Trait modding - Crusader Kings II Wiki (2024)

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Traits are a major part of CKII and thus also for any overhaul mod. This article will explain everything you need to know about trait modding. Notepad++ is strongly recommended for modding traits, but Notepad or other plain text editors can also be used.

Definition[edit | edit source]

Traits must be defined in the folder common/traits/.To make the trait, you will first need to tell the game what effects it has. That will be done here. For this tutorial, a 'selfish' trait will be used as an example. To start off, give the trait a name:

selfish = {}

Type[edit | edit source]

After defining the trait itself, you'll want to define its flags. The flags you can use are listed below.

The trait icons are grouped by type in-game, from left to right: education, caste_tier, undefined, lifestyle, personality, is_health.Inside a group, the order is based on the order the traits have been added to the character.

Flag	Value	Description	Vanilla examples	Code
agnatic	bool	Children of a father with this trait will always inherit the trait	Sayyid	agnatic = yes
birth	int	Given number out of every 10000 characters born will receive this trait, (e.g., 100 = 1%)	Quick	birth = 100
blinding	bool	The trait reflects permanent blinding of the character while imprisoned. In some cultures, this disinherits them.	Blinded	blinding = yes
cached	bool	All characters that have this trait will be cached for more efficient event trigger evaluation (should be a limited number). Then the character scope <trait_name> = {} can be use to scope to all characters with that trait.	On hajj	cached = yes
can_hold_titles	bool	The trait prevents the character from holding any titles	Horse	can_hold_titles = no
cannot_inherit	bool	The trait prevents the character from inheriting any titles	Monk	cannot_inherit = yes
cannot_marry	bool	The trait prevents the character from marrying. See can_marry condition. Does not prevent concubinage.	Monk	cannot_marry = yes
caste_tier	int	The trait is a caste trait, and caste_tier defines the order of the castes	Brahmin	caste_tier = 3
customizer	bool	If no, Blocks the trait from being available for selection in the Ruler Designer	Bastard	customizer = no
education	bool	The trait is an educational trait.	Amateurish plotter	education = yes
attribute	attribute	Main attribute, in case of education traits.	Amateurish plotter	attribute = intrigue
enatic	bool	Children of a mother with this trait will always inherit the trait	Not used in vanilla	enatic = yes
hidden	bool	Hidden traits are not shown in character view.	Freckles	hidden = yes
immortal	bool	Once this trait is applied, the character will no longer age nor die naturally (but can die from execution or the effect death). See immortal.	Immortal	immortal = yes
in_hiding	bool	The trait activates in_hiding status	In hiding	in_hiding = yes
inbred	bool	The trait indicates that the character is inbred, affecting offspring and fertility and natural death causes	Inbred	inbred = yes
incapacitating	bool	The character is weak and needs a regent	Incapable	incapacitating = yes
inherit_chance	int	A newborn can inherit the trait from a parent (optional); if both parents have the trait, uses two trials of same chance	Quick	inherit_chance = 15
both_parent_has_trait_inherit_chance	int		Dwarf	both_parent_has_trait_inherit_chance = 50
is_epidemic	bool	The trait is given by an epidemic outbreak. See has_epidemic condition.	Tuberculosis	is_epidemic = yes
is_health	bool	The trait affects the health of a character, usually restricting certain events that require full health. See health_traits condition.	Stressed	is_health = yes
is_illness	bool	The trait is a regular disease. See is_ill condition and cure_illness effect.	Ill	is_illness = yes
leader	bool	The trait is a command/leadership trait. See can_have_more_leadership_traits condition.	Light foot leader	leader = yes
leadership_traits	int	The character automatically receives X number of leadership traits (army command traits).	Brilliant strategist	leadership_traits = 1
childhood	bool	The trait is a childhood trait.	Willful	childhood = yes
lifestyle	bool	The trait is a lifestyle choice. See lifestyle_traits condition.	Scholar	lifestyle = yes
opposites	List<trait>	List of traits that cannot be held simultaneously with this trait		opposites = { imbecile quick genius }
personality	bool	The trait is a personality trait (see trigger personality_traits = <min. count>)	Lustful	personality = yes
prevent_decadence	bool	The trait prevents the Muslim character from accumulating decadence	Not used in vanilla	prevent_decadence = yes
priest	bool	The trait implies a theological education. See is_priest condition)	Detached priest	priest = yes
pilgrimage	bool	The character is temporarily away and will need a regent but does not lose any wards	On pilgrimage	pilgrimage = yes
random	bool	With random = no, the trait will not be given to randomly-generated characters (when the game starts or when characters are spawned other than by being born). random = yes is the default. Specific semantics vary with the general trait type.	Kinslayer	random = no
rebel_inherited	bool	Used for peasant leader and heresiarch in vanilla. When characters with such traits win the revolt war and die without an heir the successor also gains the peasant leader/heresiarch trait.	Peasant Leader	rebel_inherited = yes
religious	bool	The trait is religious in nature and should be automatically discarded upon religion change. Note: it will also be discarded upon pagan reformation.	Mutazilite	religious = yes
religious_branch	religion	The trait identifies a sect of that religion. This will also make the children inherit the trait on birth.	Shaivist hindu	religious_branch = jain
ruler_designer_cost	int	Sets a custom cost (in years of ruler's age, positive or negative) for this trait in the Ruler Designer.		ruler_designer_cost = -20
tolerates_<religion_group>	bool	The character tolerates characters of that religion group and is tolerated by them. <religion_group> is dynamic and may be a group not present in vanilla.	Sympathy Christendom	tolerates_christian = yes tolerates_jewish_group = yes tolerates_muslim = yes tolerates_pagan_group = yes tolerates_zoroastrian_group = yes tolerates_indian_group = yes
same_trait_visibility	bool	The trait will only be visible on other characters if the player also has it. Handy for things like secret societies, cults, and secret bears. This is a shortcut for: is_visible = { OR = {character = FROMhas_trait = <trait>}}	Not used in vanilla	same_trait_visibility = yes
hidden_from_others	bool	The trait will only be visible to the player who has the trait, even other players with the same trait won't see it. This is a shortcut for is_visible = { character = FROM }.	Secretly Cathar	hidden_from_others = yes
is_visible	conditions	Conditions for the trait to be visible: ROOT the character looking at the trait FROM is the character with the trait Typically a character should see their own traits, so at least character = FROM is used.	Secretly Catholic	is_visible = { OR = { character = FROM society_member_of = secret_religious_society_catholic AND = { is_close_relative = FROM trait = secretly_catholic } }}
vice	bool		Lustful	vice = yes
virtue	bool		Charitable	virtue = yes
succession_gfx	bool		Wounded	succession_gfx = yes
is_symptom	bool		Cough	is_symptom = yes

In the case of the 'selfish' trait, a personality flag would be used. Do note that it is possible to use multiple flags for a trait.

selfish = { personality = yes}

Modifiers[edit | edit source]

After setting the trait's flags, you'll likely want to give it some character modifiers and/or a command modifier.

For 'selfish', a stewardship benefit and a diplomacy penalty would be appropriate.

selfish = { personality = yes
 stewardship = 2 # The CKII engine doesn't recognize '+', simply write the number when giving positive numbers diplomacy = -1}

Regarding relations, no one likes someone who is selfish, so in our case, we would have to add an opposite for charitable and a general_opinion:

 selfish = { personality = yes
 stewardship = 2 # The CKII engine doesn't recognize '+', simply write the number when giving positive numbers diplomacy = -1
 opposites = { trait = charitable }
 opposite_opinion = -30 general_opinion = -10}

Regarding AI Weights, which affect how non-player characters will act (most of which primarily affect strategic considerations), for the 'selfish' trait, an ai_rationality would be good.

selfish = { personality = yes
 stewardship = 2 # The CKII engine doesn't recognize '+', simply write the number when giving positive numbers diplomacy = -1
 opposites = { trait = charitable }
 opposite_opinion = -30 general_opinion = -10
 ai_rationality = -10}

Potential[edit | edit source]

The potential section defines who can randomly start with the trait on campaign start, be randomly generated with the trait (for example via the employment decisions), or gain it randomly when coming of age. It does however not affect the outcomes of events giving the trait; even if the character does not meet the potential conditions he can still get the trait via events.

The potential section is simply one or more conditions. It is put immediately after the opening bracket of the trait. We might for example want to prevent the game from generating selfish children.

selfish = { potential = { age = 16 #This prevents anyone from under 16 being generated with the trait } personality = yes
 stewardship = 2 # The CKII engine doesn't recognize '+', simply write the number when giving positive numbers diplomacy = -1
 opposites = { trait = charitable } opposite_opinion = -30 general_opinion = -10
 ai_rationality = -10}

Compliments[edit | edit source]

Since Way of Life it is possible to define localisation keys for compliments and insults which will appear in letters from other characters, or in any other localised text via the [GetRootFromCompliment] and [GetRootFromInsult] (etc.) localisation commands. These keys will need to be localised.

selfish = { potential = { age = 16 } personality = yes stewardship = 2 diplomacy = -1 opposites = { trait = charitable } opposite_opinion = -30 general_opinion = -10 ai_rationality = -10 male_insult = INSULT_SELFCENTERED female_insult = INSULT_SELFCENTERED male_insult_adj = INSULT_SELFISH female_insult_adj = INSULT_SELFISH}

Icon[edit | edit source]

Icons make traits easily recognizable to the player. An icon can be made in Photoshop or another image editor. It needs to be 24x24 pixels, and saved as a .dds or .tga file.

When you have your icon, save it in <yourmodfolder>\gfx\traits. Now create a file at <yourmodofolder>\interface\<yourmod>.gfx. You will use this file to tell the game where the icon is stored.

Start by adding this to the file:

spriteTypes = {spriteType = {}}

Make sure that you never repeat the spriteTypes block! You should instead be adding spriteType (no "s" on the end) items inside its opening and closing { curly brackets/braces }.

Now, add a line for the name:

spriteType = { name = "GFX_trait_<nameofthetrait>"}

Now you should add a line to tell the game where the icon is stored:

spriteType = { name = "GFX_trait_<nameofthetrait>" texturefile = "gfx/traits/<nameofthetraiticon>.tga"}

Add some standard lines at the end:

spriteType = { name = "GFX_trait_<nameofthetrait>" texturefile = "gfx/traits/<nameofthetrait>.tga" noOfFrames = 1 norefcount = yes effectFile = "gfx/FX/buttonstate.lua"}

For our 'selfish' trait, this would look like this:

spriteType = { name = "GFX_trait_selfish" texturefile = "gfx/traits/selfish.tga" noOfFrames = 1 norefcount = yes effectFile = "gfx/FX/buttonstate.lua"}

Save the file, and your trait should now have an icon.

Localisation[edit | edit source]

Traits require the following localization keys:

• <trait_name>: name of the trait
• <trait_name>_desc: description of the trait
• <trait_name>_death: in case the trait reduces heath (health = -1), used to describe the cause for premature "death by trait" (death_reason = death_trait). For instance:

ill_death;after a period of illness;d'une grave maladie;nach einer Zeit der Krankheit;;después de un período de enfermedad;;;;;;;;;x

If we do this with the selfish trait, we will get this:

selfish;Selfish;Égoïste;Selbstsüchtig;;Egoísta;;;;;;;;;xselfish_desc;This character is Selfish and only thinks about himself;Ce personage est Égoïste et ne pense qu'a lui;German;;Spanish;;;;;;;;;x

Save the localisation as a .csv file. Once you have done that, you are done and you now have yourself a new trait!

See also[edit | edit source]

• Event modding, as traits are mostly given out by events.