What kind of traits npcs and the player have? I assume they cannot use pokemon traits.
I think there might be a starting package you could choose from at the start of the game. Each package would up some stats and give a trait like:
Tough - player takes 20% less damage in combat vs other humans. Can also be gained after 100 fights with criminals.
Smooth Talker - player gains 20% more faction and looses 20% less. Can also be gained after earning 1,000 total faction.
Miserly - Starts with an extra 100 yen, pays 10% less in stores. Can also be gained by eating nothing but plain noodles 30 times in a row.
Pervert - Trains Pokémon 10% faster and starts with an extra move learned. Can also be gained by having sex with Pokémon 100 times.
Fast - Player takes 10% less time to do anything. Can be earned by doing a quest.
Quick - Player's Pokémon do 10% more arousal. Can be earned by performing 250 tricks.
Other traits probably exist. Some can be earned by doing quests, or getting enough faction with a group. Some might even come from owning an item.
Example: you buy a Luxurious Feather Bed, and you gain the trait: Well Rested - +10% endurance, +20% recovery.
NPCs are more likely to have traits that describe them. This is important for battles and tricks. Otherwise they mainly act as flavor text.
Liking a trait is the same as being weak to it (takes 50% extra damage), and disliking/strong it means less damage (30% less). Love x2, hates means no effect and if this is prostitution a 50% chance the customer leaves (battle ends, no payment!)
Some examples:
Chubby Chaser - weak to big Pokémon, strong against small Pokémon.
Furry - Likes (weak) Pokémon with fur. Hmm...suppose that should be a trait for Pokémon.
Lolicon - Likes small Pokémon, strong against big Pokémon.
Scalie - Likes reptile Pokémon.
No Pets - hates normal Pokémon, ok with antro Pokémon.
Endowed - small pokemon take 30% extra damage, and do half damage.
Small - likes small pokemon, hates large pokemon.
Flirt - likes Charm based attacks
Excitable - likes Agility based attacks
Slut - likes tougheness based attacks
Impatient - dislikes Charm based attacks.
(need to think of an appropriate word) - dislikes Agility based attacks. A guy that basically hates oral sex.
Delicate - dislikes toughness based attacks.
Green 'Thumb' - likes plant pokemon
Feral - likes basic Pokémon, hates anthro Pokémon.
a lot more traits could be added to this list, based on pokemon families, elemental types, sexual fetishes. oh, and traits that don't have any real effect on the game but add to the character of the game. Like maybe adding a trait like: Businessman to all of the NPCs that in development we generically refer to as Businessmen but in the final game might get more specific titles to indicate a rank/grade of Businessman. The same for criminals and even different rankings amongst trainers, miners, factory workers and teamsters.
Quick example: Gangster is the Trait shared by all: Street Thugs, Toughs, Mussel, Enforcers, Street Lieutenants, Made Man, Gangster, Boss and Capo.