Your character's level is a measure of their overall progression—the adventures they've completed, the obstacles they've overcome, and the improvements they've accomplished. Similar to most other role-playing games, your level is determined by the amount of Experience Points (XP) that your character has accumulated.

Whenever you accumulate enough experience to advance to the next level, you gain several benefits:

• Distribute six points as you wish among your attributes' scores. You may not place more than three points in any single attribute.
• Choose one skill, and gain one level in that skill. You may not improve a skill past the Skill Cap for your new level.
• Gain one trait. This trait must be chosen from the Advancement Traits list.
• At levels 5, 9, 13 and 17, also gain one trait from the Tier Traits list.

Note that traits are divided into five tiers: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, Paragon and Legendary. The tier of the trait determines the level at which the trait may be selected, as per the table below. Note also that a trait's tier is based on the list on which it is found, and is not inherent to the trait itself. Some lists may make some traits available at a lower level.