Our first new supplement for our
Cepheus Light rules is
Cepheus Light - Traits. This supplement allows further (optional, of course) character customization without over-encumbering the rules or over-powering the characters.
Under these rules, characters gain Traits – focused abilities and areas of training which only partially – if at all – overlap with skills or characteristics. A character has one Trait per 4 total skill levels (rounded up); for example, a character possessing 7 total skill levels will have 2 Traits. If using the optional experience rules in Cepheus Light, character gain new Traits according to their new total skill points; for example, a character raising their total skill points from 8 to 9 gains an additional Trait.
Any character may choose any Trait they meet the perquisites for.
Some Traits use a "throw 3D and pick the higher two" mechanic. For example, if you throw three dice and get a roll of 2, 3, and 5, your result will be 8 (3+5), as the 2 is discarded.
The booklet will include 50 Traits.
Below are a few sample Traits:
Assassin
Perquisite: Melee Combat skill
The character knows how to hit weak spots in the enemy's armor in melee combat.
When attacking in melee, if the to-hit throw's Effect is +6 or better, ignore the target's armor.
Latent Psion
Perquisite: None
The character has untrained psionic abilities (see Cepheus Light's Appendix A: Aliens and Psionics).
Untrained, the character has 1 PSI point and one of the following powers: Enhanced Characteristic, Sense, Lift 1 gram, Life Detection, or Blink. The PSI point regenerates after a night's sleep, as usual. Psionic drugs affect the character as usual and allow more frequent use of their powers
Actual psionic training allows the character to roll a normal PSI characteristic and additional powers.
Surgeon
Perquisite: Medicine skill
The character is a specialized surgeon.
When treating a seriously wounded character, the surgeon may throw Medicine 6+ to reduce recovery time from 5D days to 2D days.
