Short of Breath
| Short of Breath | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class | Traits |
| Type | Negative Trait |
| Points | +5 |
| Effect | Faster endurance loss. |
Short of Breath makes a character lose endurance faster. Running, sprinting and swinging weapons all tire the character more quickly.
It is a negative trait and gives 5 points at character creation. It suits a careful player who walks more than runs and avoids long melee fights. A player who relies on outrunning hordes or clearing streets with a bat will feel it often.
Short of Breath Effects
Endurance drains faster while running or sprinting. Running costs about two fifths more endurance than normal. A long chase ends sooner because the character runs out of breath.
Melee combat also burns more endurance. Each swing of a weapon costs about a third more than usual. A long fight leaves the character exhausted sooner, and a tired character swings slower and weaker.
Low endurance can turn a manageable crowd into a dangerous one. A worn-out character needs a break before the next fight.
Rest restores endurance as usual. Good fitness also slows endurance loss, so training Fitness partly offsets the trait.
Picking Short of Breath
The 5 points are tempting, but endurance matters in almost every fight. A stealthy character who sneaks past zombies loses less to this trait. A firearm user who fights from a distance also swings less often.
Melee builds should think twice. Long fights with a crowd depend on stamina. A character who swings a heavy weapon will need to rest more often.
The trait stacks badly with other fitness penalties such as Out of Shape or Unfit. Taking several of them leaves a character exhausted after a few swings. Pairing it with Fit or Athletic can balance the loss.
Notes
- Running costs about two fifths more endurance.
- Each melee swing costs about a third more endurance.
- Short fights with breaks in between suit this trait best.
- Training Fitness offsets part of the penalty over time.
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