An incomplete list of traits that actually do something interesting.

[QuidEst]

There are a lot of bland traits out there for +/-1 to this or that. I'm making this thread to keep track of traits that I find to be actually interesting- traits that let you do something unique. These are only drawn from the trait categories available to all characters. I'll just throw traits in here now and then, but feel free to make suggestions.

Equipment
Power of Suggestion (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/equipment-traits/power-of-suggestion) is a perfect example. You can now use bluff to convince people you have what you don't have. I'll be using it to make some red silk come off as blood coming out of a wound for my actress character, but there are plenty of uses. Whether your walking stick is now a powerful staff or your powerful staff is now a walking stick, plenty of fun.

Prehensile Whip (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/equipment-traits/prehensile-whip) is Indiana Jones in a trait- your whip is now a rope and grappling hook as well. Scale up to the second story, swing across chasms, or possibly save yourself while falling.

Rough and Ready (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/equipment-traits/rough-and-ready) lets you use your tools of trade as weapons, although common sense still explicitly applies when it comes to what works. Not only do you not take the usual penalties, you also get +1 attack. In your hands, every frying pan is a masterwork club. As far as flavor is concerned, this is fantastic for adventurers who don't have adventuring in their background.

Combat
Never Stop Shooting (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/combat-traits/never-stop-shooting) is pure awesome, allowing you to all but ensure that if your gunslinger goes down, they're going down in a blaze of glory (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCeIIcPAwv8).

Social
Dismantle Order (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/dismantle-order) is a fun little trait that lets you use Detect Law 1/day. Fantastic for crooks in need of a little supernatural edge, it'll pick clerics and paladins out right away, and alert you who in the police force is pushing 5HD.

Student of Philosophy (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/student-of-philosophy) / Bruising Intellect (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/bruising-intellect) / Clever Wordplay (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/clever-wordplay) are all great for making your Int-based character more social, using Int in place of Cha for a skill or two. Bruising Intellect is especially great for roleplay, as your immense knowledge allows you to come up with all manner of unpleasant threats, and it's one of the few that really plays along well with an otherwise low charisma score.

Magic
Hedge Magician (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/magic-traits/hedge-magician) is a nice little perk- save 5% of your crafting costs for magical goods. This allows your character to actually earn a living from crafting magical items, earning around 25gp per day of crafting, and more if you can craft faster than 1000gp/day. Put it on a mercantile mage or a cleric of Abadar.

Faith
Omen (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/faith-traits/omen) is the normal +1 to intimidate, make it a class skill, but with a nice rider. Once per day, you can demoralize as a swift action. This lets you actually use that intimidate score in combat without needing to invest a handful of feats or make dips.

[Eldaran]

There's a bunch of traits that change the stat a skill uses, like changing Bluff to use Int instead of Cha. I don't know if there's a list of those, but they're all pretty valuable on the right character.

[Ninjaxenomorph]

Most likely the lions share will be in the Faith and Magic traits.

[Khosan]

There's a bunch of traits that change the stat a skill uses, like changing Bluff to use Int instead of Cha. I don't know if there's a list of those, but they're all pretty valuable on the right character.

That one would be Student of Philosophy (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/student-of-philosophy), which changes the persuade-y sides of Diplomacy and Bluff to use Int instead of Cha. It's one of my favorites, but I don't know if I'd call it interesting in the same way the traits in the OP are interesting. It's really nice for Rogues and Investigators (and pretty much anyone else with an Int fetish and any kind of passing interest in Bluff/Diplomacy), but even then it's not much more than a +X to this skill trait.

[Seerow]

Blade of Mercy lets you deal nonlethal damage at no penalty, and increases damage by +1 when dealing nonlethal.

Gregarious gives a 1/day diplomacy check reroll.

Going out to 3rd party there is the PoW trait that lets you trade out one discipline for another.


Those are the ones I know off-hand.

[CGNefarious]

I can't remember the name of the trait, but there's a faith on that gives you the first level domain spell of a domain of your deity as a SLA X times per day. Not quite as interesting as what you're talking about, but can be cool in the right hands.

There's also one that allows you to use intimidate against animals.

[Milo v3]

Bruising Intellect is one I like, lets you use Int for intimidate.

Hedge Magician is small, but it saves a bit of money when it comes to characters who craft.

Never stop shooting is pretty thematic. Lets gunslingers shoot while they would be dying, and if you have diehard you can determine how much negative hp you possess by your wisdom score rather than constitution.

[Iwasforger03]

Campaign trait: Finding Haleen - extra favored class, whenever you take a level in your favored class you get an extra +1hp AND extra +1 skill point, in addition to your favored class bonus.

Warriors of Old: Elves only, racial trait, +2 trait bonus to initiative

Metamagic master: reduce spell slot adjustment for a spell chosen when you take the trait, levels 3 or lower.

Called: a faith trait with a 1/day reroll for attacks.

[Kaidinah]

Wasn't Finding Haleen from a 3.5 adventure back when you had to give up 1st level feats or something to get traits?

[Iwasforger03]

Legacy of Fire's player guide.

[Kaidinah]

Legacy of Fire's player guide.
Yes. A 3.5 campaign. That was before Pathfinder Core rulebook happened.

[Iwasforger03]

Even if that is true sir, it has ALSO been republished as a PATHFINDER player's guide to a PATHFINDER adventure path. Available from paizo publishing, for the pathfinder replaying game, as published under the Open Game license.

[Kaidinah]

And so you are right. Either way, its a campaign trait specific to one campaign. Any sane DM wouldn't allow it outside that campaign considering it is the equivalent of 2 feats and that the character background stuff tied to it is probably not applicable to any other game.

[Molosse]

The Shield Trained Trait let's you treat Heavy Shields as a Light Weapon. That's pretty thematic for an offensive sword and board build without rolling with the rather silly x2 shields.

[avr]

The metamagic reducers may technically be +/-1 to something, but that something opens up options you wouldn't normally consider. Lingering Color Spray to combine offence & defence for example.

Dealmaker lets you find magic items that normally wouldn't be available.

[Necroticplague]

There's a trait that lets you drink potions as a move action.

[Beowulf DW]

Fate's Favored (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/faith-traits/fate-s-favored) is a favorite of mine for just about any class that has a lot of luck bonuses.

Beast of the Society (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/magic-traits/beast-of-the-society-druid-pathfinder-society) doubles your Wildshape duration.

[9mm]

There's a trait that lets you drink potions as a move action.

That would be Accelerated Drinker, a regional trait.

other goodies
Regional: River Rat: +1 to swim and +1 to dagger damage.

Combat: Surprise weapons: +2 to hit with an improvised weapon. sadly doesn't stack with Rough and ready.

Combat: Threatening defender, reduce the penalty for using combat expertise by 1.

Campaign: Trap finder, You gain a +1 trait bonus on Disable Device checks, and that skill is always a class skill for you. In addition, you can use Disable Device to disarm magic traps, like a rogue.

also if we're talking about 3.5 paizo traits

Human: LATENT PSION You gain a +2 trait bonus on saves against mind-affecting effects.

[Ninjaxenomorph]

I think most of those are what the OP is specifically not considering, except maybe Trap Finder.

[Artillery]

Dreamscarred Press has some interesting ones for Psionics.

Metacreative Talent (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/psionic-alternate-rules/psionic-traits/metacreative-talent): While you maintain psionic focus you can manifest shards of crystal as a swift action that last for one round. These blades can be used as thrown weapons if you use them immediately (you are proficient in their use; 1d2 slashing damage, 20/x2 crit, range increment 10 feet). This talent grants no benefit if you do not have the ability to gain psionic focus.

Suddenly knives is nice.

Psychoportive Talent (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/psionic-alternate-rules/psionic-traits/psychoportive-talent): You can expend your psionic focus as an immediate action to make a five-foot step. You may do this even if you have already moved in the round in question, although not if you have already taken a five-foot step, and doing so does not prevent further movement in this round. This talent grants no benefit if you do not have the ability to gain psionic focus.

Is that a less broken version of Abrupt Jaunt I see, yes I do believe it is. Its not actual teleportation though, just a 5ft step, but it does mean you can "dodge" pounces and full attacks.

[Kurald Galain]

Interesting... looking over my characters I don't see a lot of traits that do something novel, but this thread may be inspirational.

Heirloom Weapon used to be interesting in that it could give you an exotic weapon proficiency on any character, but it was errata'ed to just martial weapons.

[PsyBomb]

I use the un-errata'd version, personally. I don't consider EWP to be worth a feat...

Anyway, Hedge Magic was already mentioned, but two of my favorites are Relentless Logic (Magic) and inspired (Faith). The former lets you reroll any one Int-based skill check 1/day, the latter ANY skill check 1/day. If you are a crafter without one of these two, you're doing it wrong.

[stack]

There are crafters that don't just take 10? Under the new fancy system I suppose they would be great.

[squiggit]

Power of Suggestion seems like the kind of thing you'd be able to do with Bluff if that trait didn't exist

[PsyBomb]

Power of Suggestion seems like the kind of thing you'd be able to do with Bluff if that trait didn't exist

THAT isn't true, actually. I had a player who was a Halfling card sharp, and used Power of Suggestion to convince victims that his cards were a different suit than they actually were to get monster hands. Would be a -20 in standard rules, no penalty under Power of Suggestion due to the items being VERY similar.

[Second Arrow]

Defensive Strategist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/religion-traits/defensive-strategist-1) gives you a limited uncanny dodge.

Community Minded (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/regional-traits/community-minded) is also pretty neat for extending morale bonuses a further two rounds (such as a Cleric's aura of Heroism or a Skald's raging song)

[QuidEst]

There's a bunch of traits that change the stat a skill uses, like changing Bluff to use Int instead of Cha. I don't know if there's a list of those, but they're all pretty valuable on the right character.

That one would be Student of Philosophy (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/student-of-philosophy), which changes the persuade-y sides of Diplomacy and Bluff to use Int instead of Cha. It's one of my favorites, but I don't know if I'd call it interesting in the same way the traits in the OP are interesting. It's really nice for Rogues and Investigators (and pretty much anyone else with an Int fetish and any kind of passing interest in Bluff/Diplomacy), but even then it's not much more than a +X to this skill trait.

Bruising Intellect is one I like, lets you use Int for intimidate.
I'll include those- they allow your Int character to act outside their normal realm of expertise.


Blade of Mercy lets you deal nonlethal damage at no penalty, and increases damage by +1 when dealing nonlethal.
Blade of Mercy is fantastic for a bunch of character concepts. Just the sort of thing I like on a trait- get something flavorful, practical, and not overpowered. Sadly, it's a religion trait, so it's tied to a specific deity.


Gregarious gives a 1/day diplomacy check reroll.
While not a plus/minus, rerolls don't add much interesting to your character. The only new thing you're doing could have been accomplished with a better initial roll, the same as a +X skill.


I can't remember the name of the trait, but there's a faith on that gives you the first level domain spell of a domain of your deity as a SLA X times per day. Not quite as interesting as what you're talking about, but can be cool in the right hands.
I looked, and I couldn't seem to find it. A first-level spell SLA seems well beyond the scope of a trait, though. They normally give limited-use cantrips.


There's also one that allows you to use intimidate against animals.
Sadly, it's only to demoralize. :smallfrown:


Hedge Magician is small, but it saves a bit of money when it comes to characters who craft.
It's a very nice unique trait ability, and being able to make a character who earns a living with magical crafting is nice.


Never stop shooting is pretty thematic. Lets gunslingers shoot while they would be dying, and if you have diehard you can determine how much negative hp you possess by your wisdom score rather than constitution.
Heck yeah! Really kicks the awesome up a notch for Gunslingers.


Campaign trait: Finding Haleen - extra favored class, whenever you take a level in your favored class you get an extra +1hp AND extra +1 skill point, in addition to your favored class bonus.
As mentioned, campaign traits don't qualify for general use.


Metamagic master: reduce spell slot adjustment for a spell chosen when you take the trait, levels 3 or lower.

The metamagic reducers may technically be +/-1 to something, but that something opens up options you wouldn't normally consider. Lingering Color Spray to combine offence & defence for example.
Intentionally excluded. It may be a personal bias, but I have only seen them used to make a character stronger, and have never them make a character more interesting. They tend to be less interesting since they focus on that one spell instead of using a variety.


The Shield Trained Trait let's you treat Heavy Shields as a Light Weapon. That's pretty thematic for an offensive sword and board build without rolling with the rather silly x2 shields.
Didn't know about that one! I can even see some rogues using that for TWF fun. Again, though, it's a religion trait.


Dealmaker lets you find magic items that normally wouldn't be available.
On the fence about that one, since I haven't seen the settlement size rules used much, but I guess it's handy for if the GM says you can't find a particular item.

[Ninjaxenomorph]

Kin Bond is the one I was thinking of. I admit yes, it is a bonus/reroll trait, but you are using your sibling's (with a bonus for twin/other multiple birth sibling) save, and you both get Dazed if you fail.

[The Vagabond]

I am bumping this because I want to know more neat traits, and I don't know many neat traits.

As for what I can provide, all I can provide is Undine Loyalty. (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/race-traits/undine-loyalty-undine) Teamwork feats consider allies to be ajasent if they are within 10 feet.

[Xerlith]

I am bumping this because I want to know more neat traits, and I don't know many neat traits.

As for what I can provide, all I can provide is Undine Loyalty. (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/race-traits/undine-loyalty-undine) Teamwork feats consider allies to be ajasent if they are within 10 feet.

Wait... Based on the wording, one can argue that you actually gain a teamwork feat through this trait. :smallamused:

[CGNefarious]

And I think you could also argue that said ally would not need to have the teamwork feat either. I'm certain that's not the intent, but it does take a fairly lackluster trait and make it pretty decent.

[Starbuck_II]

I am bumping this because I want to know more neat traits, and I don't know many neat traits.

As for what I can provide, all I can provide is Undine Loyalty. (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/race-traits/undine-loyalty-undine) Teamwork feats consider allies to be ajasent if they are within 10 feet.

Combine Ally Shield and Undine Loyalty produces strange but fun results.

Somehow out of range of attacks, you use your ally as cover within 10 ft. Since it is out of range, does it still get targeted by the enemy if it hits due to cover?

[Unbodied]

For those who like Hedge Magician there's now a better version called Spark of Creation.

"You have always had a knack for making useful things, and your talent as an artisan was evident even at an early age.

Benefit(s): You gain a +1 trait bonus on Craft checks, and the cost of creating magic items is reduced by 5%."

I'm seriously tempted to take this. Along with Tireless Logic.

I really like the fluff for Grim Optimism, its a great trait for roleplaying.

"Growing up with no one to rely on but yourself, you learned to keep a realistic view of your situation and avoid falling into the trap of cynicism with a healthy dose of wit.

Benefit(s): As a standard action, you can joke about a troublesome situation to lighten the load of dealing with it for yourself and others. You and all allies within 30 feet who can hear you gain a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear and pain effects for 1d4 rounds. A character cannot benefit from this effect more than once in 24 hours."

I'm a bit iffy on the mechanics of Unabashed Gall but I absolutely adore the fluff.

"Your total indifference to the law even as you're breaking it is such that those watching you are stunned.

Benefit(s): Whenever you commit an unexpected and outrageously unlawful act (such as knowingly destroying or stealing something) that would elicit a hostile response from another creature, you may attempt a Bluff check opposed by the opponent's Sense Motive check. If you're successful, you and any allies who were willfully expecting your unlawful deed may act in a surprise round. For each ally willfully expecting your unlawful deed, you take a cumulative –2 penalty on your Bluff check. If your Bluff check fails, there is no surprise round. Regardless of whether your Bluff check succeeds, you and any allies willfully taking advantage of your unlawful deed treat your initiative checks for the duration of combat as though you had each rolled a 1."

[Mystral]

I'm a big fan of two-world magic. You can have prestidigitation on your cleric, or druid, or witch!

[Unbodied]

I'm a big fan of two-world magic. You can have prestidigitation on your cleric, or druid, or witch!
Then you will love Arcane Dabbler. Any character gets two non harmful cantrips they can use 1/day each.

Coincunning is pretty funny. You get a perception bonus to spot valuables and the money equivalent of Trap Sense, an automatic perception check every time you pass within 10ft of something valuable.

[Mystral]

Then you will love Arcane Dabbler. Any character gets two non harmful cantrips they can use 1/day each.

Coincunning is pretty funny. You get a perception bonus to spot valuables and the money equivalent of Trap Sense, an automatic perception check every time you pass within 10ft of something valuable.

Eh, I like my prestidigitation 24/7.

[Lord Vukodlak]

Sometimes its what the traits are that make them interesting how they're used.
Example from one of my PC's.

Adopted: The character was adopted and raised by halflings

"Suspicious: You discovered at an early age that someone you trusted, perhaps an older sibling or a parent, had lied to you, and lied often, about something you had taken for granted, leaving you quick to question the claims of others"
The lie being her parents telling her she was a Halfling.

[Mystral]

Sometimes its what the traits are that make them interesting how they're used.
Example from one of my PC's.

Adopted: The character was adopted and raised by halflings

"Suspicious: You discovered at an early age that someone you trusted, perhaps an older sibling or a parent, had lied to you, and lied often, about something you had taken for granted, leaving you quick to question the claims of others"
The lie being her parents telling her she was a Halfling.

You can't take those, they are both social traits. :P

[Unbodied]

Ultimate Psionics has Blues get the Playing Dumb race trait which gives a +2 Bluff when you try to play down your value/threat or appear as less than you are.

Dromite's get Sensitive Nose which gives +1 on scent based Perception and Survival checks and a - 1 against stench. Gives you an excuse to complain about the party not bathing regularly and might encourage the GM to pay more attention to what stuff smells like.

[Unbodied]

Dreamscarred Press has some interesting ones for Psionics.

Psychoportive Talent (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/psionic-alternate-rules/psionic-traits/psychoportive-talent): You can expend your psionic focus as an immediate action to make a five-foot step. You may do this even if you have already moved in the round in question, although not if you have already taken a five-foot step, and doing so does not prevent further movement in this round. This talent grants no benefit if you do not have the ability to gain psionic focus.

Is that a less broken version of Abrupt Jaunt I see, yes I do believe it is. Its not actual teleportation though, just a 5ft step, but it does mean you can "dodge" pounces and full attacks.
I don't suppose you can use those while flying? :(

Btw, shouldn't you also be able to dodge ranged attacks, line spells and avoid pit traps?

[PsyBomb]

I don't suppose you can use those while flying? :(

Btw, shouldn't you also be able to dodge ranged attacks, line spells and avoid pit traps?

Ranged attacks, by RAW no unless that step makes the incoming attack impossible (such as stepping around a corner).

Line spells and pit traps, yes if you can get out of their area with the step.

[The Random NPC]

Then you will love Arcane Dabbler. Any character gets two non harmful cantrips they can use 1/day each.

Coincunning is pretty funny. You get a perception bonus to spot valuables and the money equivalent of Trap Sense, an automatic perception check every time you pass within 10ft of something valuable.

Coincunning is nice, I once played a Sorcerer with that, he fell asleep doing research in a library. I failed my Perception check notice the assassins sent after me, so I asked, "Have any of them been payed recently?".

[Lord Vukodlak]

You can't take those, they are both social traits. :P

I didn't care as the DM I found it hilarious and allowed him to do so.

[Kurald Galain]

I came across Divine Deceiver (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/regional-traits/divine-deceiver-regional), which gives any arcane caster a 1/day healing ability. It's not so great considering most arcane casters can use Infernal Healing, but it does strike me as something interesting.

[Mystral]

I came across Divine Deceiver (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/regional-traits/divine-deceiver-regional), which gives any arcane caster a 1/day healing ability. It's not so great considering most arcane casters can use Infernal Healing, but it does strike me as something interesting.

Interesting? That's the perfect assasination ability! Just make your foolish target fight until he is beaten to near death, then heal him, then have him fight some more. He'll think he's still fine, but after an hour, the temporary healing runs out and he falls to negative 20, while you are miles away working on your alibi. They'll never figure that one out. You don't even actively or passively caused the death of your target, you just healed him, so even divinations should reveal nothing.

[Elxir_Breauer]

A quick note about Clever Wordplay, at least according to the PFSRD, there is no restriction on which Charisma based skill you can pick with it, including Use Magic Device. This opens up some awesome shenanigans for magic item abuse on an Intelligence based character. http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/clever-wordplay (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/clever-wordplay)

[Unbodied]

A quick note about Clever Wordplay, at least according to the PFSRD, there is no restriction on which Charisma based skill you can pick with it, including Use Magic Device. This opens up some awesome shenanigans for magic item abuse on an Intelligence based character. http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/clever-wordplay (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/clever-wordplay)
I was going to say that it seemed to much like cheese and has nothing to do with the description of what it actually does but when you think about it fluff wise it doesn't make a lot of sense for Use Magic Device to be Charisma based in the first place.

So what are these abuses?

[Elxir_Breauer]

Most of the time, just allowing a character focused on Int to get a head start on when they no longer need to worry about the roll failing for UMD checks, especially if they dumped Charisma or just got a low roll for it. It can take a Dex/Int Rogue from mediocre UMD to amazing pretty quick, especially if they don't worry about social skills too much. Scrolls and Wands with no rolls needed on a Rogue at low-mid levels, without spending lots of resources on optimizing for it. Or better yet, take a Wizard and give them pretty much full access to every spell in the game, with no chance of failure, without having to fully optimize for it, at low-mid levels.

[Kurald Galain]

A quick note about Clever Wordplay, at least according to the PFSRD, there is no restriction on which Charisma based skill you can pick with it, including Use Magic Device. This opens up some awesome shenanigans for magic item abuse on an Intelligence based character. http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/clever-wordplay (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/clever-wordplay)

I don't find it all that weird, really. Consider that most magic items have command words, and that these are usually based on wordplay. If you're smart enough to rattle off the word for "fire" in twenty different languages, make a bunch of slicky puns for a wand of Grease, or know how to speak, friend, and enter (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellon), then it stands to reason that you can get such items to work quicker than anyone else.

[Yanisa]

A quick note about Clever Wordplay, at least according to the PFSRD, there is no restriction on which Charisma based skill you can pick with it, including Use Magic Device. This opens up some awesome shenanigans for magic item abuse on an Intelligence based character. http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/clever-wordplay (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/clever-wordplay)

Shenanigans, abuse? :smallconfused:

There is a magic trait (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/magic-traits/pragmatic-activator) that exactly does that, so its fully well intended. :smalltongue:
Its probably better for a rogue too, there aren't many other good magic traits, but there are a lot of good social traits for a rogue.

Also, if you want intelligence stacking shenanigan abuse, use Empiricist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/hybrid-classes/investigator/archetypes/paizo---investigator-archetypes/empiricist) + student of philosophy or clever wordplay. I believe you can get most charisma based skills to function on intelligence instead. You don't even need a trait to gain int on UMD.