Leveling up a character is very straightforward, though there are several options available in the process. The process for doing so, and choices to be made along the way, is laid out here.
Pick a Class
Any time a new level is obtained, a character has the option of continuing with one of their current classes, or branching out into a new one (multiclassing). There are also a multitude of
Prestige Classes available that are exclusively available at higher levels, after certain pre-requisites have been met. Multiclassing can have major benefits for a character, but also some significant drawbacks. Taking another class opens up an entirely new set of class features, proficiencies, and class skills, but also halts your progression in any current classes. Some prestige classes allow for partial progression in a previous class as part of its features, making them compelling choices for charactes looking to branch out without leaving too much behind. Some feats also allow for partial progression of class features when taking other classes. Note that choosing a class is the first step that must be taken when leveling up, so pre-requisites for prestige classes must be met prior to the leveling up.
If the new level of the selected class includes an increase to Base Attack Bonus or any Base Save Bonuses, you apply those now (remember an increase to BAB increases your attack rolls and Combat Maneuver Bonus as well).
Multiclassing
When multiclassing, a little math has to be done to determine proper Base attack Bonuses and Base Save Bonuses. Details on how to calculate them, along with a tool to determine them can be found in the Multiclassing article.
Ability Score Increase
At every fourth level (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20), characters are able to increase the ability score of their choice by 1. This affects the base score, and is not considered a bonus. If the modifier for that ability increases, be sure to update any saves, attacks, skills, or abilities based on that modifier. Increases to ability scores can affect your character retro-actively, so an increase in intelligence can give a significant boost to skill points and add to your known languages, and an increase in constitution can boost your maximum hit points from previous levels as well.
Roll Hit Points
Your maximum hit points are increased at each level according to your class. Look up the hit die of the class, and roll it to determine your increase in health. Natural 1's are always re-rolled, and an undesireable roll can be rerolled with the use of a Hero Point (see
Hero Point Rules for more details on this). Apply your constitution modifier and add this to your current maximum hit points to obtain the new value. In most circumstances, a character must be in a safe and resting situation to level up, but in the event that it occurs during a stressful situation where the character's current HP is of importance, a character's current HP is increased by the amount of maximum HP gained.
Adjust Skill Points
You gain new skill points at each level based on the class selected and modified by your intelligence. Your maximum rank in each skill is also increased by 1 to match your total level. If a skill that was not previously a class skill is on the class skill list of a new class you selected, you may now apply the +3 class skill bonus to that skill.
Select Feats
All characters gain a new feat at odd levels (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19), and many classes give bonus feats at other levels as well.
Select Spells
If you have levelled a spellcasting class, you would select your new spells known at this point. Spell lists can be found in the
Spells article.
Apply Class Features
The final step in leveling a character is to apply the class features obtained or improved with its newest level.
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