Expanding the trait list

Suggestions
1

Hi all,

I’ve been working on an expanded trait list for Aurora 4X and wanted to bring it here for community input. This is a draft — I’d love pushback on balance, redundancy, group assignments, and anything that feels tonally off.

What I was trying to do

The vanilla trait list is solid but starts to feel repetitive once you’ve played enough campaigns. Characters begin to blur together. My goal was to roughly double the list — adding somewhere in the range of 150–200 new traits — while staying true to the tone and structure already in the game.

The guiding principles I used:

  • Grounded setting. Everything should feel at home in a realistic near-future military, government, or civilian context. No sci-fi stretch.
  • No redundancy with vanilla. If a new trait covered the same behavioral ground as an existing one, it got cut.
  • Flavor matters. The vanilla list has great color traits — Astronomy Geek, War Game Enthusiast, Vegetarian — that make characters feel like actual people. I wanted more of that.

Understanding the group structure

Digging into the database, I found that traits are organized into six groups with opposite relationships defined between them. Here’s how I interpreted that structure — happy to be corrected on any of this:

Group Description Opposite(s)
1 Inflexible / Uncaring 3
2 No effect on anything else —
3 Cheerful / Good character 1, 6
4 Aggressive 5, 6
5 Cautious 4
6 Cowardly / Malicious / Character Flaws 3, 4

My read on each group:

Group 1 — Inflexible / Uncaring: I interpreted this as cold, rigid, uncharitable behavior. Not actively malicious, but difficult to work with. The kind of officer who’s hard on subordinates and resistant to input. Opposite of Group 3.

Group 2 — No effect on anything else: Background and flavor. Hobbies, personal history, physical characteristics. These are pure color — they make a character feel like a person rather than a stat block.

Group 3 — Cheerful / Good character: Positive behavioral traits. Leadership, warmth, reliability, principled conduct. Opposite of Groups 1 and 6.

Group 4 — Aggressive: High-drive, assertive, action-oriented. Risk-takers and hard chargers. Opposite of Groups 5 and 6.

Group 5 — Cautious: Methodical, reserved, deliberate. Opposite of Group 4.

Group 6 — Cowardly / Malicious / Character Flaws: Active flaws. Dishonesty, cowardice, cruelty, instability. Opposite of Groups 3 and 4.

One thing I’m genuinely uncertain about: how does Aurora use this group and opposite data during character generation? Does it use the opposite group relationships to prevent conflicting traits from appearing together on the same character? Are there multiple rolls for each category? Knowing this would help a lot with calibrating group assignments — especially for traits that sit on the border between two groups.

The proposed additions

Group 1 — Inflexible / Uncaring

ID Vanilla trait New trait
1 Follows orders without question Dismissive
3 Doesn’t accept change easily Condescending
4 Callous Unapproachable
6 Gloomy Resentful of Authority
7 Inconsiderate Territorially Minded
14 Rude Self-righteous
18 Indifferent Unnecessarily Blunt
23 Inflexible and Dogmatic Micromanager
24 Unforgiving Holds Grudges
25 Distant Poor Listener
27 Authoritarian Tactless
34 Arrogant Resistant to Feedback
40 Intolerant Pedantic
45 Will not listen to advice Inflated Sense of Duty
48 Stubborn Excessively Formal
55 Dispassionate Bureaucratic
64 Ignorant Credit-Hungry
73 Cold manner Overly Critical
97 Uncaring Dour
103 Punctual Irritable
143 Contrarian Bossy
Easily Disgusted
Abrasive
Entitled
Withholding
Thin-skinned
Humorless
Joyless
Inscrutable
Cynic
Lone Wolf
Ethical

Notes:

  • Ethical is intentionally in Group 1 rather than Group 3. The framing is rigidity — an officer who won’t approve a tactically sound but morally grey operation, not simply a virtuous one. Open to pushback.
  • Humorless and Joyless are flavor-first. They don’t suggest cruelty, just a certain bleak professionalism.
  • Lone Wolf sits between Group 1 and Group 2 — it’s behavioral (won’t collaborate) but also background color. Happy to move it if Group 2 makes more sense.

Group 2 — No effect on anything else

ID Vanilla trait New trait
2 Ambitious Chess Player
49 Strange Medical Condition Distance Runner
56 Highly educated Voracious Reader
59 No outside interests Night Owl
66 Subjective Early Riser
68 Observant Multilingual
69 Organised Minimalist
77 Religious Collector
78 Atheist Fitness Enthusiast
82 Wealthy Poker Player
83 Impoverished Politically Connected
84 Substance Abuse Well-Traveled
85 Wealthy family Polymath
86 Poor Family Ambidextrous
87 Psychological problems Technophile
109 Many social interests Technophobe
111 Astronomy Geek Chronic Pain
118 Talented Musician Insomnia
119 History Buff Colorblind
125 Partisan Photographic Memory
126 Apolitical Synesthesia
129 Analytical Prosthetic
130 Mathematician Tinkerer
131 Nature Buff Media Buff
132 Science Fiction Buff Talented Writer
133 Philosophy Buff Famous
136 Unattractive Sports Fan
137 Attractive Gardener
148 Academic Gamer
Self-made
Political Exile
Hard of Hearing
Exceptional Physique
Keeps Journal
Criminal Upbringing
Eccentric
Seductive

Notes:

  • The medical/physical traits (Chronic Pain, Insomnia, Colorblind, Prosthetic, Hard of Hearing) follow the spirit of Strange Medical Condition — flavor without any particular implication.
  • Famous was originally “Minor Celebrity” but trimmed for naming consistency.
  • Seductive landed here rather than Group 4 because it’s a personal characteristic rather than a behavioral drive.
  • Synesthesia and Ambidextrous are unusual picks but feel in the spirit of the quirkier vanilla traits.

Group 3 — Cheerful / Good character

ID Vanilla trait New trait
5 Cheerful Empathetic
13 Courteous Level-headed
19 Enthusiastic Collaborative
22 Flexible and Pragmatic Transparent
26 Friendly Self-aware
32 Honest Diplomatic
36 Modest Loyal
39 Tolerant Nurturing
41 Optimistic Steadfast
44 Reliable Patient Teacher
47 Trusting Quick Learner
54 Disciplined Constructive
60 Imaginative Detail-oriented
63 Innovative Proactive
67 Objective Resilient
74 Personable Tactful
88 Good judge of character Equitable
90 Delegates easily Gracious
91 Born Leader Sharp Instincts
92 Skilled Orator Composed
96 Embraces change Measured
99 Faith in others Accountable
102 Candid Counselor
104 Self-confident Reformer
105 Sincere Curious
108 Enterprising Generous
110 Insightful Gregarious
112 Professional Charismatic
113 Resourceful Even-tempered
116 Good motivator Forgiving
124 Conscientious Incorruptible
128 Humble Devout
142 Agreeable Principled
144 Gifted Prankster
146 Warm
147 Debonaire

Notes:

  • Devout is distinct from vanilla’s Religious (Group 2). Religious is flavor; Devout implies active expression of faith as a defining character trait.
  • Principled and Incorruptible overlap somewhat but feel distinct — Principled is about personal code, Incorruptible is specifically about resistance to corruption.
  • Prankster is a deliberate flavor add. Nothing in vanilla covers levity as an active character trait.
  • Perceptive was originally here but moved to Group 5 — situational awareness felt more cautious than virtuous.

Group 4 — Aggressive

ID Vanilla trait New trait
8 Combative Tenacious
9 Aggressive Relentless
11 Courageous Competitive
15 Decisive Initiative-taker
17 Determined Opportunistic
58 Energetic Confrontational
72 Impatient Demanding
75 Risk-taker Self-starter
80 Tough Uncompromising
100 Focused Assertive
101 Motivated Domineering
106 Adventurous Iron-willed
107 Dynamic Cutthroat
114 Results-oriented Instinct-driven
117 Problem-solver Forceful
134 Hunter Thrill Seeker
138 War Game Enthusiast Agitator
139 Martial Artist Firebrand
140 Survivalist Brazen
Iron Hand
Headstrong
Unyielding
Provocateur
Glory-seeker
Audacious

Notes:

  • Agitator, Firebrand, and Provocateur cover similar ground at different intensities. Open to trimming if that feels like too much overlap.
  • Glory-seeker is meant to capture ambition expressed through risk-taking rather than planning — distinct from Ambitious (Group 2) or Results-oriented (vanilla).
  • Several traits here (Domineering, Cutthroat, Iron Hand) skirt Group 6 territory. The distinction I used: Group 4 traits are drives, Group 6 traits are active flaws. A Domineering officer is hard to work for; a Malicious one is harmful.

Group 5 — Cautious

ID Vanilla trait New trait
10 Cautious Deliberate
42 Pessimistic Hesitant
50 Calm Overcautious
62 Conservative Slow to Commit
71 Patient Measured
76 Averse to risk Non-confrontational
115 Methodical Data-driven
135 Vegetarian Traditionalist
141 Superstitious Fatalistic
148 Academic Private
Picky Eater
Strange Diet
Low-profile
Technocrat
Grounded
Introspective
Stoic
Far-sighted
Calculating
Planner
Tactical
Content
Temperate
Perceptive

Notes:

  • Deliberate vs. vanilla Methodical — these are close. Deliberate implies intentionality and slowness of decision; Methodical implies process orientation. I kept both but this is one I’d specifically like community input on.
  • Picky Eater and Strange Diet follow the logic of vanilla’s Vegetarian — personal habits as cautious/conservative flavor.
  • Technocrat implies preference for systems and process over instinct, which felt Group 5 rather than Group 2.
  • Perceptive moved here from Group 3 — situational awareness as a cautious trait rather than a virtuous one.

Group 6 — Cowardly / Malicious / Character Flaws

ID Vanilla trait New trait
12 Cowardly Vindictive
16 Indecisive Manipulative
20 Lack of self-esteem Self-serving
21 No faith in others Reckless
28 Malicious Volatile
29 Capricious Nihilistic
30 Unappreciative Impulsive
31 Lazy Defeatist
33 Dishonest Contemptuous
35 Complacent Petty
37 Vain Sycophantic
38 Jealous Obsessive
43 Unreliable Fame-seeker
46 Suspicious Juvenile
51 Nervous Pollyanna
52 Unkempt Apocalyptic
53 Easily confused Careless
57 Listless Conspiracy Theorist
61 Unimaginative Indulgent
65 Yields to others Sadistic
70 Disorganised Shy
79 Weak Self-destructive
81 Untrustworthy Martyr
89 Poor judge of character Furtive
93 Lacks communication skills Demagogue
94 Will not delegate Fanatic
95 Insubordinate Exploitative
98 Resentful Greedy
120 Nepotistic Sociopath
121 Narcissistic Corrupt
122 Neurotic
123 Paranoid
127 Egomaniac
145 Delusional

Notes:

  • Shy is deliberately in Group 6 rather than Group 5. Cautious officers are deliberate; shy officers avoid action out of fear, which maps to the cowardly end of this group.
  • Pollyanna is a flaw framed as false optimism — blind faith that things will work out regardless of evidence. Distinct from vanilla Optimistic in Group 3.
  • Apocalyptic is a personal favorite. An officer who genuinely believes civilizational collapse is imminent behaves very differently to a pessimist.
  • Sociopath and Sadistic push the tone darker than most vanilla Group 6 traits. Flagging these specifically for community input.
  • Conspiracy Theorist felt very Aurora — you can imagine the NPC flavor text.

Questions and input

A few specific things I’d love the community to weigh in on:

  1. Group assignment disagreements? Several traits could reasonably live in multiple groups. I’ve flagged the obvious ones above, but there are probably more.
  2. Redundancies I missed? I ran a careful pass against the full vanilla list but may have missed overlaps.
  3. Tone issues? Anything that feels out of place for Aurora’s setting or naming conventions?
  4. Character generation mechanics — how does Aurora actually use the group and opposite data during character creation? How many traits get selected? This is my biggest open question and would meaningfully affect some placement decisions.
  5. Anything missing? I aimed for even coverage across all six groups but there are likely obvious gaps I didn’t see.

Full list of suggested traits

A running list for easy reference and community additions:

Group Trait
1 Dismissive
1 Condescending
1 Unapproachable
1 Resentful of Authority
1 Territorially Minded
1 Self-righteous
1 Unnecessarily Blunt
1 Micromanager
1 Holds Grudges
1 Poor Listener
1 Tactless
1 Resistant to Feedback
1 Pedantic
1 Inflated Sense of Duty
1 Excessively Formal
1 Bureaucratic
1 Credit-Hungry
1 Overly Critical
1 Dour
1 Irritable
1 Bossy
1 Easily Disgusted
1 Abrasive
1 Entitled
1 Withholding
1 Thin-skinned
1 Humorless
1 Joyless
1 Inscrutable
1 Cynic
1 Lone Wolf
1 Ethical
2 Chess Player
2 Distance Runner
2 Voracious Reader
2 Night Owl
2 Early Riser
2 Multilingual
2 Minimalist
2 Collector
2 Fitness Enthusiast
2 Poker Player
2 Politically Connected
2 Well-Traveled
2 Polymath
2 Ambidextrous
2 Technophile
2 Technophobe
2 Chronic Pain
2 Insomnia
2 Colorblind
2 Photographic Memory
2 Synesthesia
2 Prosthetic
2 Tinkerer
2 Media Buff
2 Talented Writer
2 Famous
2 Sports Fan
2 Gardener
2 Gamer
2 Self-made
2 Political Exile
2 Hard of Hearing
2 Exceptional Physique
2 Keeps Journal
2 Criminal Upbringing
2 Eccentric
2 Seductive
3 Empathetic
3 Level-headed
3 Collaborative
3 Transparent
3 Self-aware
3 Diplomatic
3 Loyal
3 Nurturing
3 Steadfast
3 Patient Teacher
3 Quick Learner
3 Constructive
3 Detail-oriented
3 Proactive
3 Resilient
3 Tactful
3 Equitable
3 Gracious
3 Sharp Instincts
3 Composed
3 Measured
3 Accountable
3 Counselor
3 Reformer
3 Curious
3 Generous
3 Gregarious
3 Charismatic
3 Even-tempered
3 Forgiving
3 Incorruptible
3 Devout
3 Principled
3 Prankster
4 Tenacious
4 Relentless
4 Competitive
4 Initiative-taker
4 Opportunistic
4 Confrontational
4 Demanding
4 Self-starter
4 Uncompromising
4 Assertive
4 Domineering
4 Iron-willed
4 Cutthroat
4 Instinct-driven
4 Forceful
4 Thrill Seeker
4 Agitator
4 Firebrand
4 Brazen
4 Iron Hand
4 Headstrong
4 Unyielding
4 Provocateur
4 Glory-seeker
4 Audacious
5 Deliberate
5 Hesitant
5 Overcautious
5 Slow to Commit
5 Measured
5 Non-confrontational
5 Data-driven
5 Traditionalist
5 Fatalistic
5 Private
5 Picky Eater
5 Strange Diet
5 Low-profile
5 Technocrat
5 Grounded
5 Introspective
5 Stoic
5 Far-sighted
5 Calculating
5 Planner
5 Tactical
5 Content
5 Temperate
5 Perceptive
6 Vindictive
6 Manipulative
6 Self-serving
6 Reckless
6 Volatile
6 Nihilistic
6 Impulsive
6 Defeatist
6 Contemptuous
6 Petty
6 Sycophantic
6 Obsessive
6 Fame-seeker
6 Juvenile
6 Pollyanna
6 Apocalyptic
6 Careless
6 Conspiracy Theorist
6 Indulgent
6 Sadistic
6 Shy
6 Self-destructive
6 Martyr
6 Furtive
6 Demagogue
6 Fanatic
6 Exploitative
6 Greedy
6 Sociopath
6 Corrupt

Community Suggestions

Group Trait
2 Alcoholic
2 Gaming Addict
2 Smoker
2 Science Focus
2 Engineering Background
2 Historian
3 Cheery Drunk
4 Aggressive Drunk
2 Professional whilst drunk
6 Sleepy Drunk
2 Sad drunk
2 Good hair

[1]This post was formatted with the assistance of Claude (Anthropic). The trait selections, group assignments, and editorial decisions are my own.

  1. Footnotes ↩︎

7 Likes
Quick Suggestions
2

That is a lot of work!

The code selects 2-4 traits. Each one is selected in turn. A trait cannot be from a group in opposition to the groups of previously selected traits.

I’ll read through properly when I have time. Please can you put a link to the above in the suggestions thread, so I don’t forget about it.

3 Likes
3

I’ll second the expanded trait list. I actually use this feature - I tend to do manual promotions passes every 5-10 years or so for my senior ranks and I often look at the traits on the officer to determine who I am promoting. I know that is suboptimal but I feel it adds some flavor particular to whatever game fiction I am going with and I am always up for more traits so I can enhance that part of my game. I also wouldn’t mind a feature that occasionally adds a new trait every 10 years or so to show a personality changing over time.

1 Like
4

Any traits you’d want to add?

5

I do favor what u doing, but I am not looking forward to update my govsim ahah

6

Alcoholic
Violently Alcoholic
Professionally Alcoholic

1 Like
7

I have definitely thought about this, but there is a ‘substance abuse’ trait. I’d love to tease it out to ‘alcoholic’, ‘stimulant addict’, ‘smoker’

8

Just for fun… Sad Alcoholic, Singing Alcoholic, Sleeping Alcoholic :face_holding_back_tears:

9

Auroraholic :grin:

4 Likes
10

I would not mind a selection of educational background traits added to the list. It could be a very basic thing like a ‘Scholar’ Trait but I think having a bit more granularity like, ‘Science Focus’, ‘Engineering Background’, ‘Historian’ might be an interesting add.

11

“Substance abuser” these days means illegal drugs and could use being split into the good old fashioned sailor variant of honest-to-God alcoholic, the honored upholder of naval traditions

12

Added a community section with groups I imagine they belong to (I’m open to shifting).

I am afraid that if we add so many ‘drunks’ that like 25% of characters will have drinking problems. But things like ‘cheerful drunk’ doesn’t mean they always drink.

I changed ‘auroraholic’ to gaming addict, hah

I also added my own suggestion of smoking and as I was writing this I added ‘good hair’ because it’s such a trope in sci fi.

13

As a note, I did have Engineering background on my original list, but given that the default ‘graduation age’ for officers is around 21, I had clipped it out. I was of two minds of it, but I think it’s a good add.

Moreover, there already is the engineering skill, so I thought maybe it’s redundant. I cut Scholar because we already have Academic in vanilla (group 5).