HorrORE Traits
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Traits are special abilities that in most cases can only be bought at character creation (you must get the GM’s permission to get one later). They represent certain abilities or special skills found only in particular characters. There are two types of traits—mundane and supernatural.
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Mundane Traits
Mundane traits are traits that any normal person can buy, like a character who’s more resilient mentally usual, or someone with access to large amounts of money.
Alien Angles (2d)
Prerequisite: Mythos Skill at 1d or more
Effect: You know how to think in the alien ways needed to cast spells and can unconsciously slip into the correct mindset without effort. With this trait you automatically succeed at the Mind check required to cast spells.
A Scientific Explanation (2d)
Prerequisite: A science skill in excess of 3d
Effect: You can choose to roll Mind+[a science skill] in lieu of the Mind+Equilibrium when faced with a Madness check on the Unnatural gauge. It’s still rolled at the same Difficulty, as more eerie experiences are harder to rationalize. If you succeed, you “explain it away” and gain neither a Failed nor a Hardened notch.
Backup (1d/2d/4d)
Prerequisite: None
Effect: You have contacts that can bring in significant backup in dangerous situations. At 1d this just means more equipment; at 2d vehicles and equipment; at 4d it means people, equipment and vehicles. The exact effects remain up to the GM to decide. Some characters can call for help without this trait; any cop can call out an emergency and have several others come running to help. The Backup trait represents unusual gear and specialists.
Good Childhood (4d)
Prerequisite: None
Effect: You had an extremely stable home life and a solid emotional foundation from early childhood. This allows you to modify Stat+Equilibrium rolls against any gauge of the Madness Meter, sacrificing a point of width for a point of height. So if you roll 4x5 against an Intensity 6 check, you can “squish” the roll to a 3x6 (dropping 1 point of width and adding 1 point of height) succeeding where you would have failed.
The Law (2d)
Prerequisite: None
Effect: You are the law in your area. This gives you authority to enforce the standard laws of your city, county or country. This would represent something like a local sheriff. To increase your pull, add the Backup and Resources traits. For example, an FBI agent might have The Law (2d), Backup (4d) and Resources (2d) for a total cost of 8 dice.
Expert (4d)
Prerequisite: GM’s permission
Effect: This allows you to purchase Expert dice in skills, or upgrade existing dice in skills to Expert dice. Without it, you cannot possess Expert Dice. This allows you to buy them in any skill through normal character development. Expert Dice cannot be purchased in stats.
Forbidden Lore (no cost, see prerequisite)*
Prerequisite: A Hardened or Failed notch in the Unnatural gauge.
Effect: Each Hardened or Failed notch in the Unnatural gauge automatically grants you a +1d to your Mythos skill (up to 3d), in addition to granting you the standard dice to spend on Character creation. At character creation you must define what supernatural creature or experience you have encountered.
Money (3d)
Prerequisite: GM’s permission
Effect: You’re rich. For whatever reason (and this reason must be defined at character creation) your character doesn’t have to worry about money; it’s just there. How much you can buy and when remains up to the GM.
Religious (2d)
Prerequisite: None
Effect: You can “put off” Failed and Hardened notches in the Unnatural gauge as long as you have no Failed notches in the Self gauge. Your religious belief places (or misplaces) your perception of the real world—even if it is absolutely horrific—in some religious context. But keep track of Failed or Hardened notches in the Unnatural, because if you gain a Failed notch in the Self gauge, you suffer the full effect of everything you’ve lost to date in the Unnatural gauge as your faith crumbles.
Resources (1d/2d/4d)
Prerequisite: None
Effect: You have pull and can call someone to look into things. At 1d this means you know someone who has access to the research materials, a good head on his or her shoulders and who owes you a favor; at 2d this jumps to someone with a little more professional skill who can actually travel to locations and look things up; at 4d it means access to nearly any official file—DMV paperwork, criminal records, an FBI file, etc. Of course, the more important and useful the files, the more trouble your contact could get into for accessing them. . .
