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To increase an attribute, one must pay a trainer. But who are those trainers. What qualifications do you need to be, let say, a Willpower trainer?

Having high enough of the said attribute? Having increased the said attribute enough time? Those ideas doesn't make very much sense.

Players can train other players or Npcs for circles, talents, knacks, skills or spells. But if they wish to teach their attributes, could they?

Generally speaking the rulebook is vague on the subject of who a trainer can be. It is left up to the GM.

It is easy to relate the concept of improving physical attributes as to going to a gym to find a (Personal) Trainer.
Finding someone to improve your mental attributes is a little trickier but not outside of reality (or fiction)

Some archetypes for a Perception trainer could be a private detective, Sherlock Holmes or even a college professor (PER is the basic Intelligence attribute of Earthdawn)
Charisma trainers could be any actor or performer.
I think a good example of a Willpower trainer would be any Marital Arts teacher. (just watch a Kung-Fu movie)

Could another player's character be an attribute trainer?
I would say yes but again it would be up to the GM. An Archer or a Wizard could help someone else improve their PER scores.

So, two Wizards could train each others...

Someone with greater knowledge/skill or ability is needed to train someone else. Two people could not train each other and keep increasing their abilities. One could help the other get to his/her level and the two would be equal. They would need to find someone else to train them further. IMO

In 4th Ed you don't need a trainer for Attribute increases. All you need is time, money and legend points.

Hiya,

In EDC and ED3, there is no specific mention in the rules for training to be had with someone who is of a higher Rank for Skill and Attribute Increases (at least). It's up the GM if he or she wants to enforce any stricter requirements; otherwise, it's just time, money, and LPs. ED4 may have changed this; I have no idea, but if it's not specifically stated, it's probably the same as ED3. The time is spent with a trainer, to whom you pay money; LPs to cement the knowledge, of course.

There are comments in the EDC/ED3 books about private instruction, which costs more -- this could make the training process faster, or it could reflect the trainee not wanting to train in the company of others. Or, in some cases, this could be the ONLY option for training. Again, this is up to the GM to decide.

There is a degree of flexibility, of course. In My Own Barsaive campaign, I allow characters the option to NOT pay for training, with the price (isn't there always a price? /grin) being it takes twice as long to perform the training. Your campaign may vary!

Hope this helps!

Take kaer, James