One Hero Engine: Classes and Paths

Each class provides:

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

Select the path that best matches your desired play style.

Many published traits below remain concept-level in the current v0.12 draft. In particular, traits that reference allies, nearby positioning, temporary HP, partial defence bypass, reduced MP costs, small recovery amounts, or similar open-text effects do not currently have complete supporting procedures everywhere else in the rules.

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

Fighter paths

Fighters excel in physical combat. Choose from the following specialized paths (listed alphabetically):

Knight

Save Specialization: STR or CON

Shield Valor: Gain +1 AC when adjacent to an ally.
Chivalric Stand: Once per combat, negate an attack that would reduce you below 50% HP.
Honorable Strike: Deal bonus damage against foes attacking dishonorably.
Battle Focus: Gain Advantage on Strength-based attacks when standing firm.
Resolute Guard: Once per day, prevent a critical hit against you or an adjacent ally.

Martial Artist

Save Specialization: STR or DEX

Precision Strike: When attacking with Advantage, add an extra damage step (according to the Step Dice system).
Technical Mastery: Your focused strikes bypass part of enemy defenses, ignoring the first step of their damage reduction.
Counter Expertise: Successfully parrying an attack grants an immediate counterattack with Advantage.
Grapple Specialist: Efficiently clinch and restrain foes, limiting their ability to counterattack.
Battle Instinct: In critical moments, gain Advantage on your next unarmed attack, reflecting heightened awareness.

Monk

Save Specialization: DEX or WIS

Inner Flow: Recover a small amount of MP upon a successful unarmed strike (using standard MP recovery).
Inner Serenity: Restore modest HP or MP during a short rest through focused meditation.
Flurry of Blows: Once per combat, unleash a rapid sequence of unarmed strikes, granting one extra attack on your turn.
Spirit Shield: Generate a transient aura that absorbs part of incoming damage for a brief period.
Transcendent Focus: Once per session, reroll a failed unarmed attack or skill check.

Paladin

Save Specialization: STR or CHA

Divine Smite: Once per combat, add extra radiant damage (Step 3) on a successful melee hit.
Aura of Faith: Grant nearby allies a bonus to saving throws (usable once per session).
Sacred Protection: When an ally falls, gain temporary HP equal to your level.
Holy Rally: Restore a small amount of HP to yourself or an ally after a powerful strike.
Divine Judgment: Once per day, force an enemy to re-roll a failed saving throw.

Ranger

Save Specialization: DEX or WIS

Precise Shot: Gain Advantage on ranged attack rolls in natural terrain.
Stealthy Pursuit: Move undetected in forests and rugged landscapes.
Hunter’s Mark: Mark a foe to increase the damage dealt on subsequent attacks.
Quick Reflexes: Gain a bonus to Dexterity saves when facing multiple foes.
Nature’s Insight: Once per scene, use environmental factors to gain a tactical edge.

Swordmaster

Save Specialization: STR or DEX

Precision Cut: Increase your chance for critical hits on well-aimed strikes.
Parry and Riposte: When you successfully parry an attack, immediately counter with a bonus attack.
Flourishing Strike: Execute combo attacks that add extra damage.
Blade Dance: Temporarily boost your mobility and attack speed during combat.
Edge of Perfection: Once per combat, reroll a failed attack roll for a decisive strike.

Magic User paths

Magic Users channel arcane energies. Choose from the following paths (listed alphabetically):

Cleric

Save Specialization: WIS or CHA

Divine Intervention: Once per session, negate an incoming attack entirely.
Holy Light: Enhance the healing power of your restorative spells.
Sacred Ward: Grant temporary damage resistance to yourself or an ally.
Blessing of Faith: Improve saving throws for nearby allies for a brief period.
Righteous Fury: Add extra radiant damage to your offensive spells.

Necromancer

Save Specialization: INT or CHA

Enhanced Raise Dead: Improve your summoned undead minions’ strength or durability.
Life Drain: Heal yourself in proportion to the damage inflicted by your necromantic spells.
Deathly Aura: Emit a necrotic aura that deals minor damage over time to nearby enemies.
Bone Barrier: Conjure a temporary shield of skeletal fragments.
Soul Channel: Convert the life force of defeated foes into bonus MP.

Sorcerer

Save Specialization: INT, WIS, or CHA

Wild Surge: Spend an extra 1 MP to increase a spell’s damage by one Step.
Elemental Affinity: Gain bonus damage when casting spells of your chosen element.
Magical Flow: Reduce the MP cost for consecutive spells during combat.
Chaos Bolt: Cast a variable-damage bolt with a chance for additional effects.
Innate Spark: Recover a small portion of MP when your spell successfully lands.

Warlock

Save Specialization: INT or CHA

Pact Empowerment: Regain a small MP bonus after each successful spell cast.
Eldritch Blast: Enhance your signature ranged spell with extra damage.
Dark Bargain: Once per session, sacrifice a small amount of HP to amplify a spell’s effect.
Cursed Invocation: Inflict a minor debuff on enemies following a successful spell attack.
Pact Resilience: Gain a temporary MP shield when critically wounded.

Wizard

Save Specialization: INT, WIS, or CHA

Arcane Mastery: Lower the MP cost of one spell per session.
Spell Recall: Once per session, recover a recently cast spell at no additional cost.
Mystic Archive: Gain bonus effects when recalling arcane knowledge during combat.
Ritual Casting: Cast designated spells without spending MP when time permits.
Focused Study: Temporarily boost your casting stat for a particularly challenging spell.

Rogue paths

Rogues specialize in stealth, subterfuge, and precision. Choose from the following paths (listed alphabetically):

Assassin

Save Specialization: DEX or CHA

Lethal Precision: Increase your critical hit chance on ambush attacks.
Silent Takedown: Execute enemies quietly, minimizing detection.
Poison Mastery: Apply toxins to your strikes that deal damage over time.
Quick Execution: Burst forward to close gaps rapidly for a surprise strike.
Death Mark: Once per combat, mark a target to increase damage dealt against it.

Spy

Save Specialization: DEX

Urban Camouflage: Excel at blending into crowded urban environments.
Eavesdrop: Gather crucial clues about enemy tactics through careful observation.
Covert Entrance: Move undetected when infiltrating secure locations.
Silent Footsteps: Reduce noise to maintain stealth in cityscapes.
Shadow Intel: Acquire actionable information that provides tactical advantages.

Thief