Class

**Classes** are the foundation of every player character. Below is a description of the basics of classes and a table of classes from the various books. "Character level" is a character's total number of levels. It is used to determine when feats and ability score increases are gained. "Class level" is the character's level in a particular class. For a hero whose levels are all in the same class, character level and class level are the same.

There are 3 type of classes in d20 Modern and its extensions: Basic classes, Advanced classes, and Prestige classes. Basic and Advanced classes have 10 levels while prestige classes have 3 to 5 levels.

When a character gains a level, he or she may choose to increase the level of his or her current class or pick up a new class at 1st level. This could be a basic class or, if the character qualifies for it, an advanced or prestige class, thereby becoming a "multiclass character". The class abilities from all of a character's classes combine to determine a multiclass character's overall abilities. As a general rule, the abilities of a multiclass character are the sum of the abilities provided by each of the character's classes. Any character over level 10 must select additional classes. No class level may be chosen a second time. There is no cap for character level, however, the game is not balanced for characters greater than level 20 and the amount of experience to gain levels past 20 is not specified in core rules.

## Class Descriptions

### Ability

This entry tells which ability is typically associated with that class. This is only for Basic classes but there are no minimum score requirements to enter any class.

### Prerequisites

Advanced and Prestige classes are like basic classes, except that they have requirements that must be met before a character can attain 1st level in the class. A character who qualifies can choose an advanced class as an additional class as he or she gains levels, using the multiclassing rules. Some combination of base attack bonus, feats, and skill ranks determines whether a character is eligible to gain a level in an advanced class. As long as the requirements are met before the player must select the class, they are able to take a class on the same level they got the requirements.

Prestige classes have requirements that are more restrictive than those for advanced classes, and therefore reflect deeper specialization. In general, prestige classes are usually accessible only after 8 to 10 character levels and often have requirements only found in advanced classes.

The Gamemaster may add advanced classes specifically suited to his or her campaign. Conversely, the GM can decide that certain advanced classes aren’t available in the campaign. Check with your GM before selecting an advanced class.

### Hit Die

The die type used by characters of the class to determine the number of hit points gained per level is called the Hit Die. Hit die also represents a creatures "level".

A player rolls one die of the given type each time his or her character gains a new level. The character’s Constitution modifier is applied to the roll. Add the result to the character’s hit point total. Even if the result is 0 or lower, the character always gains at least 1 hit point.

*1st-level:* 1st-level character gets the maximum hit points rather than rolling (although the Constitution modifier is still applied).
*Multiclass:* A hero gains hit points from each class as his or her class level increases, adding the new hit points to the previous total.

### Action Points

*Action Points* allow a player to either improve their d20 roll or use class abilities. Every time a Characters gains a level up in a class, they will gain a fixed number of points in addition to their characters level. A character that is leveling up to Soldier 4 with 3 levels in Fast Hero will gain 13 points = 6 (from class) + 7 (from character level).

* 5 + ½ character level points from Basic Classes
* 6 + ½ character level points from Advanced Classes
* 7 + ½ character level points from Prestige Classes

As a character uses points, they are depleted permanently. The only way to get more points is to level up.

*1st-level:* 1st-level character starts with 6 Action Points.
*Multiclass:* A hero gains action points from each class as his or her class level increases, adding the new points to the previous remaining.
### Class Skills

This section of a class description provides a list of "Class skills", that is, skills the hero would focus on when taking the class.

*Multiclass:* A multiclass hero uses his or her character level to determine the maximum ranks the hero can have in a skill. If a skill is a class skill for any of a multiclass hero's classes, then use character level to determine a skill's maximum rank. (The maximum rank for a class skill is 3 + character level.)
When a multiclass hero gains a level in a class, he or she spends that level's skill points as a member of that class. Only that class's class skills may be purchased as class skills. All other skills, including skills for another class the hero has levels in, are considered cross-class skills when ranks in those skills are purchased at this level.

**Skill Points:** This gives the number of skill points the character starts with at 1st level and the number of skill points gained each level thereafter. A character’s Intelligence modifier is applied to determine the total skill points gained each level (but always at least 1 point per level, even for a character with an Intelligence penalty). One point can be spent on class skills for 1 rank and 2 points can be spent on non-class skills for 1 rank. The maximum ranks a character can have in a class skill is the character’s level +3.

*1st-level:* A 1st-level character starts with 4 times the number of skill points he or she receives upon attaining each level beyond 1st in that class.
*Multiclass:* Skill points are spent according to the class that the multiclass character just advanced in. Skills are purchased at the cost appropriate for that class. However, the cap of skill ranks is based on all classes the character has levels in.
A character can also buy skills from other classes’ skill lists. Each skill point buys a half rank in these cross-class skills, and a character can only buy up to half the maximum ranks of a class skill.

## Class Table

This table details how a character improves as he or she attains higher levels in the class. It includes the following information.

**Class Level:** The character’s level in the class.

**Base Attack Bonus:** The character’s Base Attack Bonus and number of attacks. A resulting value of +6 or higher provides the hero with multiple attacks in a round for a full round attack. Read more in Combat.

**Fort Save:** The base save bonus for Fortitude saving throws. The character’s Constitution modifier also applies.

**Ref Save:** The base save bonus for Reflex saving throws. The character’s Dexterity modifier also applies.

**Will Save:** The base save bonus for Will saving throws. The character’s Wisdom modifier also applies.

**Class Features:** Level-dependent class features, each explained in the section that follows.

**Defense Bonus:** The character’s bonus to Defense. The character’s Dexterity modifier and equipment bonus also applies.

**Reputation Bonus:** The character’s base Reputation bonus.

*Multiclass:* Add bonuses together of all classes for the levels the character possesses.
## Class Features

This entry details special characteristics of the class, including bonus feats and unique talents, that are gained as a character attains higher levels in the class.

*Multiclass:* The character gets all class features (talents, bonus feats, or other special abilities) of all classes for the levels he or she possesses.
**Talents:** Every basic class offers a selection of talents to choose from. A character gains a talent upon attaining each odd-numbered level in a class (including 1st level). Talents are considered to be extraordinary abilities. Some talents have prerequisites that must be met before a character can select them.

**Starting Feats:** The feats gained at 1st level in the class. Only basic classes have them and all start with Simple Weapons Proficiency.

**Bonus Feats:** Every class offers a selection of bonus feats to choose from. A basic provides a bonus feat upon attaining each even-numbered level in a class. These bonus feats are in addition to the feats that all characters receive as they attain new levels. Some feats have prerequisites that must be met before a character can select them.