Maybe larian could somehow put clear definitions of what the different things are - if only in the manual (even if people don't read it, they can be referred to it). I've heard there's likely to be a tutorial section as well. Definitions like these could make things clearer:
- Attributes define your character's basic physical characteristics. How strong or smart they are, how fast or healthy.
- Abilities are passive, the general areas your character has trained in, like weapon styles, or lockpicking, or particular areas of magic.
- Talents are specific special feats that give a unique bonus you can't get from elsewhere.
- Traits are emergent from how you actually play the game. They react to your actions in-game.
- Skills are activated powers you use in the world or the battlefield.
I've tried pointing out a few times that there's only one real "Mental" stat. Willpower was suggested as a seventh primary attribute stat last year, but Larian tried it out in-house and found no one was using it. Since they've gotten rid of mana, there's even less reason to bring it back.
