The following threads cover similar material, but I thought the whole idea was worth concisely targeting with a new post.
http://forum.chaosforge.org/index.php/topic,4112.0.html
http://forum.chaosforge.org/index.php/topic,4004.0.htmlSo.
Balance Discussion:
Obviously current balance and trait distribution would suggest that Ironman is plenty desirable without any advanced traits increasing its value. I play on UV and N! exclusively (Ao100 right now, but most everything) and every build I find Ironman desirable.
In most runs (except Masochism and Pacifism) you don't see it unless it's a YAAM run or someone finished their attack capabilities first. It's usually a secondary priority, defense trait following the attack traits. While that is understandable and even expected from any game (almost every game encourages aggression over defensiveness) what I'd like to do is discuss advanced and/or master traits that could make Ironman a trait that people might reasonably expect to include in the first seven levels of a build.
---Advanced Trait---
Marathon Man
Prerequisite(s): Ironman(2)
"No pain, no gain. You've got inhuman endurance and thews that would make Conan cry. When you're tired you can always pick up the pace, no matter how much it hurts and even the heaviest armors don't slow your sprints."
Effects:
+ While tired the tactics command will return you to the running state at the cost of 5 damage.
+ Ignore armor speed reduction while running.
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---Master Trait---
Juggernaut
Prerequisite(s): Marathon Man, Berserker
Blocks: Hellrunner, Eagle Eye, Son of a Bitch
"You're the Juggernaut bitch. With enough momentum nothing can withstand your punishing blows."
Effects:
+ When you hit an enemy in melee while running you deal additional damage* and become tired.
+ You can start running while berserk, although it doesn't increase your speed.
+ The Marathon Man benefits allow you to start running again while berserking, at the standard cost.
*I really don't know exactly what amount of damage is appropriate. My first thought would be to double the Brute damage bonus. My second would be to instead increase the damage by 30%.
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Also I understand that what a Master trait blocks is often more controversial than what it does in the forums. Don't ask me, I don't want to discuss it. A quick breakdown of my thinking for these though.
Hellrunner is awesome enough without even running; if you are going to run the whole game it'd make you a speed demon, not a juggernaut. Eagle Eye is redundant for a melee build and makes a number of the non-melee weapons extraordinarily useful (plasma!) immediately on pickup; that's not the point of the build at all. Son of a Bitch overlaps Brute's territory and is really more of a slap on the wrist than the other two, primarily because the other two are such major restrictions.
Possible problems would be:
+ Speed run medals might need adjustment
+ Should any master traits block Ironman? Marathon Man?
+ Should this replace Blademaster? Do melee characters already have too many options?
Anyway, don't let my interpretations of what might be for Ironman influence you too much...tell me what YOU think!