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Heroic Traits Heroes of the Fallen Lands and Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms provides some advice for creating

characters with personality and backstory. This article expands on that advice, providing players with a way to get a tangible mechanical benefit when their characters traits come into play; or possibly

some

degree

of

influence

over

the

story

normally

reserved

for

the

DM.

These

are

called

Heroic

Traits.

Heroic Traits provide a mechanical or narrative effect when character details come into play. Perhaps the beet farmer who lost his wife to dire wolves can use a Heroic Trait to get a bonus when fighting dire wolves, or the warlock cultist gains a bonus to an intimidation roll when he mentions his association with the much feared Order of Turrik Vaal.

These rules promote character growth and depth, and reward the player for taking the time to think about his characters personality, goals and motivations.

Heroic Traits A Heroic Trait is a phrase, sentence, or quote that describes some aspect of your character. When

you use a Heroic Trait to benefit you, it is called Asserting a Heroic Trait. And unlike most feats or powers, Heroic Traits can represent both positive and negative things about your character. It represents their strengths, but also their flaws. So while a Heroic Trait can be Asserted to benefit you, it can also be used to your detriment. When a Heroic Trait is used to your detriment, this is called a Complication.

The most important thing about any Heroic Trait is that it should be interesting. Whenever you choose a Heroic Trait, take a minute to ask yourself what kinds of situations you can imagine using it for, and also what kind of trouble it might get you into. The best Heroic Traits suggestion situations where the character can shine, but also situations where the Heroic Trait makes things more difficult for the character. If you are iffy about a Heroic Trait, try to think of two or three different ways that Heroic Trait could come up in the game. How do you Assert it? What kinds of Complications can it

lead to? So you might be thinking Ill take Warrior as a Heroic Trait. That could always be Asserted to help

me. And youd often be correct. Its powerful. But is it cool? Is it fun? Is it interesting? Does it tell us anything about your character? Heroic Traits should be evocative and informative; and should generally be at least three words long.

Lets take it a step back and change it to Warrior Outcast of the TakMal Tribe. Not only is that a little more evocative, but it suggests that it could be utilized in some truly interesting ways. It might also set you to wondering why this character was outcast, who the TakMal tribe is, and what their traditions and customs are. The answers to these questions will inform you when you can Assert that Heroic Trait, and when it can result in Complications.

Why

do

you

want

Complications?

First,

Complications

are

a

way

for

your

character

to

get

some

personal spotlight time. Heroes without flaws are boring, as are Heroic Traits that only address the positive things about your character. But Dungeons and Dragons is a game about conflict and adversity. So you want conflict. You want challenge. And perhaps most importantly, the more Complications your Heroic Traits create, the more often they can be Asserted.

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Heroic Traits in Character Creation Your character starts with a total of five Heroic Traits, one based off of your race, and four more

that help define certain character traits. Each time you level up you can replace an existing Heroic Trait with another of the same type.

Your Heroic Traits are arranged into something called the Trait Alphabet to help you remember them, and the different types are explained below:

Racial Heroic Trait Every non human character gets a Heroic Trait based on their race, be it Dwarf, Halfling, Tiefling,

etc. This Heroic Trait can be Asserted or generate a Complication anytime being a member of this race could be beneficial or detrimental to your character. For example, tieflings generally have a reputation for being evil (or at least a little shady), and the fact that they have a rather demonic visage furthers that impression. This can be taken advantage of when the tiefling attempts to intimidate a member of another race. And you do this by Asserting your Tielfling Racial Heroic Trait to help you on an Intimidation roll.

Likewise, being an evil and demonic tiefling can be a problem when dealing with members of another race. When trying to convince the local guardsman that you really didnt throw the first punch in the tavern brawl, your Tiefling Heroic Trait could lead to a Complication. The guard may refuse to believe your story, and you may have to pay a fine or end up in jail for the night.

Racial Heroic Traits can be Asserted or generate a Complication any time the player or DM wants to play up the characters race in an attempt to make either the character or the encounter more interesting. It might, for example, be Asserted to allow a dwarf to better resist poison, or an elf to nimbly dodge out of the way of some falling stones, or a halfling to slip away from a fight unnoticed. The benefits or penalties that come with Assertions or Complications of a Heroic Trait are in addition to the characters normal racial traits, and they stack.

A is for Ambition

What are your character's goals and ambitions? Good Ambition Heroic Traits might be something similar to: Wants to Avenge his Father's Death , I'll make captain one day!" or "The hordes of Gog shall be driven out of my homeland!"

B is for Background This could cover where you grew up, who your parents were, your previous professions, or how

you came to be a member of your class. Things like Grew in the Back Alleys of Waterdeep , Bastard Son of Prince Morlass, Researcher for Morgrave University, make great Background Heroic Traits.

C is for Conviction Why are you of a certain alignment? What do you believe in? What philosophies guide your actions

and make you the person you are? Some good Conviction Heroic Traits include Bahamut will grant me Strength , Ladies First, or Id lay down my life for my village.

D is for Disadvantage Why havent you already achieved all your goals? What are your weaknesses? What are your flaws?

Some good Disadvantage Heroic Traits include Soft Spot for the Poor , Never trust an elf! or I shall not harm an innocent.

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Asserting a Heroic Trait All characters gain the following power at 1st level.

Assert Heroic Trait Utility Some part of your personality or background comes forth to play an active role in current events.

At-Will

No Action Personal Trigger : Any event that relates directly to one of your Heroic Traits.

Effect : Choose one of the following.

* Gain a +4 power bonus or reroll any one Skill, Attack, Damage or Initiative Roll; or any Ability Check.

* Gain a +4 power bonus to one relevant Defense until the end of your next turn.

* [Optional] Narrative Declaration

Any time a Heroic Trait could benefit your character, you may Assert it. In doing so, you are declaring that this part of your characters personality or past will play a role in current events, and that it will be of some help to you.

Firstly, the DM must agree that the Heroic Trait in question could grant your character the benefit he desires. For example, a Heroic Trait of Captain of Fallcrests Guard may indeed be used to help you persuade a group of soldiers to let you pass. However, just because you have a Heroic Trait of Grew up in the Mines of Hammerfast doesnt mean that you swung a pick a lot in your youth, and therefore have strong arms, and therefore can swing an axe hard, and therefore should be able to Assert your Heroic Trait for a bonus on an attack roll with an axe. Heroic Traits can be broad and pretty flexible, but any more than one therefore and it probably shouldnt be allowed.

When your character is finished you will have a list of Heroic Traits to put on your character sheet. Each time a Heroic Trait is Asserted, cross it off your sheet. You cant use that Heroic Trait again this game session unless it is cleared by a Complication (more on that later). Regaining the use of a Heroic Trait that has been Asserted is called Refreshing a Heroic Trait.

For example, you could Assert your Big Dumb Ox Heroic Trait, granting you a bonus or reroll on a Strength check or attack roll with melee weapon. Likewise, you could Assert Soon all of Fallcrest will be mine! and gain a bonus or reroll on just about any action that directly relates to your attempt to take over Fallcrest.

Narrative Declaration (Optional)

In addition to granting bonuses or rerolls, you may also Assert Heroic Traits to gain some measure of narrative control over the story and game world. This is an optional rule some DMs may choose not to allow, but before dismissing it, the DM should consider what this option can bring to the game.

Allowing players to fill in details about the world has several benefits. The most obvious are that the player takes a little of the world creation load off of the DMs hands. The second is that it often generates more emotional investment in the setting if the player has a hand in creating it.

In essence, you may be allowed to sit in the DM seat for a moment and describe events that are affected by your Heroic Trait. For example, you may Assert Trained by Corporal Davick Shellock upon meeting a fellow soldier to declare that this soldier also served under Corporal Shellock, and that you two know each other. However, any such effect must be approved by the DM who always has veto rights.

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Heroic Trait Complications Heroic Traits arent always used to grant you benefits, bonuses, and special privileges. Sometimes

they can get you into trouble or make an otherwise easy task much more difficult. But this is a good thing! In exchange for your troubles, you are allowed to Refresh one of your previously Asserted Heroic Traits.

When the DM sees an opportunity to offer a Complication, he should describe the effects of the

Complication to the player and offer him a chance to accept or deny it. If the Complication is denied, nothing happens. If it is accepted, the effects of the Complication happen and the character is allowed to Refresh any Heroic Trait that was previously Asserted.

The exact effects of a Complication are up to the DM. You may automatically fail on a die roll, suffer a 4 penalty on all rolls related to a certain task, or the game world may change in a way that makes things more difficult or complicated for your character or the party.

Regardless of the precise effects, Complications tend to come about in one of two ways:

Active Complications During the game, a situation might arise that makes having a Heroic Trait detrimental to your character. This is an Active Complication and is the most common type.

For example, it may be very difficult to filch an item off the shelf at a supply store if you have the

Halfling Racial Heroic Trait and the merchant you are negotiating with distrusts halflings. This Complication may result in a 4 on Stealth checks to steal the item due to the watchfulness of the distrustful owner.

Alternatively, you as the player may suggest a Heroic Trait and Complication to the DM. If the DM agrees (and he may refuse), the Complication takes effect as if the DM had offered it.

A bit of advice for the DM: Dont badger the player. If you offer a Complication to the player, and he says no, let it go.

Passive Complications Occasionally the DM may plot the story ahead, taking the PCs Heroic Traits into consideration as he does.

In these cases, its not uncommon for a Heroic Trait to be result in a Complication simply by way of

how

the

story

is

naturally

playing

out.

For example, your character may have a Heroic Trait of I Just Want to Make a Better Life for my Family. Now, over the course of the story the bad guy goes back to the characters house and takes his family hostage.

This is effectively a Complication since the characters Heroic Trait has had a negative effect on him, and the DM allow him to Refresh a Heroic Trait for his troubles.

No Pain, No Gain As the DM, you always want to avoid allowing an Asserted Heroic Trait to be Refreshed

prematurely. In general, you dont want to offer the Refresh for a Complication until the Heroic Trait actually impacts the player.

Something can always happen between the time the Complication is agreed upon and the point that the effects of the Complication actually impact the character. So always make sure the character has earned the Refresh, dont just award it because a player is playing to his Heroic Traits. Thats just good roleplaying.

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Balancing Heroic Traits Heroic Traits provide a small but noticeable increase in the overall effectiveness of characters. To

account for this extra boost in power, DMs should consider one of the following options: Limit Magic Items When distributing treasure, do so as if the characters were one level higher than

they actually are. Tougher Encounters Increase the XP budget for building encounters by 10%. Reduced Abilities Instead of starting with 22 points with which to purchase Abilities, characters get

20. In addition, the Ability Score increase characters get every 4 levels only increases one Ability by +1 instead of two.

Sample Heroic Trait: Scion of House Deneith House Deneith is a Dragonmarked House in the Eberron Campaign Setting. They sell their services

as mercenary bodyguards and security experts.

Here are a few samples of how the Heroic Trait Scion of House Deneith might be Asserted. [Bonus] Gain a +4 bonus (or reroll) on rolls to an attack roll when defending a client. [Bonus] Gain a +4 bonus (or reroll) on an Insight or Perception roll to spot weaknesses in the local lords manor

security. [Narrative Declaration] Declare that the merchant you just met is a former client. [NarrativeDeclaration] Declare that the representatives of House Cannith in the city of Lathleer have always had

good relations with House Deneith and keep Deneith guards on retainer.

Here are a few samples of Complications the Heroic Trait Scion of House Deneith might lead to: The informant you are scheduled to meet has hard feelings toward House Deneith due to an unfortunate

misunderstand in the past. You suffer a 4 penalty on Diplomacy checks when dealing with him, everyone else in the party suffers a 2 due to their association with you.

The party is at odds with House Orien and intends to confront one of their local representatives publicly. You cannot take part because the parties actions could be seen as sanctioned by House Deneith, and you do not want to start conflict between the Houses.

When an assassin strikes at the party, he primarily targets you because you wear the colors of House Deneith and are considered a significant obstacle to overcome.

New Feats

Extra Heroic TraitBenefit : You may select an additional Ambition, Background, Conviction or Disadvantage Heroic Trait. You

may not take this feat more than twice.

Optional Rule: Cutthroat Complications Sometimes a DM may feel that a Complication relates so strongly to a characters Heroic Trait that

instead of just letting the player choose to accept the Complication or not, he actually charges the player the use of a Heroic Trait to decline. For example, if a character has a Heroic Trait like Sucker for the Elven Lasses, a Complication involving seduction from a beautiful elven lady might be extremely difficulty for the character to resist.

In such a case, the Heroic Trait in question is effectively Asserted, though no benefit is gained. This is a good way to influence a player to stay true to his character. But be careful. There is a fine line between influencing and bullying.