Traits (Advantages & Complications)

While playing Star Trek, scenes, locations, objects and people can have something called traits. For example, a person's race is a trait that can be applied to a person. Power off-line is a trait that can be applied to a location.

Traits can be used positively or negatively depending on the circumstances.

- A positive trait is called an Advantage.
- Negative trait is called a complication.

When used positively a trait can:
- Allow a task to be undertaken that would otherwise be impossible.
For example, when attempting to get a foe to lay down their weapons. The storyteller may declare the foes refuse with no rolls if they obviously have no reason to consider it. However, players could attempt to make a different role first, to put the trait "intimidated" on the foes. Once intimidated, the storyteller may declare that the roll to convince them to lay down their weapon is now possible.
- Reduce the difficulty of a task by 1.

When used negatively a trait can:
- Increase the difficulty of a task by 1
- Make a task impossible. For example, you can't use the teleporter if they have the trait off-line.