High Level Characters in Old-School Essentials

Last revised 5/26/24.

Basic/Expert D&D is known for, among other things, its low level limit compared to other editions. I wanted to allow characters to level beyond these limits, so I used the optional rules listed in the Old-School Essentials book to expand all the Advanced Fantasy classes (and race-classes) into high levels. I don’t know if anyone will ever reach these levels, but I like having the option available.

I have attempted to expand each class into higher levels without dramatically increasing the power level of the game too much or adding additional mechanics. The only thing new from a B/X standpoint is the addition of extra attacks for some classes. After a certain threshold, every class only advances in hit points.

Acrobat

LevelXPHDTHAC0Tumbling Attack
15880,0009d4+12*12 [+7]x3
161,000,0009d4+14*12 [+7]x3
171,120,0009d4+16*10 [+9]x3
181,240,0009d4+18*10 [+9]x3
191,360,0009d4+20*10 [+9]x3
201,480,0009d4+22*10 [+9]x3
21++120,000+2*10 [+9]x4
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Assassin

LevelXPHDTHAC0
151,050,0009d4+12*12 [+7]
161,200,0009d4+14*12 [+7]
17++150,000+2*10 [+9]
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Barbarian

LevelXPHDTHAC0Attacks per Round
15++130,000+3*10 [+9]2
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Bard

LevelXPHDTHAC01234
15960,0009d6+12*12 [+7]4443
161,080,0009d6+14*12 [+7]5444
171,200,0009d6+16*10 [+9]5544
181,320,0009d6+18*10 [+9]5554
191,440,0009d6+20*10 [+9]6555
201,560,0009d6+22*10 [+9]6655
211,680,0009d6+24*10 [+9]6665
22++120,000+2*10 [+9]6666
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Cleric

LevelXPHDTHAC012345
15800,0009d6+6*12 [+7]66554
16900,0009d6+7*12 [+7]66655
171,000,0009d6+8*10 [+9]66665
18++100,000+1*10 [+9]66666
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Druid

LevelXPHDTHAC012345
151,650,0009d6+6*12 [+7]66655
161,800,0009d6+7*12 [+7]66665
17++150,000+1*10 [+9]66666
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Dwarf

LevelXPHDTHAC0Attacks per Round
131,300,0009d8+12*10 [+9]1
141,600,0009d8+15*10 [+9]1
15++300,000+3*10 [+9]2
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Elf

LevelXPHDTHAC012345Attacks per Round
111,200,0009d6+4*12 [+7]433321
121,500,0009d6+6*12 [+7]443331
131,800,0009d6+8*10 [+9]444331
142,100,0009d6+10*10 [+9]444431
152,400,0009d6+12*10 [+9]544442
162,700,0009d6+14*10 [+9]554442
173,000,0009d6+16*10 [+9]555442
183,300,0009d6+18*10 [+9]555542
193,600,0009d6+20*10 [+9]655552
203,900,0009d6+22*10 [+9]665552
214,200,0009d6+24*10 [+9]666552
224,500,0009d6+26*10 [+9]666652
23++300,000+2*10 [+9]666662
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Fighter

LevelXPHDTHAC0Attacks per Round
15++120,000+2*10 [+9]2
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Halfling

LevelXPHDTHAC0Attacks per Round
9480,0008d6+114 [+5]1
10720,0008d6+2*12 [+7]1
11960,0008d6+3*12 [+7]1
121,200,0008d6+4*12 [+7]1
131,440,0008d6+5*10 [+9]1
141,680,0008d6+6*10 [+9]1
15++240,000+1*10 [+9]2
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Illusionist

LevelXPHDTHAC0123456
151,200,0009d4+6*14 [+5]544444
161,350,0009d4+7*12 [+7]554444
171,500,0009d4+8*12 [+7]555444
181,650,0009d4+9*12 [+7]555544
191,800,0009d4+10*12 [+7]655554
201,950,0009d4+11*10 [+9]665555
212,100,0009d4+12*10 [+9]666555
222,250,0009d4+13*10 [+9]666655
232,400,0009d4+14*10 [+9]666665
24++150,000+1*10 [+9]666666
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Knight

LevelXPHDTHAC0Attacks per Round
15++130,000+2*10 [+9]2
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Magic-User

LevelXPHDTHAC0123456
151,200,0009d4+6*14 [+5]544443
161,350,0009d6+7*12 [+7]554444
171,500,0009d6+8*12 [+7]555444
181,650,0009d6+9*12 [+7]555544
191,800,0009d6+10*12 [+7]655554
201,950,0009d6+11*10 [+9]665555
212,100,0009d6+12*10 [+9]666555
222,250,0009d6+13*10 [+9]666655
232,400,0009d6+14*10 [+9]666665
24++150,000+1*10 [+9]666666
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Paladin

LevelXPHDTHAC0123Attacks per Round
151,250,0009d8+12*10 [+9]3322
161,400,0009d8+14*10 [+9]3332
171,550,0009d8+16*10 [+9]4332
181,700,0009d8+18*10 [+9]4432
191,850,0009d8+20*10 [+9]4442
202,000,0009d8+22*10 [+9]5442
212,150,0009d8+24*10 [+9]5542
222,300,0009d8+26*10 [+9]5552
232,450,0009d8+28*10 [+9]6552
242,600,0009d8+30*10 [+9]6652
25++150,000+2*10 [+9]6662
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Ranger

LevelXPHDTHAC0123Attacks per Round
151,075,0009d8+12*10 [+9]3322
161,225,0009d8+14*10 [+9]4332
171,375,0009d8+16*10 [+9]4432
181,525,0009d8+18*10 [+9]4442
191,675,0009d8+20*10 [+9]5442
201,825,0009d8+22*10 [+9]5542
211,975,0009d8+24*10 [+9]5552
222,125,0009d8+26*10 [+9]6552
232,275,0009d8+28*10 [+9]6652
24++125,000+2*10 [+9]6662
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply

Thief

LevelXPHDTHAC0Backstab Multiplier
15880,0009d4+12*12 [+7]x3
161,000,0009d4+14*12 [+7]x3
171,120,0009d4+16*10 [+9]x3
181,240,0009d4+18*10 [+9]x3
191,360,0009d4+20*10 [+9]x3
201,480,0009d4+22*10 [+9]x3
21++120,000+2*10 [+9]x4
* Modifiers from CON no longer apply