# Are starting traits hardcoded?

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/are-starting-traits-hardcoded/19450>\
**Category:** The Toolbox\
**Created:** [March 29, 2019, 10:51am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/are-starting-traits-hardcoded/19450 "2019-03-29T10:51:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![crazykiddeath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/crazykiddeath/32/5709_2.png) [@crazykiddeath](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/crazykiddeath)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 10:51am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/are-starting-traits-hardcoded/19450/1 "2019-03-29T10:51:56Z")

</div>

I was thinking about having a stab at creating some new starting traits but I’m struggling to find any documentation on how to do it, are they hardcoded or is the JSON file for them just a bit more obscure then other JSON files?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aluminumfoil](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/aluminumfoil/32/5163_2.png) [@Aluminumfoil](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Aluminumfoil)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 11:13am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/are-starting-traits-hardcoded/19450/2 "2019-03-29T11:13:40Z")

</div>

AFAIK all you need is the line

```
    "starting_trait" : true,

```

somewhere in the mutation code block. Check mutations.json for examples.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![crazykiddeath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/crazykiddeath/32/5709_2.png) [@crazykiddeath](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/crazykiddeath)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 11:15am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/are-starting-traits-hardcoded/19450/3 "2019-03-29T11:15:54Z")

</div>

I will check it out, cheers 👍

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![crazykiddeath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/crazykiddeath/32/5709_2.png) [@crazykiddeath](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/crazykiddeath)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 11:22am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/are-starting-traits-hardcoded/19450/4 "2019-03-29T11:22:25Z")

</div>

Though that does raise an issue as one of the main traits I wanted to have a go at was a “puritanic” trait that prevents bionic installation and gives a massive negative moral penalty for mutating (the body is a temple), if all traits including starting traits are “mutations”… well I’m sure you can see the problem.
