Upon gaining sufficient Experience Points, a player character's Hero Level increases. When this happens, you may choose to increase the level of your Heroic Class, or you may take the 1st level in another Class. The latter is known as Multiclassing, which, along with Prestige Classes, will be covered towards the end of this article.
Quick Guide to Leveling Your Hero
- This quick guide assumes a player character with only a single class and the player is familiar with basic Character Creation.
- All Feats and Talents taken must meet prerequisites.
| PC Hero Level |
Hit Point Increase |
Feats Gained |
Talents Gained |
Attribute Score Increases |
additional PC Score Increases |
| 1 |
Base Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Feat + Base Class Starting Feats |
1 Class Talent |
None |
None |
| 2 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Class Bonus Feat |
None |
None |
None |
| 3 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Feat |
1 Class Talent |
None |
None |
| 4 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Class Bonus Feat |
None |
1 Attribute Score Increase |
None |
| 5 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Feat |
1 Class Talent |
None |
None |
| 6 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Class Bonus Feat |
None |
None |
None |
| 7 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Feat |
1 Class Talent |
None |
None |
| 8 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Class Bonus Feat |
None |
1 Attribute Score Increase |
None |
| 9 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Feat |
1 Class Talent |
None |
None |
| 10 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Class Bonus Feat |
None |
None |
Noted Class Bonuses to; Attribute Save, Vital Stats, & Skills. |
| 11 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Feat |
1 Class Talent |
None |
Noted Class Bonuses to Combat Scores. |
| 12 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Class Bonus Feat |
None |
1 Attribute Score Increase |
Noted Class Bonuses to; Attribute Save, Vital Stats, & Skills. |
| 13 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Feat |
1 Class Talent |
None |
Noted Class Bonuses to Combat Scores. |
| 14 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Class Bonus Feat |
None |
None |
Noted Class Bonuses to; Attribute Save, Vital Stats, & Skills. |
| 15 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Feat |
1 Class Talent |
None |
Noted Class Bonuses to Combat Scores. |
| 16 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Class Bonus Feat |
None |
1 Attribute Score Increase |
Noted Class Bonuses to; Attribute Save, Vital Stats, & Skills. |
| 17 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Feat |
1 Class Talent |
None |
Noted Class Bonuses to Combat Scores. |
| 18 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Class Bonus Feat |
None |
None |
Noted Class Bonuses to; Attribute Save, Vital Stats, & Skills. |
| 19 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Feat |
1 Class Talent |
None |
Noted Class Bonuses to Combat Scores. |
| 20 |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Class Bonus Feat |
None |
1 Attribute Score Increase |
Noted Class Bonuses to; Attribute Save, Vital Stats, & Skills. |
| 20+ Odd Levels |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Feat |
1 Class Talent |
None |
None |
| 20+ Even Levels |
Class Hit Die + PC Constitution Modifier |
1 Class Bonus Feat |
None |
1 Attribute Score Increase, every other even level (24, 28, 32...) |
None |
A Note on Class Level vs. Hero Level
The vernacular that distinguishes your Class Level from your Hero Level can be confusing but very important to understand.
- Your Hero Level (also sometimes called your Character Level) is the total sum of all your character's Class Levels
- Your Class Level is how many levels you have put into a given Class.
For a character with only a single class, Hero Level and Class Level are the same.
- Example: Strahd is a level 6 Soldier, his Class Level is 6, and he has only one Class, so his Character Level is also 6.
Multiclassing characters have a Hero Level that is the combination of their various Class Levels.
- Example: Chak'ard is a level 3 Jedi and a level 5 Scout. She has two Class Levels, one at level 3 and another at level 5. Her Character Level is 8.
Full Guide to Leveling Up Your Hero
Step 1: Your Hit Point Increase
Your HP increase is determined by your Class and add your Constitution modifier, along with any potential miscellaneous bonuses from Feats, Species Traits, or other Abilities. Add this final value to your Total HP increase.
- Example: Lyrilis Vann, a Force-User, gains 10 + their Constitution modifier of +2, so their total HP increases by 12.
Step 2: Increase your Base Attack Bonus (BAB)
Your Base Attack Bonus increases differently for each Class. Nobles and Scoundrels have a Low BAB equal to their Hero Level -1; Force-Users and Scouts have a Standard BAB equal to their Hero Level; and Soldiers have a High BAB equal to their Hero Level +1.
Step 3: Increase your Defenses
All Defenses have a bonus equal to one-half of your Hero Level rounded down. Class bonuses to Defenses increase at, and every other level after, Class Level 11.
Step 4: Increase your Skill Bonuses
All Skills have a bonus equal to one-half of your Character Level rounded down. Class bonuses to Skills are applied at, and every other level after, Class Level 10.
Step 5: Feats and Talents
When to select Feats and Talents can be confusing for many players.
- Every Odd Hero Level you may gain a new Feat that you meet all prerequisites for.
- When your Class Level is even you may select a Bonus Feat from your Class Bonus Feat list that you meet all prerequisites for.
- When your Class Level is odd you may select a Talent that you meet all prerequisites for.
Example: Celes is a Shard and a Force-User who just reached level 3. They are eligible to take a Feat, as well as a Talent. They take the Stand Tall feat and the Force Repair Talent from the Iron Knight Talent Tree (they can select this Talent because they are both a Shard and possesses the Force Sensitivity feat).
Example: Meena is a level 2 Scoundrel and is eligible to select a Bonus Feat. She can choose any option she qualifies for from the Class Bonus Feats on the Scoundrel page.
Example: Hubri is a level 3 Ace Pilot, with a Hero Level of 11, he can select a Talent from an Ace Pilot Talent Tree and gains a new Feat.
Step 6: Attribute Score Increases
Starting at your 4th Character Level, and every 4th level after that (i.e. 4th, 8th, 12th....), you will increase one Attribute Score by +1.
Multiclassing and Prestige Classes
Multiclassing
As previously mentioned, you may take a level in an additional class when you level up. A Hero & Class level 3 Soldier who takes her 4th Hero level in Noble is denoted as a Soldier 3/Noble 1 character with a Hero level of 4. If you choose to do this, you gain the new Classes Skills, a 1st level Talent, and one Starting Feat of your choosing.
Prestige Classes
Prestige Classes are advanced and powerful Classes that most characters have access to at their 10th Character Level. They often have extensive prerequisites and are designed to further specialize your character. Taking a Prestige Class is a type of Multiclassing but with more significant abilities than just Multiclassing Hero Classes.
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