Traits: Difference between revisions

From The Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Added more information about the link between mutations and traits, and a small list of differences.)
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
Traits are special 'traits' that you can pick when generating a new character. Ingame they work like [[Mutation|mutation]]s, and share user interface space with mutations. In the game code, all traits are in fact mutations, with a special internal value included making it clear they are a trait.
Traits are a customization option you can choose at character creation. In-game, they work like and share user interface space with [[Mutation|mutations]]. Several traits can be gained from mutagen and other typical methods of mutating, while others can only be picked at character creation.


Traits are split between positive ones, which cost points and help your character, and negative ones, which give you points and hinder your character. The right selection of traits can mean the difference between a living survivor and a rotting corpse.
Traits are split between positive ones, which cost points and help your character, and negative ones, which give you points and hinder your character. However, neither all positive nor all negative traits are created equal. Some negative traits have positive effects that outweigh their negative effects (and vice versa) and many traits have negligible effects. The right selection of traits can mean the difference between a living survivor and a rotting corpse.


Several starting [[professions]] also grant you special profession traits which are based on the characters' career before the Cataclysm and grant you access to equipment and places that you might not otherwise be able to attain among other bonuses.<noinclude>
Several starting [[professions]] also grant you special profession traits, which are based on the characters' career before the Cataclysm and represent the expertise, training, special permissions, or other effects you've gained from that. They are unobtainable in-game.<noinclude>


Some [[Scenarios|starting scenarios]] in {{InlineVer|0.C}} also give you different choices of starting traits. For example in the '''Challenge-Lab''' scenario, you can choose several [[mutation]]s, like for example [[Gills]], as a starting mutation. This because your character was experimented upon before the apocalypse. Or, you might even be a clone of ... something. These starting mutations count as traits, so they cannot be removed with [[purifier]], and do not count for threshold mutations.
Some [[Scenarios|starting scenarios]], namely [[Challenge-Lab|Challenge - Lab Patient]] and [[Experiment]], allow you access to starting traits you wouldn't otherwise be able to choose. This represents that you were experimented on and possibly mutated prior to the Cataclysm. These starting mutations count as traits, so they cannot be removed with [[purifier]] and do not count for threshold mutations.


== Differences between traits and mutations ==
== Differences between traits and mutations ==
* Traits can only be picked at character creation. Not gotten later in the game, you can however get mutations that have the same effect as traits.
* Traits can only be picked at character creation. Several of them can also be gained as mutations in-game, but will not be treated as starting traits.
* Traits are very hard to get rid off, and only in rare occasions, involving [[Mutation#Thresholds|thresholds]] you can sometimes change them.
* Starting traits do not count toward your mutation category strength for determining which mutation line you're on or for breaching thresholds.
* Some traits cannot be gained after character creation at all. Like the various [[professions|profession]] traits.
* Traits are very hard to get rid of, but can evolve normally into other mutations in their branch.
* You can gain traits back by using [[purifier]], while normally it only makes you lose traits.
* [[Purifier]] will restore your starting traits that have changed to other traits.


== Changing starting traits ==
You cannot change starting traits normally, and [[purifier]] will try to give them back to you. But if you really want to change your starting traits you can use the mutate option of the [[Debug Menu|debug menu]].


{{Navbar/traits}}
{{Navbar/traits}}
{{footer/character}}
{{footer/character}}
</noinclude>
</noinclude>

Revision as of 23:53, 23 January 2020

Traits are a customization option you can choose at character creation. In-game, they work like and share user interface space with mutations. Several traits can be gained from mutagen and other typical methods of mutating, while others can only be picked at character creation.

Traits are split between positive ones, which cost points and help your character, and negative ones, which give you points and hinder your character. However, neither all positive nor all negative traits are created equal. Some negative traits have positive effects that outweigh their negative effects (and vice versa) and many traits have negligible effects. The right selection of traits can mean the difference between a living survivor and a rotting corpse.

Several starting professions also grant you special profession traits, which are based on the characters' career before the Cataclysm and represent the expertise, training, special permissions, or other effects you've gained from that. They are unobtainable in-game.

Some starting scenarios, namely Challenge - Lab Patient and Experiment, allow you access to starting traits you wouldn't otherwise be able to choose. This represents that you were experimented on and possibly mutated prior to the Cataclysm. These starting mutations count as traits, so they cannot be removed with purifier and do not count for threshold mutations.

Differences between traits and mutations

  • Traits can only be picked at character creation. Several of them can also be gained as mutations in-game, but will not be treated as starting traits.
  • Starting traits do not count toward your mutation category strength for determining which mutation line you're on or for breaching thresholds.
  • Traits are very hard to get rid of, but can evolve normally into other mutations in their branch.
  • Purifier will restore your starting traits that have changed to other traits.