Trait (The Sims 3)

Traits are the building blocks of a personality assigned to Sims in The Sims 3, replacing the previous system of personality points. The traits feature reappears in The Sims Medieval; this time, traits are adapted to the Medieval period. Traits effectively determine a Sim's behaviors, abilities, and their wishes, including their Lifetime Wishes. There are 63 traits in the base game. Three were added with World Adventures, six with Ambitions, one with Fast Lane Stuff, two with Late Night, two with Generations, four with Pets, three with Showtime, six with Supernatural, and two with Seasons, adding up to a total of 92 traits and 21 hidden traits.

Each trait is separated into one of four categories based on mental, physical, social, or lifestyle aspects of Sims' lives. For example, social traits may include Dislikes Children or Friendly, while lifestyle traits would consist of Technophobe or Daredevil. Traits are used to allow Sims a greater complexity in their daily routines over the points system. The more traits a Sim has, the more complex they will be, as a Sim with more personality traits will exhibit a wider range of behaviors than a Sim with only one.

Sims can attain traits in multiple ways. Ordinarily the player will assign a maximum of five traits to a young adult or older Sim in the Create a Sim screen under the "Personality" section. Traits can also be inherited via genetics from either parent, with babies and toddlers having two traits. If the toddler grows up well, the player will be able to choose a third trait for when the Sim becomes a child, and likewise a fourth when the Sim becomes a teen and finally a fifth trait when the Sim becomes a young adult. Furthermore, the Lifetime Reward "Midlife Crisis" allows the player to re-choose a Sim's traits.

There are limitations on the traits a Sim can have. Foremost, two traits may not contradict each other, such as the Good and Evil traits, or the Can't Stand Art and Artistic traits. Such traits are inherently built around opposing behaviors and intrinsically preclude the occurrence of the other. In addition, Sims may be unable to obtain traits based on their age; one example being that babies are unable to have the Charismatic trait or that only teens and older sims can have the Hopeless Romantic trait.

Traits also grant Sims different abilities or specific actions which only Sims having those traits can do. Insane Sims are able to use the command "Talk to Self" to boost their own social motive, while vegetarian Sims are able to cook vegetarian alternatives to meals containing meat (though in Showtime, all Sims are able to cook these meals, regardless of traits). Some traits can grant Sims special moodlets, with loner Sims enjoying their solitude or hydrophobic Sims fearing swimming in the pool. Other traits allow Sims a greater affinity for certain tasks, such as angler Sims being more adept at fishing while genius Sims tend to learn more quickly. In this respect, the customization that players give to Sims via the trait system can make the game more or less challenging while offering a greater deal of specific variety which the more simplified point system found in the game's predecessors lacked.

Features comparable to traits in previous games in the series are Zodiac signs and interests.

Learning traits
Learning traits can affect relationships. If you have the same trait as another Sim, you will get a relationship boost. If you have a trait that conflicts with the other Sim's trait, you will lose relationship points. So far, a trait can conflict up to 4 traits though the only known trait with 4 conflicts is Coward. Traits will also affect whether a social interaction will succeed or fail.

Hidden traits
Hidden traits are traits in The Sims 3 that cannot be seen in-game except when a Sim performs a related action autonomously or an unlocked interaction is available.

Hidden traits become available to Sims in specific careers, life states, or to babies with an NPC for a parent. The child might then get the appropriate hidden trait

Removed traits
Below are the traits that were removed before the game was released, possibly because they would have caused a higher ESRB rating, or were too similar to certain traits.


 * Notes