Traits are among the greatest treasures your characters can gain. They make the game more enjoyable and add a little complexity. You can also mix and match them to personalize your characters and optimize their skills and combat abilities. If you’re curious if other members of your Fellowship are so equipped, you can view their Traits by highlighting a character in question and using “inspect” from the drop down menu.

There are four different types of traits: Class Traits, Virtues, Race, and Legendary traits.

Traits are acquired by completing Deeds and Quests, by obtaining specific levels, and by using some skills. Each Trait bestows various effects, sort of like permanent “buffs.” For example, the Virtue Traits called Justice and Mercy increase your character’s Morale and Power. Confidence increases your Will and gives you additional Fear resistance, and Loyalty increases your Vitality and non-combat Power regeneration. Benefits gained from a certain Trait also “stack” with those accrued from other Traits. So it is possible to take two Traits that offer Wound Resistance and gain the bonuses from both.

Each Trait produces three effects of some type: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The primary typically increases the quickest. The secondary and tertiary effects move at significantly slower paces—or sometimes not at all for certain ranks and levels. Once you decide what type of character you want to play, choose the Traits that best reflect the career path you want the character to follow.

Class Traits are organized in three distinct sets, with eight members each. These traits can modify core stats as well as directly manipulate your skills and abilities. The more traits from a particular line you elect to slot, the more powerful your character will be at that job.

Your race traits are very basic abilities that are given to every member of a particular race. They can be as small as a minor combat attack to as large as a full mitigation bonus.

Legendary Traits are powerful new abilities, or large stat bonuses that can improve your characters effectiveness in a massive way.