Character Advancement
Here is a quick outline for leveling up your character, or beginning a character at a level other than 1st. Note that each class also has specific abilities and traits which should be referenced during the leveling up process. Refer to the page for your class for details.
Hit Points
Each level after 1st, characters roll a die, the size of which is determined by their character class, to determine the hit points they gain at that new level. The character's Constitution modifier is then added to this die result. The favored class bonus may also be used to add 1 additional hit point to this total (see Favored Class bonus, below).
If multiclassing is allowed, use the hit die of the character class being selected for the new level.
Class Hit Die Alchemist d4 Barbarian d12 Bard d6 Brawler d8 Cleric d8 Druid d6 Fighter d10 Monk d8 Paladin d10 Partisan d12 Prowler d6 Ranger d8 Rogue d6 Sorcerer d4 Warlord d10 Wizard d4
- Class hit die + CON modifier + (optional) Favored Class bonus hit point
Skill Points
Characters receive a number of skill points each level, based on their character class, plus their Intelligence modifier. These skill points may be allocated as 'skill ranks' in any skill the character has access to learn, or into any skill the character already has learned. No character may have more ranks allocated to a skill than he has character levels. Note that skill ranks are not the same as a character's skill bonus or skill total, which is the sum of his ranks, his ability modifier for that skill, any natural talent bonus, trait bonuses, magic item bonuses or other miscellaneous bonuses. Ranks are simply the number of skill points which have been dedicated to that skill.
If multiclassing is allowed, use the skill points of the character class being selected for the new level.
In addition, the character may choose to apply his Favored Class bonus to skills, which grants him 1 additional skill point. See Favored Class bonus below for details.
Class Skill Ranks Alchemist 3 + Int modifier Barbarian 6 + Int modifier Bard 7 + Int modifier Brawler 6 + Int modifier Cleric 7 + Int modifier Druid 6 + Int modifier Fighter 6 + Int modifier Monk 6 + Int modifier Paladin 7 + Int modifier Partisan 6 + Int modifier Prowler 6 + Int modifier Ranger 7 + Int modifier Rogue 8 + Int modifier Sorcerer 7 + Int modifier Warlord 7 + Int modifier Wizard 3 + Int modifier
- Skill points by class + INT modifier + (optional) Favored Class bonus skill point
Base Attack Bonus
Your base attack bonus (BAB) may have increased, depending on your character class. Refer to the table for your character class to see if it increased.
Maneuver Check and Maneuver Defense
Maneuver Check increases by 1 each time you gain a level. Maneuver Defense increases by 1 at every even-numbered level (i.e. 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, etc.).
Note that if your STR or DEX increase, this will also increase your Maneuver Defense and possibly your Maneuver Check.
Weapon Damage
Beginning at 8th level, base weapon dice damage is doubled. This does not double STR, feat, precision or other modifiers to the base weapon damage, just the base damage of the weapon. This applies to melee, ranged, and thrown weapons alike. This does not apply to classes with fixed damage, such as the monk or brawler unarmed damage. For example, a longsword deals 2d8 base weapon damage after 8th level. This bonus increases to triple weapon dice damage at 15th level, quadruple at 22nd level and quintuple at 29th level and above.
These adjustments DO get factored into a weapon's critical hit damage. For example, an 1st level character wielding a longsword who critically hits (longswords deal double damage on a crit) would deal 2d8 + double their strength modifier. The same character at 8th level would deal 4d8 + double their strength modifier.
Saving Throws
Upon leveling up, you should review your character class' page to see if any of your saving throws improved. While this does not happen every level, it does happen for at least one of your saves nearly every level. Forgetting this step can lead to hair loss and death (for your character; you'll probably be okay).
New Class Abilities
Most character classes get at least one new class ability every level. Refer to your character class' page for details.
Feats
At every odd-numbered level (i.e. 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, etc.), characters gain a new feat. A list of all feats is available here, and can also be found by clicking on "Feats" in the sidebar, from anywhere on this website.
Characters must meet any prerequisites for the feat they wish to select at the time the feat is selected. Once selected, a feat may not be changed, except through the Character Retraining rules.
Ability Points
Every four levels (i.e. at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, etc.) you may permanently increase one of your ability scores by +1. This increase stacks with any bonuses, magic items, or other increases to the ability score.
Retraining
Most Character Retraining is handled during downtime between adventures. As an option, GM's may allow one free retraining action (and ONLY retraining, not self-improvement or single-use boons) once, each time a character gains a level. This gives players a chance to undo choices they've made that didn't pan out the way they'd hoped, without absorbing lots of their downtime.
A player may not use the retraining rules to swap out an ability or feat taken at an earlier level for a feat or ability that they only qualify for now, but wouldn't have qualified for when they originally took the feat or ability. For example, upon reaching 21st level, a character gains access to Epic feats, but may not use retraining to swap out an earlier non-epic feat for an epic feat. Similarly, a high-level rogue may never retrain to have fewer than 4 basic rogue talents, even after she qualifies for advanced or epic rogue talents.
If you train out of a skill, ability or feat which is a prerequisite for another ability, you lose the use of the other ability until you can once more meet its requirements. Backing down a feat tree can be done via retraining, but takes several re-training actions.
Basic Level Advancement
| Level | High BAB | Medium BAB | Low BAB | Strong Save | Weak Save | Base Weapon Damage | Starting Wealth | Wealth This Level | Feats | Bonus Stats | Max Skill Ranks | XP Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +1 | +0 | +0 | +2 | +0 | x1 | 150 | 1,850 | 1 | - | 1 | 0 |
| 2nd | +2 | +1 | +1 | +3 | +0 | x1 | 2,000 | 4,000 | - | - | 2 | 3,200 |
| 3rd | +3 | +2 | +1 | +3 | +1 | x1 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 1 | - | 3 | 8,000 |
| 4th | +4 | +3 | +2 | +4 | +1 | x1 | 12,000 | 9,000 | - | +1 | 4 | 14,400 |
| 5th | +5 | +3 | +2 | +4 | +1 | x1 | 21,000 | 11,000 | 1 | - | 5 | 24,000 |
| 6th | +6/+1 | +4 | +3 | +5 | +2 | x1 | 32,000 | 15,000 | - | - | 6 | 36,800 |
| 7th | +7/+2 | +5 | +3 | +5 | +2 | x1 | 47,000 | 19,000 | 1 | - | 7 | 56,000 |
| 8th | +8/+3 | +6/+1 | +4 | +6 | +2 | x2 | 66,000 | 26,000 | - | +1 | 8 | 81,600 |
| 9th | +9/+4 | +6/+1 | +4 | +6 | +3 | x2 | 92,000 | 32,000 | 1 | - | 9 | 120,000 |
| 10th | +10/+5 | +7/+2 | +5 | +7 | +3 | x2 | 124,000 | 40,000 | - | - | 10 | 171,000 |
| 11th | +11/+6/+1 | +8/+3 | +5 | +7 | +3 | x2 | 164,000 | 52,000 | 1 | - | 11 | 248,000 |
| 12th | +12/+7/+2 | +9/+4 | +6/+1 | +8 | +4 | x2 | 216,000 | 64,000 | - | +1 | 12 | 350,000 |
| 13th | +13/+8/+3 | +9/+4 | +6/+1 | +8 | +4 | x2 | 280,000 | 90,000 | 1 | - | 13 | 504,000 |
| 14th | +14/+9/+4 | +10/+5 | +7/+2 | +9 | +4 | x2 | 370,000 | 110,000 | - | - | 14 | 710,000 |
| 15th | +15/+10/+5 | +11/+6/+1 | +7/+2 | +9 | +5 | x3 | 480,000 | 150,000 | 1 | - | 15 | 1,000,000 |
| 16th | +16/+11/+6/+1 | +12/+7/+2 | +8/+3 | +10 | +5 | x3 | 630,000 | 190,000 | - | +1 | 16 | 1,425,000 |
| 17th | +17/+12/+7/+2 | +12/+7/+2 | +8/+3 | +10 | +5 | x3 | 820,000 | 240,000 | 1 | - | 17 | 2,000,000 |
| 18th | +18/+13/+8/+3 | +13/+8/+3 | +9/+4 | +11 | +6 | x3 | 1,060,000 | 310,000 | - | - | 18 | 3,000,000 |
| 19th | +19/+14/+9/+4 | +14/+9/+4 | +9/+4 | +11 | +6 | x3 | 1,370,000 | 390,000 | 1 | - | 19 | 4,400,000 |
| 20th | +20/+15/+10/+5 | +15/+10/+5 | +10/+5 | +12 | +6 | x3 | 1,760,000 | 880,000 | - | +1 | 20 | 6,000,000 |
Epic Level Advancement
| Level | High BAB | Medium BAB | Low BAB | Strong Save | Weak Save | Base Weapon Damage | Starting Wealth | Wealth This Level | Feats | Bonus Stats | Max Skill Ranks | XP Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21st | +21/+16/+11/+6 | +16/+11/+6 | +11/+6 | +13 | +7 | x3 | 2,640,000 | 1.360,000 | 1 | - | 21 | 9,000,000 |
| 22nd | +21/+16/+11/+6 | +16/+11/+6 | +11/+6 | +13 | +7 | x4 | 4,000,000 | 2,000,000 | - | - | 22 | 13,000,000 |
| 23rd | +22/+17/+12/+7 | +17/+12/+7 | +12/+7 | +14 | +8 | x4 | 6,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 1 | - | 23 | 19,000,000 |
| 24th | +22/+17/+12/+7 | +17/+12/+7 | +12/+7 | +14 | +8 | x4 | 9,000,000 | 4,500,000 | - | +1 | 24 | 28,000,000 |
| 25th | +23/+18/+13/+8 | +18/+13/+8 | +13/+8 | +15 | +9 | x4 | 13,500,000 | 6,500,000 | 1 | - | 25 | 41,000,000 |
| 26th | +23/+18/+13/+8 | +18/+13/+8 | +13/+8 | +15 | +9 | x4 | 20,000,000 | 10,000,000 | - | - | 26 | 61,500,000 |
| 27th | +24/+19/+14/+9 | +19/+14/+9 | +14/+9 | +16 | +10 | x4 | 30,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 1 | - | 27 | 91,000,000 |
| 28th | +24/+19/+14/+9 | +19/+14/+9 | +14/+9 | +16 | +10 | x4 | 45,000,000 | 22,600,000 | - | +1 | 28 | 134,000,000 |
| 29th | +25/+20/+15/+10 | +20/+15/+10 | +15/+10 | +17 | +11 | x5 | 67,600,000 | 34,400,000 | 1 | - | 29 | 198,000,000 |
| 30th | +25/+20/+15/+10 | +20/+15/+10 | +15/+10 | +17 | +11 | x5 | 102,000,000 | 50,000,000 | - | - | 30 | 290,000,000 |
| 31st | +26/+21/+16/+11 | +21/+16/+11 | +16/+11 | +18 | +12 | x5 | 152,000,000 | 76,000,000 | 1 | - | 31 | 425,000,000 |
| 32nd | +26/+21/+16/+11 | +21/+16/+11 | +16/+11 | +18 | +12 | x5 | 228,000,000 | 114,000,000 | - | +1 | 32 | 625,000,000 |
| 33rd | +27/+22/+17/+12 | +22/+17/+12 | +17/+12 | +19 | +13 | x5 | 342,000,000 | 172,000,000 | 1 | - | 33 | 900,000,000 |
| 34th | +27/+22/+17/+12 | +22/+17/+12 | +17/+12 | +19 | +13 | x5 | 514,000,000 | 256,000,000 | - | - | 34 | 1,400,000,000 |
| 35th | +28/+23/+18/+13 | +23/+18/+13 | +18/+13 | +20 | +14 | x5 | 770,000,000 | 300,000,000 | 1 | - | 35 | 2,000,000,000 |
| 36+ | - | - | - | +1/2 | +1/2 | Unch. | +300,000,000 | +300,000,000 | Odds | +1/4 | +1 | +800,000,000 |