Trait (The Sims 3)

Traits are the building blocks of personality assigned to Sims in The Sims 3, replacing the previous system of personality points. Traits effectively determine a Sim's behaviors, abilities, and their wishes, including their array of Lifetime Wishes. Currently there are 66 Traits which can be assigned to Sims, with each being separated into various 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 parents, 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 so on). 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.

Traits also grant Sims different abilities, or specific actions which only Sims of 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. 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 better 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.