Traits
A character possesses one or more traits, one of which is the character’s species. Traits are descriptors of important parts of the character, in a single word or a short phrase. Alongside a character’s values—which cover the character’s personality, motivations, and beliefs—traits help define what the character is and what they can do. Character traits can be employed in the same way as traits for a location or situation, such as to increase or reduce the Difficulty of tasks.
Different species vary in subtle ways, both biologically and culturally, and a trait encapsulates those many little differences. Traits are positive or negative, and influence both how the character interacts with their environment and how characters interact with one another.
A character may obtain additional traits because of things that happen to them during character creation—life-changing events that define the character going forward—and characters may occasionally gain more during play. This may be something about the character, such as a disability or impairment the character suffers from, or the influence of some external force, such as the impact of a harrowing experience.
There is no fixed number of traits a character can have beyond their species trait. Traits, and their effects upon play, are detailed on page 250.
Values
When a character is created, you create several values: short statements describing the attitudes, beliefs, and convictions of that character. These are not simple opinions, but the fundamental structure of the character’s morals, ethics, and behavior. Values define who a character is as a person, why they behave the way they do, and what drives them during times of struggle and hardship.
Values should be easy to understand, so you and your gamemaster can judge when they’re helpful, when they’re a hindrance, and when they don’t apply.
You’ll want to have at least one value that causes you trouble, holds you back from taking certain actions, or compels you to act, as these are useful for helping you gain Determination.
You’ll want at least one value which is helpful to your character, or which represents them at their best. These create opportunities for you to spend Determination.
Your values should change over time. Because they can change, don’t worry too much about choosing the perfect values right away; start simple, and let them develop.
Your values can contradict one another. A person could hold conflicting beliefs, and the situations when those conflicting beliefs clash is often a source of drama and tension during the game.
Beyond that, a character’s values can be anything, but they should reflect a character’s deeply-held beliefs, their principles, their self-identity, or the relationships that define them (whether those relationships are to another person, a group, or even an institution or culture).
A character’s values could be shaped by their background, their training, or their upbringing. Many Starfleet officers are motivated by an intense curiosity about the universe that drives them to explore, or by a powerful sense of duty to help or protect others. A character may be scrupulously honest, unwilling to deceive others, or have a strong sense of personal honor which cannot allow them to cheat or employ unscrupulous methods. A character may be motivated by powerful loyalty to a particular group or organization, by the ambition to achieve some feat or attain some status, or by resentment or animosity for another group.
These are just a few possibilities, but they should provide guidance about how to think about and create a character’s values. Examples of values are provided throughout this chapter, and there is a larger list of sample values on page 96. How values are used in play is described on page 262.
Sample Values
A good mystery is irresistible
To boldly go where no one has gone before
Act with confidence, even if you don’t feel confident
Seeking to find myself far from home
All’s fair in love and politics
Admirals don’t intimidate me
Always up for an adventure
Experience will earn me that promotion
Build relationships
Humility is the best path to honesty
Good leaders get their hands dirty
"Weird" is part of the job
I finish what I start
I can make something from nothing
Information is power
Sensors can’t tell you everything
Listen to opposing viewpoints
Exploration is the blood that fills my veins
Loyalty matters most
Push me too far and you’ll see my ugly side
Patience is a virtue
Adaptation is survival
Resistance is never futile
Never leave a stone unturned
Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith
The Academy taught me 10 percent of what I know
Spoiling for a fight
We are all connected despite being worlds apart
Spring into action
Keep a smile on your face no matter how you feel
Teamwork makes for success
Crew comes first
The mission comes first
Diplomacy is the first and last solution to anything
Willing to sacrifice myself to save my crew
Our best defense is knowledge
Get them before they get you
First contact? Sign me up!
We are stronger united than apart
Space really wants us dead
My knowledge is giving you a fighting chance
I will not fight for Starfleet, but I will defend its ideals
Within the shadows, you are free to move
I fix what is broken
The daily grind is worth it
I do not like hijinks
Universal law is for lackeys
Do better, be better
The crew is my family
I'm a good bad influence
I care too much about what people think of me
Everyone deserves a second chance
Friends are the family you choose
Some things don't deserve forgiveness
We are nothing without order and justice
Sometimes hope is a choice
My lies are the truest of all stories
We didn't come out here to play God
Well-placed words are deadlier than a phaser
I study war to learn from the best
You can’t let them know what you value
I am surrounded by a team I trust
With proper discipline, anything is possible
The only way to defeat fear is to tell it "No"
Technology is simpler than people
Starfleet to the core
Always find ways to be useful
Layer yourself in subtleties
People are more than flesh and blood
Every puzzle has a solution
Never hide who you are
I am my own keeper