Base characteristics / film curves
The Base Characteristics in Capture One decide how your RAW file is first translated into contrast and colour, before you adjust anything yourself. It's the base curve of the ICC profile that interprets your camera's RAW. This sets the starting point of your whole edit.
Capture One offers different curves, such as 'Auto' and film-like variants, each giving a different starting contrast. Choose a softer film curve and you keep more detail in the highlights and shadows to work with. This sits a layer deeper than a Style: it changes the base interpretation, not a slider. Tip: try switching the Base Characteristics before you start, the right starting curve sometimes saves you a lot of contrast and colour work later.
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The presets on this site set these adjustments up for you as a starting point, which you then fine-tune to taste.