Important Skills & Traits

== Important Skills & Traits==

There are quite a few examples of skills often overlooked that can make the difference between life and death.

As such, I will note several important skills and traits here to assist with character generation.

Not heeding any advice posted here is done at your own peril.

Skills:
Athletics: Balancing slippery mountain paths, outrunning a giant boulder, being able to swim and even how well you can throw stuff - this skill has many uses. For samurai of all ages and classes.

Hunting: "Where are we", "Can I follow the footsteps", "Is there a path to follow in this wilderness?" and "How can we get food and water?" - all this and more you get in the package of one skill. Anyone planning to spend their time anywhere but in an Inn or at home should probably have a rank in this.

Lore (Heraldy): This allows you to identify samurai you have never even met before and chose correct approach and honorifics.

Lore (Bushido): This skill is used to determin other peoples honor ranks.

Lore: Lores allow me, the Game Master, to tell you characters knowledge not commonly availible. While it is not a must-have by any means, lores of all kind can be very helpful when faced with a situation calling for them.

Etiquette: If you don't know why you should have this, that is precicely the reason why you should have it.

Investigation: Sharp eyes and keen ears allow you to discover things hidden from your less aware comrades - may that be a conveniently placed trap, an overlooked hole in the floor, the fact that the bushes down the road seem to carry katana, or simply that someone is lying to you.

Traits:
Stamina & Willpower: While Stamina allows you to resist fatigue and sickness, Willpower allows you to resist certain evil influences, keep a tight grip on yourself, and perhaps most importantly, resist fear that would break lesser men. Also, increased together they increase your earth ring, giving you more wounds - upping your chance of survival quite a bit. Any bushi should have both of them at at least 3.

Reflex: Whenever the walls come tumbling down or the trap door opens below your feet, you will want to be able to jump aside. This is what reflex is for. More so, it also ups your ability to dodge incoming blows in combat, making you harder to hit! While being subtle, you will be glad you didn't neglect it as you closely inspect the grinder that was below the trap door.