Traits consist of both innate characteristics and "earned" characteristics, and generally provide some sort of bonus, penalty, special ability, or a combination thereof. Innate Traits - those that a character begins the game with - always have both positive and negative effects. In comparison, earned Traits - those that a character acquires during gameplay as a result of his or her actions and in-game events - may be beneficial, detrimental, both, or neither. During character creation the player is free to choose one, two or no innate Traits to better define his or her character.