When you use the Option "Start withOUT Positive Traits" how long before you can actually start getting new traits, and also positive ones??
The answers above are close but to clarify:
If using both Developing Leaders and Start without Positive Traits, you actually start with NO traits. If you play with JUST Start without Positive Traits you don't ever gain any but you are just stuck with the one Negative trait that's default for that leader. This is so that if you want to play
without Leader traits at all, you can play with No Negative Traits AND Start without Positive Traits.
I realize most won't want to play like this BUT we have the Cultural Heritage project where some have voiced a desire to want to have NO leader traits - only Cultural traits and this enables such a game once that project is up and running.
Presuming you are playing with Developing Leaders and Start without Positive Traits, you gain your first positive trait selection at 10 National Culture. Then the next at 100, and there you gain a Negative Trait after choosing your Positive one. From there, its 1000 to the next positive, 10,000 to the next positive and 100,000 to the next where you also pick up a negative. THAT pattern repeats and a positive selection can be used to eliminate a negative. I may end up changing this so that the negatives come at a full 2 to 1 selection ratio but for now they are actually at a 3 to 1 ratio but the first negative selection starts at the second positive.
Also note that GAMESPEED modifies the above amounts by a flat % adjustment. You can see how much National Culture you need to the next level on your flag hover help popup.
Let me guess... you didn't select Developing Leaders, only Start with No Positive Traits?