Reference Tables

Level Progression

Proficiency Bonus by Level

Gear Tier Availability by Level

Spell Slots by Tree Depth

Spell slots are determined by CP purchases in a casting tree (Arcane Arts, Divine Channeling, or Medicine), not by build type. The table below is a quick reference; see Skill Trees for exact prerequisites and level gates.

Notes:

• Maximum spell level = min(innate ceiling from tree purchases, Humanity ceiling). See Spell Slots and Humanity, magic.md.
• 6th–9th level spells require Pinnacle-tier CP purchases (35/40/45/50 CP) and level gates L11/13/15/17.
• Maximum spell level: 9th (requires Pinnacle-tier CP purchases and L17+). 8th–9th level spells are available to deeply invested casters in core play.
• Channelers have access to all spell schools; Medics are restricted to healing and support schools at every tier.

Encounter CR Quick Reference

Formula: Party Level Sum x Difficulty Multiplier = Monster CR Budget

Difficulty Multipliers:

Quick Examples:

Power Progression by Play Tier

Note: These "Play Tiers" describe narrative power bands and are distinct from the mechanical "Tier" column in the Level Progression table above (which tracks proficiency scaling).

Play Tier 1: Survivors to Professionals (Levels 1-5)

Power Level:

• Local threats (bandits, mutant wildlife, malfunctioning robots)
• Can handle 5-10 normal humans
• Magic users have 1-2 useful spells per day
• Death is very real

Capabilities:

• Competent in chosen role
• Solve local problems
• Recognized in home settlement
• Dangerous to unprepared foes

Threats:

• Well-armed raider bands
• Mutant creatures (CR 1-3)
• Environmental hazards
• Starvation, disease, exposure

Play Tier 2: Specialists to Veterans (Levels 6-10)

Power Level:

• Regional threats (warlords, organized raiders, large mutant packs)
• Can handle 20-30 normal humans or 10-15 trained soldiers
• Magic users have reliable daily capabilities
• Still mortal, but experienced

Capabilities:

• Renowned in region
• Lead small groups
• Solve settlement-level problems
• Access to Tier 3-4 equipment

Threats:

• Military squads
• Large predators
• Corrupted tech/rogue AI
• Rival adventurer groups

Play Tier 3: Elite to Masters (Levels 11-15)

Power Level:

• Inter-regional threats (armies, mega-fauna, dangerous anomalies)
• Can handle 50-100 normal humans or 20-30 elite soldiers
• Magic users have powerful spells but still limited
• Elite professionals, not superhumans

Capabilities:

• Known across multiple settlements
• Lead armies or organizations
• Solve nation-level problems
• Access to Tier 5-6 equipment

Threats:

• Organized military forces
• High-tech defense systems
• Powerful mutants/monsters (CR 8-12)
• Environmental cataclysms

Play Tier 4: Legendary to Champions (Levels 16-20)

Power Level:

• Continental threats (warlord empires, planet-scale anomalies, ancient weapons)
• Can handle 100-200 normal humans or small army
• Magic users have devastating (but not reality-warping) spells
• Best of the best, still grounded

Capabilities:

• Legendary reputation
• Shape the future of civilization
• Access to Tier 6-7 equipment
• Can challenge small nations

Threats:

• Full military divisions
• Kaiju-class creatures (CR 13-17)
• Pre-war superweapons
• Other legendary characters

At Level 20, You Are:

• The best human fighter alive
• A master mage (but not a god)
• Incredibly dangerous BUT
• Still vulnerable to ambush, overwhelming force, or bad luck
• Cannot solo an entire army without planning/preparation
• Magic has limits (no time travel, no easy resurrection, no unlimited power)

Comparison to Others:

• To level 0 commoner, you're a demigod
• To other level 15-20 characters, you're a peer
• To mythic threats (21+), you're a strong mortal

What Changed from Original Design

Spell Slot Progression:

• Old: Level-capped class-based full caster (7th max) / half caster (5th max) slot tables
• New: Class-agnostic tree-purchase depth table; 9th-level spells accessible via Pinnacle purchases at L17+
• Reason: Classless system — caster depth is CP investment, not build type. Magic or no magic; how deep = how much you spent.

HP Progression:

• No change: bounded by Hit Dice and END
• But gritty rest rules make HP loss matter more

Attack/Defense Bonuses:

• Typical core cap: +14 (attribute +5, proficiency +6, gear +3)
• Mythic ceiling: +18 (requires mythic tier play, L29-30 proficiency +9, and a Mythic Boon; typical mythic cap is +17)
• Bounded accuracy keeps threats relevant at every level

Encounter CR:

• Level 20 party (total 80 levels) faces:
  • Easy: CR 32
  • Deadly: CR 80
  • Lethal: CR 120-160
• CR 15-20 creatures are dangerous, not trivial

Equipment Tier:

• Tier 10 equipment extremely rare, near-mythical
• Level 20 typically has Tier 6-7 gear (great, not godlike)

Humanity/Essence Impact Table

Key Mechanics:

• Humanity starts at 10
• Augmentations reduce it permanently (each costs 1–3 Humanity)
• Effective maximum castable spell level = min(innate ceiling from tree purchases, Humanity ceiling). See Spell Slots and Humanity, magic.md.
• At Humanity 0, no spellcasting is possible — cantrips included. At Humanity 1, cantrips only.
• Low Humanity = reduced magic ceiling but enhanced tech capacity

Quick Reference

Core Resolution

• Roll d20 + Modifiers vs DC or DV
• 10+ usually succeeds
• Natural 20 = critical success
• Natural 1 = critical failure

Difficulty Classes

Combat Turn

• 3 actions + 1 reaction
• Move, attack, cast, use skill, etc.
• Reactions trigger outside your turn

Damage and Healing

• 0 HP = unconscious, death saves
• 3 failed death saves = dead
• Long rest (1 week) = recover all HP
• Healing is SLOW (by design)

Exhaustion Levels

Glossary of Key Terms