First and foremost, please let me offer my sincerest apologies for this incredibly late reply. I just saw that your message was from 59 days ago, and I am genuinely so sorry that it was missed. We’re a small team and your question completely slipped through the cracks, and I feel terrible that you were left waiting for an answer. I will personally make sure we are more diligent going forward.
That is an excellent question about filling out the Traits and Attributes section! It’s a really core part of bringing your character to life, and it can feel a little abstract at first. I would be more than happy to walk you through it step-by-step.
Think of it as matching your character’s personality quirks to the four core Attributes, which are represented by the card suits: ♦ (Diamonds), ♣ (Clubs), ♥ (Hearts), and ♠ (Spades).
You’ve already done the fun part by picking your traits!
Green: Out of the Box, Problem Solver, Innovative
Red: Perfectionist
Now, let’s assign the numbers. At the start of the game, you get four bonus values to distribute: -1, 0, +1, and +2.
Here’s a simple breakdown of how to put it all together:
Step 1: Assign Your Weakness (Red Trait)
The rules give your Red Trait—your character’s beautiful flaw—a special role. Your chosen “Perfectionist” trait is a Weakness and comes with a fixed +2 bonus. The reason for this high bonus is that this trait represents a core vulnerability that will often be challenged in the story, making those moments more impactful!
First, choose which of the four suits feels right for “Perfectionist.” There’s no wrong answer; it’s all about your story. For example, maybe you feel like Spades (♠) represents that sharp, critical eye of a perfectionist. On your character sheet, next to the ♠ symbol, you would write “Perfectionist” and fill in the number value as “+2”.
Step 2: Assign Your Strengths (Green Traits)
Now you’re left with your three wonderful Green Traits and the remaining three bonuses: -1, 0, and +1. Simply assign each of your Green Traits (“Out of the Box,” “Problem Solver,” “Innovative”) to one of the remaining three suits (in our example, ♦, ♣, and ♥).
Then, distribute the remaining bonuses (-1, 0, +1) among them in any way you like. What do you want your character to be best at? What are they just okay at? What’s a minor struggle?
An Example Setup: Following the steps above, your final Attributes section might look something like this:
♦ Diamonds: Innovative (+1) (Your character is pretty good at coming up with new ideas.)
♣ Clubs: Problem Solver (0) (They are neutrally skilled at solving practical problems.)
♥ Hearts: Out of the Box (-1) (Thinking unconventionally might be a slight challenge for them sometimes, which is an interesting contrast for an Artist!)
♠ Spades: Perfectionist (+2) (Their perfectionism is a major, defining trait.)
And that’s it! You’ve just added a huge layer of personality to your Artist.
I truly hope this clears things up and helps you feel more connected to your character. Thank you again for your patience and understanding.