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[Ditv] List of interesting traits?

Started by Transit, November 14, 2007, 06:52:04 PM

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Transit

My players easily come up with traits like "I'm great with a gun" and "I never lose a fistfight" but they get stuck when it comes to thinking of traits that are more about personality or story or character background.

So we've decided that we'll try a session where we'll create characters by drawing traits at random, on slips of paper or something, just so they can get a feel for playing with characters that have more varied and interesting "non-combat" traits.  But of course, that still requires coming up with ideas for interesting traits in order to draw them at random.

So has anyone here ever made a list of example traits?

Or would anyone that has a few old dog characters lying around like to contribute their trait ideas, so a list could be compiled?

(I know some people are going to say "you don't need examples, just force them to think of something" but I've tried, and these players just aren't good at it.  I'm hoping that once they see how different traits can be brought into play, they'll have less trouble coming up with their own traits when they create a new character.)

Thanks.

Ben Lehman

Casual:

Everyone likes me
No one notices me
I'm very attached to my hat
Can quote freely from the book of life

Problematic:

I've died once before
I don't believe in God
I smoke
I'm not a virgin
Illiterate
I never flinch or hesitate

jburneko

Traits from my own play that were memorable:

I sin so others don't have to.
Cynic in the face of youthful idealism
Things were better in Goblin Valley.
I watched all my younger sisters get married.  (Note: PC was a female).
I have never reconciled using violence to do The King of Life's will.

Jesse

Ron Edwards

My favorite from my player-character, Brother Newton:

"My hat stays on"

It's pretty surprising how often that factored into conflicts without having to stretch or shoehorn it.

Best, Ron

Transit

These are some great examples!  Thank you!

Chris Crouch

Here's some from 2 session that I ran at a Con recently (http://www.vorpalcon.com/forum2/index.php?topic=148.0 for the whoel thing)

I know my bible
Mine is not to judge
The value of mercy

That shooter don't scare me
I find the lost ones
Learnt that from Poppa
Don't let the darkness in
You'd be surprised what you can learn from books
People are stronger than you'd think

Likes walking in the forest
Often took care of the cows
Voices in my head
Is beauty there to trick us?

Unflinching Gaze
My word is law
I cannot always bring peace

Chris


Mikael

I have only killed in anger
I used to be a stripper
Bored with white men's tales
Playing Dogs over Skype? See everybody's rolls live with the browser-independent Remote Dogs Roller - mirrors: US, FIN

lumpley

You remind me of my pa.

(This one was very scary in play. Look out.)

Valamir

My all time Favorite:

I preach from the Book of 6 Chapters

also

Today's Lesson will be from the Book of Smith & Wesson, Chapter 44 verses 1 through 6.

Arvidos

My favorite one is "My face burnt", in conjunction with "No-one should feel sorry for me". We used these on one of our premade Dog PC's in a con game. They were pregenerated traitwise, but they didn't have a name, gender or accomplishment. One of the players that picked the Dog with the burnt face also got the trait "I watched my baby sister die" from his accomplishment, which also explained his burnt face. Good stuff.

Another premade Dog had the traits "I'm just as good as the young dogs" and "I'm relaxing with my pipe". I'm really happy with all of these.
-Arvid Axbrink Cederholm

Arvidos

Quote from: Chris Crouch on November 16, 2007, 12:13:17 AMPeople are stronger than you'd think

Wow, I'd love to hear how this turned out in play.
-Arvid Axbrink Cederholm

Noclue

My six year old daughter helped me create some pre-gens for a recent con.

I'd ask her what the character was like, or what they could do and then modify her answers a bit. Got some good one's like

I can doctor some
I'm Good with children
I like animals
I like to read
James R.

charlesperez

Last Saturday, in a new Dogs game, my new character acquired two traits as a result of initiation, using the initiation trait, experience fallout and long term fallout:

"That was humbling" and
I should be a better teacher

Charles

Nathaniel

I don't want them to repent
I'm the new Anointed High Prophet and Ancient (even if the others [or even I?] don't know it yet)
Things are true because I believe in them
I believe in things because they are true
I leave a trail of broken hearts
I'm pregnant
It's us versus them
I dream dreams and see visions
Whatever curses I speak come true
I only hit her because I love her
I spent lots of time gossiping at the quilting circle
That mountain person didn't poison our well
I cen't ever forgive Ma



I'm not designing a game.  Play is the thing for me.

David Artman

I won't use a weapon on a human.
Violence is never the solution.
Designer - GLASS, Icehouse Games
Editor - Perfect, Passages