TRAITS
There are a few rules governing trait selection. To begin with, your GM controls how many bonus traits a PC begins with; the default assumption is two traits, however distant realms uses 3. When selecting trait, certain types of traits may have additional requirements.
Remember also that traits are intended to model events that were formative in your character's development, either events from before he became an adventurer, or (in the case of additional traits gained via the Additional Traits feat) ones that happened while adventuring.
You can only gain one open feat from traits, unless your sebecean, they are allowed to take peacekeeper and soldier together. [An open feat is any feat slot with no restrictions, for example Soldier is a Open feat slot granting trait, but Pioneer is not since it forces you to choose from it's list.]
DEFECTS
Defects are disadvantages through which your character must suffer in order to overcome the hardships of day-to-day life. Defects serve as an excellent and often comical role-playing opportunity. They only impede your character to a limited extent and are not intended to totally negate his or her many abilities.
By taking a character Defect you can gain up to three (or occasionally more) skill Points, others have a specific bonus.
The number of Points you receive is directly proportional to how much the Defect hinders your character;
Defects that do not inflict a significant disadvantage are not worth any SP.
After you have selected your character’s Defects, return to the previous steps to use your Bonus Points (treat Bonus Points as extra skill Points).
DMs can Add Defects due to ingame behavior, they cannot be removed until the prerequisite set by the assignor has been met.
It is recommended that you assign no more than 5 Defects to your character, with DM permission a 6th slot can be added, but 6 cannot be exceeded, confer with a DM before placing a 6th defect on your sheet to get permission, a detailed background will be requested to allow the extra slot, but since this is needed for level 10 anyway it shouldn't be much issue to have it done sooner.
In most cases 2 to 4 Defects are appropriate.
Some defects provide a Bonus feat and or a talent, unless otherwise discussed with the DM
< you can only gain one Bonus feat or talent from Defects.
If a Defect is Negated or repaired, the boon from it is also lost. Defects need to be Validated for removal, meaning you need to overcome some form of ingame obstacle.