You are a regional landowner of considerable power, controlling a town or several villages. Benefits include a corps of guards similar to half an Army and a castle, but these guards are needed in the area and cannot range far or take part in adventures. You are also a political figure of importance, and your voice will be heard on most matters.

Note: If you lack the Blue Blood talent, you are newly ennobled; while admired for your prowess, you do not gain the full respect due ancestral peers of the realm.

Courtier

Perk, Peer

You are a well-known hanger-on at court. Tough you have no official capacity, your wit, grace, and many friends assures that you are always welcome on high-class society, without any responsibilities.

Genius

Perk, Peer

Prerequisites: Celebrity

You are recognized as especially gifted, your works are given the highest regard. This is usually applicable to artists, but activists, muckrakers, priests, scholars, and philosophers can also qualify. Whatever you say or do is news, and your opinion weights heavily on public opinion. This gives you little direct power, but access to the highest circles. And if you are insulted or express your dislike of something, it can cause social chaos.

Guild Master

Perk, Peer

You are a master of a guild, or in the case of very large and powerful guilds, a ranking official and regional leader. A guild is a professional organization as outlined under Guild Member above. You can call on your subordinates for support and professional services; this allows you to delegate work related to your organization. The guild also reports to you, which gives you a great deal of information.

Notes: Unless you are also a Guild Member, you do not gain access to guild resources like a guild member does; you are assumed to lead the guild from above, not be a working member.

Haunted

Personal, Peer

You are a magnet for spirits and poltergeist events. Odd but minor things happen near you; milk goes sour, animals walk on their hind legs, apparitions appear, and ghostly voices bemoan their fate. This gives you a solid reputation as a spooky person whose interests are not to be crossed; ordinary people dare not oppose your interest, tough they might petition lords and heroes to help them if you become an acute threat. Even persons of import show you a mix of fear and respect, but more guardedly. Overusing respect earned this way can backfire.

Notes: This makes you a part of the peerage but as a feared outsider; you are the wicked stepmother type who has to crash the party, but who no-one dares throw out once you get there.

High Priest

Perk, Peer

You are a a regional leader of a religious order, comparable to a bishop in rank. You can set the policy of the local church, and learn a lot of information about religious and magical events. You can declare holidays and feast days, and are expected to officiate at important ceremonies; if you do not it is seen as divine censure and can have political and divine repercussions. Unless you are also an Ordained Priest, you do not have the grassroots contacts that position brings.

Lord Justice

Perk, Peer

You are in a high judiciary position; depending on the locale, this can be a barbarian law-speaker, a chief of police, or a robed and bewigged judge. In either case, your voice is given high regard on matters judiciary, and you are expected to resolve conflicts and settle disputes. Though it is not mandatory to be a skilled Governor to take this position, it is generally very hard to be a respected judge without such expertise.

Magical Warden

Perk, Peer

You are the guardian of a magical site; this can be a gateway to another world or a place of power. It is best to choose a place of power that has already appeared in the campaign, so that it has an already established magical effect. Typical effects of such sites are to aid certain rituals or allow travel to other planes. They also act as monster magnets; your presence influences what kinds of monsters appear, generally insuring they are amenable to your cause. A site with a responsible warden is an asset to its neighbors, and this position gives you social standing approximately equal to that of a baron or bishop.

Mastermind

Perk

You are the regional master of an organization of Secret Agents. Your word is law to your lesser brothers. They are willing to do anything for you, but their fanaticism makes the society frail; it is easy to carelessly throw away the lives of your followers if you are not careful. This is best used for infiltration, surveillance, and to provide services and market contacts. None of your agents have a level higher than half your own level.

Minister

Perk, Peer

You have made a political career and won access to important political venues; as a royal council, minister, or otherwise close to the seat of power. In this way you are a power behind the throne, with insight in and influence over policy.

Mole

Prerequisite: Trained in Bluff.

You are a master of disguise and infiltration. You often turn up to help your comrades at the most unexpected times, disguised as one of the bad guys. This can make an alternate entrance for you in a scenario, or it can be a way to turn up in a scene were you wouldn't ordinarily be, able to help another character in a split party situation.

Navy

Perk

You have one or more ships at your command. The vessels are worth as much as a magic item of your level, and the crew is an Army with an XP budget of half that. You might not own these ships - it can be a merchant flotilla, part of a navy, or pirates - but you can use it on adventures and the crews are loyal to you; for all practical purposes it is yours. The crews stay with the ship and will never enter a dungeon.

Oracle

Perk, Peer

You claim to have visions, and these are generally recognized as true and valid; people believe you speak with the voice of supernatural authority. They might not agree, but they certainly take note of what you say. A true oracle is also a Medium, and for a Medium-Oracle spiritual visitations are everyday events; your fame has spread both in the spirit world and the mundane world. If you are not a Medium, you are a fake (but still respected) oracle and can invent your own mystic revelations.

Paragon of Power

Personal, Peer

Your association with an element or force is strong enough that the effect goes with you wherever you go. Decide on an effect related to the powers you have, typical examples include elements, times of day, seasons, and so on. Wherever you go, the effect you are related to grows stronger. If you are related to winter, it is always cold where you are, if you are related to spring flowers bloom in tour path, and so on. While this has no direct game effect, it establishes you as a personage of power and importance.

Patron of the Arts

Perk

You have arranged to support artists in your name, either by spending money directly or (more commonly) through the channels you gain from other social paragon traits. As a result, you are seen in a good light in the artist community, which helps you create a good public image, portraying yourself in the best possible light. This serves to enhance any fame or titles you already have, letting you affect how others see you and talk about you. You gain a +2 bonus to the Celebrity talent.

Representative

Perk, Peer

You are a political representative on the ruling body of your country. If your country has a parliament, you can be a member. You might also be an ambassador from a foreign country or people, a spokesman for a major noble family, free city, judicial council, or otherwise represent a powerful independent interest. This makes you something of an outsider, you don't have access to government (choose Minster for that), but you can make political appeals and have them respected and your opinion is given due weight. You can add power and prestige to whatever side you support. If you are mistreated or ignored, there might be unrest in the group you represent.

Paragon Adventurer

Perk, Peer

You are recognized for your superior abilities as an adventurer and the power of you class. You might be known as a magus, master thief, dragon-slaying warrior. Whatever your abilities, they have given you wide recognition. You can freely associate with nobility as an equal, and your advice is sought on matters great and small. If you are also a Celebrity, this extends to the general populace, otherwise you are mainly recognized among other peers.

Paragon Companion

Perk, Peer

You are the recognized companion of persons of power. While your own powers are not recognized, no-one denies your right to mingle in the peerage. You gain respect not for your own position or abilities but because of the status of those you associate with. Most commonly because you are the known hanger-on to a Paragon Adventurer or closely associated with a personage of the peerage. You can be a heroic sidekick, the first lady, high priestess' consort, or the younger scion of a great noble.

This can be good way into the peerage if you have a Secret Identity or otherwise don't want to draw attention to yourself while still having access to the highest circles of society. You do not have the respect due a true peer or Paragon Adventurer, but neither do you have the notoriety; people tend to underestimate you and your abilities.

Paragon Talent

Personal

Select one talent you are trained in. You gain a +4 bonus with this talent. You can select this trait several times, each time selecting a different talent.

Sage

Perk, Peer

Prerequisite: Trained in History.

You are an established academic authority, the recognized voice of truth, knowledge and reason. You are called on to resolve disputes and pronounce the truth about history and law. While you have no direct power, your opinion carries great weight and only a fool would refuse you access to their inner council.

Trendsetter

Perk

Prerequisites: Trained as a Celebrity.

You have the presence and fame to create fashion trends. If you also have Fashion Sense, the trends you create are in good taste and become successful. Otherwise, it is very hit-and-miss; people imitate your style, but often do not win acclaim for it, which tends to create cliques and subcultures. Either way, you are notorious in fashionable circles.

Being a trendsetter can apply to other areas as well. If you are either a great patron of something, or a skilled professional working in the field, you can create trends outside of fashion. Such fields include Architecture, Litterature, Music, Fine Arts, Professional Dance, Sculpture, and Theatre.

Epic Traits

At this level you approach absolute power as an independent monarch or other great leader. Epic traits often give worldwide influence, but this influence is vague. If you want direct influence in a smaller area, it is generally wise to hold on to your paragon traits. If you retrain your old traits, you are assumed to have retired from such low-status jobs in order to enjoy the benefits of your new exalted position, leaving day-to-day activities (and the influence they bring) to someone new.

Archpriest

Perk

You are the titular head of your religion, and can give orders to high priests. Your word is law in religious matters, tough it takes tact and diplomacy to get the law implemented across the world.

Chancellor

Perk

You are the prime minister or president of a major power, responsible for day-to-day policy decisions and in charge of the judicial, financial, and diplomatic corps.

Epic Adventurer

Perk

You are recognized for your superior class abilities, known as an archmage, legendary thief, or master of dragons. Whatever your abilities they have given you world-wide recognition. You can associate with royalty as an equal, and your personal influence is that of a small nation.

Epic Aura

Personal

Somehow, your epic status is obvious to all you meet. This might be an actual physical aura, or it might be your bearing or some unidentifiable quality about you. Either way, you will always be treated with the respect due your legendary status. People will not recognize what epic hero you are unless you pass a Celebrity roll, but they will know you are epic. Their exact behavior depends on their own status and attitude, but they will accept and respect you as an epic presence.

Epic Ideal

Subplot

You are an inspiration and rallying point for others who share your ideals. Heroes wander far and wide to meet you, nations build their national identity around your presence, and pilgrims visit your home and places where you have performed epic deeds. This makes you a topic of devotion and conversation even in your absence. When you are around, people who support your ideal flock to your banner, making it much easier to start a political movement, rebellion, or to gather a crusade.

Epic Talent

Personal

Select one talent you have the Paragon Talent trait for. You gain a +3 bonus with this talent. You can select this trait several times, each time selecting a different trait.

Icon of Art

Perk

You are beyond famous; one of the icons of the world of culture. Tough there is no way you can perform for all who want to see you, your works are carried on by others; imitators and those inspired by you or performing your works before new audiences. Whenever your presence becomes known in civilized areas, fans are likely to gather, in the faint hope of hearing you perform.

King

Perk

You are the lord of a county. You might bear a different title and your powers might not be absolute, but you are the final executive authority of a nation, if not a major power.

Legend

Subplot

You are a legend in your own time. The tales told of your exploits makes you seem larger-than-life, so fantastic that people barely believe you exist. They talk about you in hushed voices, and might not recognize you on sight - unless you project an awesome aura of power. Once they understand who you are, they will be awed by meeting a legend - but also become able to form their own opinion.

This trait gives you no recognition value; you have clout from the results of your actions and people respect you as a hidden force in the world, but your person remains unrecognized and your identity can remain secret.

Magical Locus

Perk

The mark of a saint or archmage, you embody a magical phenomena to such a degree that supernatural effects happen spontaneously up to a mile away from you. Choose one type of effect such as plants growing in barren soil, the dead reanimating, the sick getting cured, or supernatural creatures of a certain type manifesting. You have no direct control over this, but effects are generally benign to you and your interests. The level of such events is on the heroic scale and around 20 levels below your own.

Marshal

Perk

You command the military forces of a major power; a large nation or military alliance. You can call a levy and demand armies from regional lords and allies.

Mogul

Perk

You are a master of professional and commercial ventures, a merchant lord or guilder of worldwide repute. Wherever you go, members of your profession come out to greet you and seek your aid and advice. You do not hold direct authority, but your influence can drive nations bankrupt.

Shadow Lord

Perk

You are a master of plots and secrets; aware of and in a position to manipulate several Masterminds, either because you are their shadow mentor, or because you have infiltrated their organizations. Your information network is vast, and you can cause all kinds of events all over the world, but you have little direct control over what your minions do; such control would jeopardize security.

Persona of Power

Perk

You are an established presence in the highest circles of epic power. This includes the presence of such august personages as gods, archdevils, demon lords, primordials, elder dragons, fey archons, and elemental lords. You might not strictly be related to any of these groups, but you are accepted among them, if not as an equal so at least as someone worth respect and civility, someone to be talked to.

Prophet

Perk

You receive direct guidance from a supernatural source - or at least people believe you do. Strangers treat you as the emissary of a god - or demon lord. If you are also a Medium, your visions are genuine, and the power level of the spirits guiding you has increased manifold; you now hear the voice of past kings, primordials and demon princes, archfey, or gods. If you are also an Oracle your visions are frequent.

Notes: There is a danger in playing a genuine prophet; you are a tool of fate and lose some control over your character. In many cases, it is more interesting to play a false prophet or one at odds with his visions, who sees but does not fully believe. In other cases, the DM might simply let you decide what your visions are; it all depends on the needs of the campaign.

Visionary

Subplot

Your ideas run like wildfire trough the world. Whether the listener knows who spoke them or not, your views and ideas spread rapidly, possibly changing the life of millions. If you express dislike for something, it comes under immediate public scrutiny. If you express a preference for something, it is likely to garner followers and grow into a popular movement.

Talents

Talents are the non-combat equivalents of skills, and rules that apply to skills apply to talents as well. Talents are considered skills for abilities that affect the use of skills, such as the Jack of All Trades feat. Characters do not start with training any talents; they must be mastered by taking the Talented trait.

Background and Profession

Talents are useful in defining and fleshing out character backgrounds. Talents are not a complete inventory of medieval occupations. Many vocations lack a corresponding talent. Some people who make their living that way are unskilled, using abilities directly, such as Strength for manual labor. Others use regular skills such as Nature for farming, hunting and fishing, or Dungeoneering for mining.

Gaining Training

A character use the Talented trait to become trained in a talent. There are many talents, and they are much more specialized than skills. There are traits that gives you a bonus to several talents at once, indicating an interest in a wide but related field. Unless you have decided on a particular talent to learn, these traits are often a good place to start. You can further improve a talent by training it, and specialize further at the paragon and epic levels, for you a total bonus of +15 to any particular talent This gives talents the same range of values skills have, allowing DMs to use the same range of difficulties. Keeping a talent at the maximum value requires the investment of 5 traits and is thus an expensive proposition; DMs should players with high values in their talents shine.

Actor Architect Alchemist Celebrity Dancer Governor Jeweler Lawman Leatherworker

Lover Mechanic Merchant Musician Orator Painter Sailor Singer Scribe

Soldier Smith Stargazer Stoneworker Tailor Valet Writer Woodworker

Using Talents

Talents generally have no application in combat or action scenes. Using them takes time; from several minutes to several months. Their usefulness is in downtime and in skill challenges that take longer than rounds.

Each talent can be used in several ways to provide different benefits.

Income: You can use talent skills to make a living between adventures. For simplicity's sake, this income is generally equal to your living expenses. Having a good rating in an an attractive profession means you can have a high standard of living and not pay for it.

Contacts: Being trained in a talent means you know others in your profession, and can be used to find fellow professionals within your chosen field. It works similarly to the Streetwise skill, but only in regards to the profession in question.

Knowledge: Being trained in a talent means you know many things pertaining to the field or profession. This works much like monster lore for your talent’s field of expertise. This allows craftsmen to know about the kinds of items they make, performers to know songs and sagas, and everyone to know of famous masters in their profession.

Craft: Some talents are crafts, and can be used to create mundane items. For a heroic character crafts come easily, and you will often surpass ordinary craftsmen in proficiency and diversity. Thus, the craft fields given here are very broad. Most professional craftsmen are much more specialized that this.

A trained craftsman can make magic items appropriate to his craft. A smith makes swords, a leather worker leather armor and so on. This works like the Enchant Magic Item or Brew Potion rituals, but only for items relevant to your craft. The item must be crafted as part of the enhancement ritual, which will usually require more time than the ritual itself.

Craft skills can also be used to create suitable presents meant for particular people; a well-crafted and suitable present can give a +2 bonus on social interaction rolls against the recipient for one scene. The DC of making a fitting present is the Will defense of the target.

Perform: Perform talents are used to impress and change the mood of others. Each performance takes from one minute up to an hour. In a game context it is more often used as a preliminary to social interaction, helping to set the mood. Used this way, the perform talent can be used do the Aid Other action for any social interaction, and you can even help yourself this way by performing before your start to interact.

Another way to use a perform skill is as a way to attract attention and stand out in a crowd; make an roll against the passive Insight of the target to attract favorable attention without fawning.

Rituals Many talents can be used to ritual casters using the Aid Other rules. Different talents have an affinity for different types of rituals. Where a talent is relevant for rituals, this is noted in the description of the talent.

Talent Descriptions

Actor (Cha)

You can bring stories to life and portray a wide array of emotions by use of voice or gesture.

Examples: comedy, drama, mime

Perform: Acting is a perform skill and can aid social interaction.

Rituals: Acting can aid deception rituals.

Architect (Int)

An architect understands geometry and design, making drawings used to build houses, gardens, bridges, fortifications and other large-scale projects. It is generally impossible to make a large building (more than 30 ft. tall or 150 ft. long) without the help of an architect. An architect is also good at making maps. During a short break, an architect can make a rough draft of a map of an indoor area, and can find possible locations for hidden doors or chambers by the empty space they leave on the map.

Rituals: An architect can aid creation rituals.

Apothecary (Int)

You refine small quantities of precious substances, like medicines, potions, or the creation of ritual components. You can brew, recognize, and identify a great variety of substances and know how they react. You can make glassware such as retorts and tubes as well as mirrors and lenses. You can brew magical potions. In some settings, you can make gunpowder.

Craft: You can make potions and poisons.

Rituals: An apothecary can can aid all restoration rituals.

Celebrity (Cha)

A celebrity is well-known for whatever reason, and can expect recognition and to be fawned upon.

Make a Celebrity roll to see whether people have heard of you and what their impression is, to find fans and admirers, to gauge your popularity and to check the loyalty of your followers.

Finding admirers has a DC of 20 if you made a dramatic entrance and let people know you are in the area, 30 if you reveal yourself after being incognito. On a success, people have a previous impression of you. You won’t need to introduce yourself, and if their basic values mesh with yours they will start out friendly.

Fame can also be used to check the morale and enthusiasm of followers. Make a Celebrity check with a DC of 15 + half the NPC follower's level to see if they will take risks or resist temptations for you

Fame is not static. When you move about you lose contact with your fan base, and even a temporary setback can make you a has-been or at least make you temporarily out of fashion. Apply the following modifiers:

Situation	Modifier
Outside your regular area	-5 (or more)
Last adventure was a failure	-5
An adventure the last week was a resounding and public success	+5

Fame has something of a drawback in that it makes it easier to hear rumors of your exploits. Such rumors tend to be exaggerated, almost urban legends, so while it is easy to get people to talk about you, it is no easier to actually find solid information on your whereabouts.

Dancer (Cha)

Dance is the art of bodily expression, to convey meaning through stance, posture, and movement. A dance performance is often supported by a musician, or the dancer can accompany himself using the shuffling of feet or with instruments such as tambourines and castanets. You do not need this talent in order to take part in public dancing, but stage dancing or leading a public dance requires a talent roll.

Perform: Dancing is a perform skill and can aid social interaction.

Rituals: Dancing be used to aid all divination rituals.

Governor (Wis)

A governor understands the nuisances of civilian administration and can balance a budget, keep a bureaucracy running, resolve conflicts, act as a judge, and serve as an administrator.

Rituals: A governor can aid binding rituals.

Jeweler (Dex)

You can work with precious stones and materials such as gold, ivory and mother of pearl to create jewelry, sculpture and other art objects.

Craft: You can craft rings, amulets and some wondrous items.

Lawman (Int)

You are familiar with law enforcement methods and procedures. You know how to make an arrest, secure evidence, repossess goods, hand out fines, book prisoners, and otherwise run a smooth law enforcement operation. You could be an investigative judge, sheriff, bounty-hunter, city guardsman or tax-collector; police as we think of them today rarely exist in fantasy worlds.

Rituals: A lawman can aid warding rituals.

Leatherworker (Wis)

You can work with leather and hide, making clothes, leather and hide armor, and slings. Leather is also used as raw material in many other crafts.

Craft: You can craft leather and hide armor, boots, gloves and some wondrous items.

Lover (Cha)

Anyone who puts their mind to it can have a satisfying love-life with a familiar partner; this is the ability to sexually stimulate strangers. This is not only lovemaking, but flirtation, romantic conversation, and by being an attractive and complimentary companion as well.

Perform: Lover is a perform skill and can aid social interaction.

Rituals: A lover can aid scrying rituals.

Mechanic (Int)

You can build mechanical devices, such as crossbows, clocks, traps, and locks. Compared to other crafts, the mechanic is not self-sufficient, needing parts made by a smith, founder and even jeweler to practice the craft.

Craft: You can craft mechanical devices, crossbows, and mechanical traps. In some settings, you can craft firearms.

Merchant (Int)

A merchant understands the laws of supply and demand and is able to move and market goods while maintaining a steady profit. You know how to load a ship or organize a caravan. Scrupulous traders insure goods come to the right buyers in a timely and efficient manner, to the benefit of everyone.

Contacts: You can find someone willing to sell almost anything, including magical items.

Rituals: A merchant can aid travel rituals.

Musician (Cha)

You can play instruments of all sorts, from flutes and drums to harpsichords and organs.

Perform: Musician is a perform skill and can aid social interaction.

Rituals: A musician can aid any exploration ritual.

Orator (Cha)

A speaker is a performer using words, presenting a story or script in a clear, audible, and enjoyable way. It is used in public speaking, storytelling, and other verbal presentation. A speaker is not inherently skilled in social skills; the talent concerns the presentation of a script, not choosing the right words for an occasion. Still, this talent can be highly useful if you wish to use social skills against many people at once or in a noisy setting.

Perform: Oratory is a perform skill and can aid social interaction.

Rituals: Oratory can be used to aid binding rituals.

Painter (Int)

A painter makes pictures on a flat surface, paper, wooden board, canvas, or walls. This can be used to make works or art, but also simple sketches that serve as notes or to aid memorization. It is possible to make a fairly detailed sketch of a scene during a short rest.

Craft: Painting is a craft skill and can create some wondrous items.

Rituals: Painting can be used to aid deception rituals.

Sailor (Wis)

You are comfortable on ships and boats and know how to operate ships and boats of any size. You can navigate coastal waters in reasonable safety as long as you only sail by day. You cannot navigate at sea using this talent, see Stargazer.

Scribe (Int)

Being literate is one thing; being a trained scribe something else entirely. Scribes are craftsmen working with writings; copyists, librarians, illustrators, and bookbinders. A scribe is a master of calligraphy and bookbinding, able to make easily readable books and manuscripts. If the setting has printing presses or other means of easily reproducing text, scribes are proficient with them. A scribe is also familiar with various archivist systems, and is more able to find books in a library or archive than most people. This allows the Scribe talent to substitute for all knowledge rolls as long as the documents are available, but each roll takes an hour.

The scribe skill is not a substitute for the Writer or Painter talents, scribes are not concerned with the contents of the text or images reproduced, only with presentation. Nor can it replace the Bluff or Diplomacy skills, scribes are concerned with reproduction of writings and illustrations, not with original writing. However, an attractive presentation using calligraphy and proper paper has a better chance of ever being presented than something scribbled in haste.

Craft: Can be used to copy rituals, making ritual scrolls and books.

Rituals: A scribe can aid divination rituals.

Singer (Cha)

You can use your voice as an instrument. Your voice can enthrall an audience and be audible in a wide area. A professional singer has a wide repertoire and can vary volume and timbre, and can also act as a chanter, leading other less skilled singers.

Perform: Singer is a perform skill and can aid social interaction.

Rituals: Singing can aid exploration rituals.

Soldier (Wis)

You know how to work as part of a disciplined military unit. A soldier knows how to forage, maintain equipment, understand orders, make camp, organize guards and patrols, march without losing coherency, fight in formation, and other military tasks. This is the sign of a veteran and usually means you are at least a sergeant.

Rituals: A soldier can aid warding rituals.

Smith (Str)

You can shape all kinds of metal and make armor and weapons, tools, and other useful objects such as horseshoes and nails.

Craft: You can craft metal items such as weapons and armor, shields, helmets, bracers, greaves and some wondrous items.

Stargazer (Int)

You know the position of celestial bodies in the sky, and can use them to tell the time and to orient yourself. This main use it for navigation without landmarks, such as at sea, on rolling plains, or in the deep desert. It can also be used to mark time and for astrological and astronomical observations.

Rituals: This talent can be used to aid scrying and travel rituals.

Stoneworker (Str)

You can work stone, adobe, clay and the like, to build smaller buildings or to realize the plans of an architect. A trained stoneworker can also do sculpting and decorative work in stone, plaster, and clay.

Craft: You can craft items from stone.

Rituals: Can aid all creation rituals.

Tailor (Dex)

You can makes clothes and cloth armor, along with tents and tarpaulins. You understand weaving and other fabric-making techniques, such as felt making and carpet knitting. A good tailor can make and repair these things quickly and efficiently; an excellent tailor can make them beautiful and attractive, often using expensive imported materials. Tailored objects make excellent gifts.

Craft: You can craft cloth armor, capes, shoes, gloves and some magic wondrous items.

Valet (Wis)

You are good at caring for the creature comforts of others. This includes maintaining clothes, cooking, providing basics such as light, food, and warmth, hygiene and grooming, handling personal expenses efficiently, and knowing when you are needed or not. A novice valet is a servant or maid, as you progress in skill you might move on to become an innkeeper, major-domo, or master of a large household.

Contacts: Important people often have their own valets, who can be surprisingly free with gossip when with others of their profession.

Rituals: A valet can aid restoration rituals.

Writer (Wis)

A writer uses the written word, presenting a story or discourse in a clear, intelligible, and enjoyable way. It is used to record things for perpetuity and give them a wider spread than simple stories. A writer is not inherently skilled in social skills; the talent concerns putting words into writing in a legible and understandable way, not the contents of the message. Knowledge skills are needed to fill the words with content, social skills such as Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidation are needed to influence a reader. Still, this talent can be highly useful if you wish to use social skills against many people at once to spread ideas over a large area, limited by the reproduction techniques of the setting and the speed of news.

Craft: Can be used to make magic books and scrolls.

Rituals: Writing can be used to aid binding rituals.

Woodworker (Wis)

You can work wood, building smaller buildings, furniture, and interiors or to realize the plans of an architect. You can make carts, wagons, tools, shafts, arrows, bows, and wooden weapons such as staves and clubs.

Craft: You can craft items from wood.

Rituals: Can aid creation rituals.