Taboo Traits

0 points

A "taboo trait" is an attribute level, advantage, disadvantage, or skill that is off-limits to members of the race. This, too, is worth 0 points. Normally, only mundane traits are labeled "taboo," as exotic or supernatural traits require the GM's permission in any case.

Genengineered Taboo Traits

Some genetic constructs undergo selection to screen out or mitigate undesirable traits; therefore, certain advantages or disadvantages may be forbidden to individual characters built with such racial templates. A forbidden advantage or disadvantage is called a taboo trait. It costs no character points to assign a taboo trait to a racial template.

For instance, a character can normally have Berserk as a personal disadvantage, even if it isn't in his genetic template. However, if Berserk is a taboo trait for his template, then it cannot be taken. Taboo traits that cover a general class of disadvantages do not prevent specific disadvantages within that class from being part of the racial template. The prohibition is also lifted for disadvantages that are acquired after birth (e.g., due to a proteus virus or brainwashing).

One way to add a taboo trait to a template is through genefixing.