Traits are special aspects or quirks that a contact possesses. A spawned contact starts with up to 4 Traits, and may gain, lose or change Traits through Conflicts, Rumors or battles with other Contacts, through a process called Contact Trait Mutation. Contacts may change or augment any of the services that a Contact offers. Traits may offer new services as well.
Hidden Traits
Most Contacts will start with one or more hidden traits. Discovering these Traits will open up many services you did not know they could offer. They might offer a Spy recruit or bonus mission cash. You may find out they hate your home faction. The number of possible combinations are impossible to predict.
Below is an example of what you can find in the the Contact's details screen. In this case, your captain knows 2 Traits the Emissary has, but there are 2 more to discover. Without further knowledge you could miss out on something really special.
Discovering your Contacts traits is essential to success and fully utilizing your Contact's abilities. There are more to discover all the time, because new Traits are frequently added to the game.
There are 4 Talents (as of the time of this writing) that can reveal a Contact's hidden Traits.
| Job (Rank) | Talent | Rules | Cooldown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spy(1) | Close Observation | Wisdom% to reveal Contact hidden trait when purchasing from or selling to | 18 wks |
| Blade Dancer(1) | Keen Empath | Wisdom% to reveal Contact hidden Traits during any interaction where money changes hands | 9 wks |
| Diplomat(1) | Expose Quality | Wisdom% to reveal Contact hidden trait when purchasing from or selling to | 18 wks |
| Commander(8) | Shrewd Dealings | When accepting a Mission (Charisma + Command%) to discover hidden trait | 18 wks |
High Reputation
If you have 100+ personal reputation with a contact you have a 20% chance of learning their traits. (TODO: What triggers this?)
Close Observation and Expose Quality
These Talents do not trigger when accepting, completing a mission, or trading at the exchange. A personal exchange of money must occur, when you are paying for something or selling something directly to the Contact.
- Selling: Intel Records, Weapons, Armor or Gear.
- Buying: Introductions, Military Rank, Edicts, Trade Permits, Pardons, Weapons, Gear, Rare Trade Goods, Salvage Rumors.
Keep in mind you can't buy anything from contacts without high enough personal reputation. These are privileges reserved for useful friends. Fortunately there are many Talents that help boost your rating quickly. If your Contact has the Data Hound Trait (and it is not hidden) they will always always purchase Intel records generated from spying activities.
Many talents use a (10% + Attribute test). But Close Observation, and Expose Quality only test for Wisdom with no flat bonus. You get one chance every 18 weeks. If you are willing to bring your Captain's wisdom attribute up to 30, the maximum chance of success is 30%.
Shrewd Dealings
Shrewd Dealings is one of the best Talents the Commander has. Frequency; You will be accepting a lot more missions than purchasing services from, or selling to your Contacts.
After cooldown this talent will be tested the very next time you accept a mission. Note: You can't just sit on a Contact and repeatedly click on "accept mission" until you succeed. The test will occur on the first contract you accept.
If you really want to focus on contact traits, a Captain or Officer with Shrewd Dealings stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Final Notes: The Doctor, Merchant & Commander all have the Command skill. A Captain or officer with a
combination of these jobs will raise the Command skill more rapidly increasing the chance of trait discovery using Shrewd Dealings talent.
High Charisma in addition to helping discover hidden traits, serves another important natural ability:
Your Charisma attribute is frequently tested when traveling in the quadrants to automatically discover a crew member, or officer's hidden traits
Traits List
| Name | Rules | Grouping | Icon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hates De Valtos | Increased Missions against De Valtos | +1 |  |
| Hates Cadar | Increased Missions against Cadar | +1 | |
| Hates Rychart | Increased Missions against Rychart | +1 | |
| Hates Thulun | Increased Missions against Thulun | +1 | |
| Hates Javat | Increased Missions against Javat | +1 | |
| Hates Steel Song | Increased Missions against Steel Song | +1 | |
| Hates Moklumnue | Increased Missions against Moklumnue | +1 | |
| Hates Alta Mesa | Increased Missions against Alta Mesa | +1 | |
| Hates Zenrin | Increased Missions against Zenrin | +1 | |
| Hates Templars | Dislikes all Templar and Zendu | +1 |  |
| Hates Hunna | Increased Missions against Indies and Hunna Collective. | +1 | |
| Gambler | Missions pay 15% more, more risky Missions | +2 | |
| Dishonest | Missions pay 15% less, more risky or traitor aspect Missions | +2 | |
| Coward | Missions pay 10% more, less violent Missions | +2 | |
| Impatient | Missions pay 20% more but have 20% shorter deadlines | +2 | |
| Spice Addict | Needs money for the spice stockpile. All services cost 15% more | +2 |  |
| Entertainer Addict | Needs money to feed the habit. All services cost 15% more | +2 | |
| Xeno Obsessed | Increased chance of Missions being violent or involving Exploring or Xeno, increases price of Scientific Intel by 20%, Recruits Xeno Hunters | +4 |  |
| Faction Hardliner | Considers Faction Rep 30% more in Effective Rep. All services cost 10% less but require 30% more Rep | +3 |  |
| Influential | A powerful position grants more options. All services require 20% less Influence. Missions pay 15% more | +3 | |
| Traitor | Increased chance of Missions with traitor aspect. Considers Faction Rep 50% less in Effective Rep, charges 25% less for Pardons | +3 | |
| Well Connected | Considers Faction Rep 10% more in Effective Rep | +3 | |
| Born to Royalty | Missions pay 10% less, 15% Lower Rank Cost | +3 | |
| Dangerous Schemer | Missions pay 10% more, increased chance of Missions with traitor aspect | +3 | |
| Provocative | Mission impact on Conflict Score is 25% higher | +3 | |
| Cult Leader | Rank promotions cost 25% more, increases chance of Missions with traitor aspect, considers Faction Rep 25% less in Effective Rep and increases price of Scientific Intel by 20% | +3 | |
| Military | History of serving in the faction defense forces, Missions pay 10% more, 10% Lower Rank Cost, Recruits Soldiers | +4 | |
| Bounty Hunters | Missions pay 10% less, Recruits Bounty Hunters | +4 | |
| Pirates | Missions pay 10% less, Recruits Pirates | +4 | |
| Assassins | Doubles chance of violent Missions, Recruits Assassins | +4 | |
| Political | Missions pay 10% more, 10% Rank Discount, Counts Faction Rep 25% more in Effective Rep, Recruits Diplomats | +4 | |
| Saboteur | Gains Influence advantages from using underhanded and illegal tactics, Recruits Wing Commandos | +4 | |
| Negotiator | Requires an additional 25% Influence and 10% Rep. Missions pay 10% less, Recruits Merchants | +4 | |
| Greedy | Values Credits over political capital. All services cost 20% more but require 10% less Rep or Influence, may offer Black Market based on Contact Type | +2 | |
| Generous | Missions pay 10% more and have 10% longer deadlines | +2 | |
| Corrupt | Missions pay 10% less, charges 10% less for Pardons, increased chance of Missions with traitor aspect, may offer Black Market based on Contact Type | +2 | |
| Hates Independents | Increased Missions against Independents | +-1 | |
| Underworld | Is connected to the criminal underground, may offer Black Market based on Contact Type | +3 | |
| Respected | Any damage to this Contact's Influence is reduced by 50% due to the reverence of their peers | +3 | |
| Zendu Bloodline | The Zendu inherit their ancestors' memories through their Lineage, giving them great wisdom | +0 | |
| Hunna Agent | Involved with the freedom fighting Hunna | +0 | |
| Techno Addict | Obsessed with technological progress, increases price of Intel and Scientific Intel by 20%, offers Learn Salvage Rumor | +2 |  |
| Covert Ops | Missions pay 10% more, always willing to buy Intel, Recruits Spies | +4 | |
| Power Hungry | Requires an additional 25% Influence and 10% Rep for services, 25% less interested in Faction Rep, Mission pay 10% less | +2 | |
| Vindictive | Twice as likely to give hostile missions against enemies | +2 | |
| Ruthless | Mission pay 10% more but doubles chance of violent Missions, Recruits Snipers | +4 | |
| Talent Scout | Only dealing with the best talent, all Recruits are +2 Levels higher than normal | +3 | |
| Researcher | Less likely to give hostile Missions, always willing to buy Scientific Intel, increases price of Scientific Intel by 20%, Recruit Doctors | +4 | |
| Data Hound | Always willing to buy Intel and increases price of Intel by 15% | +3 | |
| Collector | Obsessed with relics and artifacts, likely to give Salvage Missions, increases price of Scientific Intel by 10%, Recruit Scavengers | +4 | |
| Warhawk | Considers Faction Rep 50% more in Effective Rep, increased chance of violent Missions, Recruits Zealots | +4 | |
| Wing Vet | Mission pay 10% more, all Recruits gain +1 Level higher than normal, Recruits Wing Leaders | +4 | |
| Tinkerer | Always working on something, all services cost 10% more, increases price of Scientific Intel by 10%, all Recruits gain +1 Level higher than normal, Recruits Mechanics | +4 | |
| Unscrupulous | Dishonest through and through, all services cost 10% more, may offer Black Market based on Contact Type, recruits Smugglers | +4 | |
| Decorated Vet | Once a storied military warrior, considers Faction Rep 25% more in Effective Rep, Mission pay 10% more, Recruits Military Officers | +4 | |
| Hunted | Unable to shake the fear of assassins, charges 20% less for Pardons, less likely to give hostile Missions, Recruits Bodyguards | +4 | |
| Naval Vet | Considers Faction Rep 25% more in Effective Rep, all Recruits gain +1 Level higher than normal, Recruits Gundeck Bosses | +4 | |
| Heritage Hunter | Obsessed with pre-Exodus finds, increases price of Scientific Intel by 20%, increased chance of Missions involving Exploring or Xeno, Recruits Explorers | +4 | |
| Security Minded | A military mind likes the feeling of strong security, Missions pay 10% more, 10% lower Rank cost, all Recruits are +1 Levels higher than normal, Recruits Bodyguards | +4 | |
| Lux Living | Enjoys the carnival atmosphere and always seeking new culture and entertainment, All services cost 15% more, all Recruits are +1 Levels higher than normal, Recruits Blade Dancers | +4 | |
| Technologist | Fascinated by driving technological progress, always willing to buy Scientific Intel, increases price of Scientific Intel by 30%, Recruit Scientists | +4 |  |
| Life Debt | Owing you a life debt, all services require 20% less Rep, Credits and Influence | +-1 | |
| Conspirator | Mission pay 10% less, increases price of Intel by 20%, may offer Black Market based on Contact Type and Recruits Saboteurs | +4 | |
| Sabre Rattler | Mission pay 10% more, considers Faction Rep 25% more in Effective Rep, twice as likely to give hostile missions against enemies, Recruits Commanders | +4 | |
| Unforgiving | A grudgebearer, considers Faction Rep 50% less in Effective Rep, charges 100% more for Pardons, Recruits Bounty Hunters | +4 | |
| Pioneer | Always seeking something new, all services cost 10% more, always willing to buy Scientific Intel, Recruits Exo-Scouts | +4 | |
| Military Leverage | Having powerful ties into the faction military and its specialist units, all services cost 10% more, always willing to buy Intel, Recruits Shock Troopers | +4 | |