One Hero Engine: Character Creation

Character creation overview

1. Assign Stats: Use 14, 13, 12, 11, 11, 11. You may redistribute up to 2 points between any scores.
2. Choose a Race: Provides +1 to any stat, a saving throw specialization, and 1 of 5 racial Traits.
3. Choose a Class: Grants a saving throw specialization and 1 of 5 class Traits.
4. Pick 3 Tags: Narrative keywords that describe your background and skills.
5. Choose a Casting Path (optional): For spellcasting, refer to One Hero Engine: Magic.
6. Finalize Derived Stats: Calculate stat bonuses, Soak, MP (if applicable), and record traits and tags.

The current v0.12 draft lets you determine attributes, modifiers, save specializations, tags, traits, AC, attack bonus, damage bonus, Soak, and MP. It does not define starting HP, HP gained by level, initiative baseline, default weapon damage steps, starting equipment packages, or spell counts consistently enough to finish every character from this page alone.

Rules review required: The current source material does not define this procedure consistently.

Attributes

Modifier Formula: (Stat - 10) / 2, rounded down

Derived combat statistics

• Armor Class (AC): Your default AC is 9 plus your Dexterity modifier.
• To-Hit Bonus: When making attack rolls, use the higher of your Strength or Dexterity modifier.
• Damage Bonus: For melee attacks, add your Strength modifier; for ranged attacks, add your Dexterity modifier.
• Soak: Soak = (AC - 10) / 2, rounded down.
• MP: MP = 5 + your casting stat modifier.

Saving throws

• Roll: 1d20 + modifier.
• Advantage: Apply if specialized.
• Disadvantage: Apply when enemies have traits or abilities imposing it.
• Spell Save TN: Equal to caster’s full stat score (e.g., INT 15 -> TN 15).
• For non-spell saving throws, use a TN set by the GM, scenario, or encounter. Where the draft needs a generic difficulty benchmark, the published TN guide is Easy 6, Average 11, Hard 16, Legendary 20.

Tags and starting traits

• Tags: Narrative keywords that describe your hero’s background and skills. They grant Advantage on appropriate rolls (whether using the roll-under or roll-over system).
• Traits: Specific bonuses or abilities from your race, class, or progression. They can affect combat, magic, or narrative events.
• At Level 1 you begin with 1 Race Trait, 1 Class Trait, 3 Tags.

Choose an ancestry

The current draft uses the term Race in the rules text. The full options and trait lists are collected in One Hero Engine: Ancestries.

• Dwarf
• Dragonborn
• Elf
  • Dark Elf (Drow)
  • Gold Elf
  • Wood Elf
• Halfling
• Human
• Tiefling

Each race provides:

• +1 to any stat
• 1 saving throw specialization
• Choose 1 Trait from 5 options

Choose a class and path

The full class and path catalogue is collected in One Hero Engine: Classes and Paths.

Fighter: Knight, Martial Artist, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Swordmaster.

Magic User: Cleric, Necromancer, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard.

Rogue: Assassin, Spy, Thief.

Each class provides:

• 1 saving throw specialization.
• 1 Class Trait chosen from 5 options.

Equipment references

The current published draft does not define a starting equipment procedure, starting loadout table, or purchasing rules in this rules article.

Rules review required: This procedure is not fully defined in the current published draft.

HP, initiative, and spell-selection gaps

The current published draft also does not define:

• starting HP
• HP gained by level
• a Hit Die or Hit Dice subsystem
• a baseline initiative procedure
• default weapon damage steps
• a spell-known or spell-preparation count for casting characters

Rules review required: The current source material does not define this procedure consistently.

Character creation examples

The current published draft does not include a full worked character creation example.

Rules review required: This procedure is not fully defined in the current published draft.