You need Quick to get Fast, it's a prerequisite.

I'm fairly certain I've had Fast and Quick show up in the same level up screen before but you might be right. I guess the rarity of the trait in this case determines how often the first level of it will show up. Making it's child trait common makes sense.

In that case then I suggest it follow the other traits and be named Quick I and Quick II.

There are a few traits that are really lacking imo, but Quick/Fast aren't among them. Finesse I think is among the most worthless of upgrades. +3 Accuracy if they have a lower initiative? Even though I often create initiative monsters this is practically worthless. It really needs to be changed drastically. +10 to +20 range, not +3, and even then Accuracy tends not to be a problem later on unless you're fighting other heroes (although with how the AI plays, they don't create 50+ Dodge assassins often).

Adventurer's Boon... I kinda wish there was a better ability with it as a prerequisite. I take it sometimes when I'm having a rough early game or playing a low-hp character but otherwise it's not a very enticing option as things stand. For options like Quick or the Apprentice X lines I know that I'm getting even more awesome options later on so I grab those early.

Graceful is by far the worst trait in the game... for the price of 100 gold (cost of a horse/wrag) you have the trait (mounts give the same bonus as the trait) and more. So yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing it reworked or removed completely.

Other traits are situational. Some traits aren't too great at the moment, but may become useful later when the game gets more content (Enmity, Spell resist). While others do seem like they could use a bit of a buff. Potential might not be great, but I still pick it if there aren't any other really useful traits to pick. It's kind of like hitting "wait" for your next turn to come faster... except it affects all later turns. Also, I'm pretty sure potential I and potential II stacks, so if you have potential II, you actually have 25% more EXP instead of 15% (the tool tip just doesn't show potential I's bonus). It's kind of like how dodge works.

I don't know how or where to check the prerequisites but I could have sworn I've had Fast without Quick before too.

Adventurer's Boon I only find useful on low level, low HP heroes to help them get past that "hump" where they are always dieing. Or I could just leave them in the back row for a few levels and pick something more useful overall like spell level traits.

Yazari: Good write up. I agree with most of your points. I believe you are right in Potential stacking but I think in the grand scheme of things it might not be worth it. You might only get 3 or 4 extra levels from it in the course of the game and those extra levels towards the end when you are steam rolling are pretty useless. It would be better to pick something more useful earlier on in my opinion.

Yea overall the the traits need an overhaul to make them more interesting. Some are completely useless some are definite must haves. There should be a better balance of choices. I for one find more fun out of this game levelling my heroes and pimping them out with traits and equipment.

I also suggest a tool tip or something that tells what future traits the trait you are about to pick will open up. It will go a long way in helping you plan your character.

I did a simple conversion from XML to XLS for anyone who finds XML tedious and is interested in knowing which level-up traits (are supposed to) require which prerequisites

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5ls6iq0y15navw5/coreabilities.xls

For conciseness; this conversion only includes the ability, description, rarity and prerequisite fields. It is sorted by prerequisite.

I lean towards thinking that you and Kalin are both right. When I wrote that, I  assumed that PII and PIII replaced their predecessors, but, it seems unlikely given the way the other bonuses stack. This definitely makes PII and PIII a lot more valuable than I had originally considered  (I do think the description needs to be updated to state the effect is cumulative though).

Early in the game, in a stack that's badly hurt, this can make the difference between attacking your next lair or waiting a couple of dozen turns to heal up, or using consumables, or heading back to your nearest outpost/city.  I'm not suggesting you should reevaluate your opinion, but I've found it pretty helpful in the early game.  And for a party that doesn't have any heal spells, it can still be pretty decent in midgame, too.

Part of the problem determining what is useless and what isn't, especially for new players, is that the game does such a poor job letting you know which traits are gateway traits and what traits you are forgoing ever having a shot at by skipping a seemingly useless gateway trait.  

I get the feeling the devs are not looking to do any form of talent tree (which would alleviate this problem) but some sort of UI mechanism needs to be added to tell the player what traits are linked to each other and in what ways. 

Awsome thanks Yazari! I will look this over when I get a chance.

I never thought about pairing those traits with the paragon spell. Good idea! Seems like more of an exploit though but I will definitely try it now

Those traits run through their normal course account for on average an extra 3-4 levels per game when it matters. Which like I said more useful traits could have been taken in their place earlier anyways. When they really give a good bonus though is when you are already steamrolling so it's pretty much pointless . . .

Very true. I've suggested a tool tip when you hover over the trait in the level up screen that shows what other traits it unlocks.