BASIC D20 POWER LEVEL LIMITSThis document details what should be the default power level limits for all Basic d20 games.
Gamemasters are, of course, free to set their own power level limits for traits as they see fit. The power
level limits detailed here are in keeping with the spirit of most d20-based games.

POWER LEVEL LIMITS
Most campaigns will start with 1st level characters. If higher-level characters are desired, use this tableto determine starting PP and the maximums in ability scores, skill ranks, advantages, and powers. Thistable also shows the trait limits that should be used based on the campaign’s maximum character levelas set by the GM.

CharacterLevel
01234567891011121314151617181920Starting PP
102030405060
70
80
90
100110120130140
150160170
180190200210Maximum
Ability ScoreSVSVSVSVSV + 1
SV + 1
SV + 1
SV + 1
SV + 1
SV + 1
SV + 1
SV + 1
SV + 2
SV + 2
SV + 2
SV + 2
SV + 2
SV + 2
SV + 2
SV + 2
SV + 3Maximum
Skill Rank
‘A’01234567891011121314151617181920

Maximum
Skill Rank
‘B’22334455667788991010111112Maximum
Skill Rank
‘C’345678910111213
1415
16
1718
1920
21
2223

Maximum
Advantageand PowerLevel
0th
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
18th
19th
20th

‘Character Level’ is the maximum character level set by the GM. It is analogous to the Mutants &Mastermind Power Level. ‘Starting PP’ shows how many Power Points a character starting at the given
Power Level receives during character generation. ‘Maximum Ability Score’ is the maximum ability score1

that the character can have. This maximum is based on the starting value of the ability score modifier(shown as ‘SV’). This starting value is based on what ability score modifier the character had at 1st level.
For example, if a character started with a score of +0 in Strength at 1st level, then he could spend 2 PP
to raise it to +1 when the GM raises the campaign’s character level to 4th. He can spend an additional 2
PP to raise it to +2 when the campaign character level is 12th. Finally, he can raise it to +3 when the20th character level is allowed. If his Intelligence started off at +4, then he could raise it to a maximumof +7 by 20th level.
The next three columns show the maximum broad skill ranks based on the campaign’s character level.
Column ‘A’ is for the Fight, Shoot, and Toughness skills. Column ‘B’ is for Dodge, Fortitude, Parry, Reflex,
and Will skills. Column ‘C’ is for Athletics, Awareness, Interaction, Knowledge, Languages, Performance,Profession, Science, Technology, Thievery, Vehicles, and Wilderness.
The last column shows the maximum level for advantages and powers. For example, a campaign set atthe 7th character level allows characters to have feats, class special abilities, talents, and powers of 7thlevel or lower.
These power level limits ensure that characters built using the Basic d20 system do not surpass thenormal trait limits of most d20 characters. The base attack bonus is derived from the Fight and Shootskills. The base attack bonus should never exceed the character level of the campaign. Actual attackbonuses can be much higher (once you add Strength, Dexterity, magical items, etc.) but the base attack
bonus should never be higher than the maximum character level. Likewise, a character’s number of hit
dice, as represented by the Toughness skill, should not exceed the campaign’s character level. By taking
multiple Toughness feats, you can raise your character’s hit points, but your character’s hit dice arelimited to the character level of the campaign.
For Dodge, Fortitude, Parry, Reflex, and Will, the limit is two plus half the campaign’s character level(round down). Thus, you see the normal range of ‘good’ base save bonuses in Column ‘B’ above.
Characters in Basic d20 should not have base save bonuses higher than what they could have undersingle-classed advancement in normal forms of d20. It is true that multi-classed characters in other d20
games could have base save bonuses higher than those shown, but the spirit of the rules is served betterby sticking to the limits normally imposed on the ‘good’ saving throw.
Finally, all other skills fall under that normal maximum skill ranks for d20 characters. Three plus thecampaign’s character level shows the maximum number of skill ranks a character can have in the twelve
other skills in Basic d20. There are no ‘cross-class’ skills at all in Basic d20, so this limit is ignored.
The last column simply indicates that a character cannot have a feat, class special ability, talent,spellcasting ability, or power that is higher than the campaign’s character level.

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