A hero is a special unit with the freedom to choose which abilities to learn and stats to improve when they advance in experience level. Whereas traditional units can only advance in level twice, a hero can advance up to an experience level of 30. A hero begins with 25 skill points to spend at level 1, and each time they advance in level, they gain 10 additional skill points. The skill point cost to increase each stat by 1 is as follows:
- Attack () - 5 skill points
- Defense () - 5 skill points
- Damage () - 10 skill points
- Resistance () - 5 skill points
- Health () - 5 skill points
- Movement () - 2 skill points
Abilities can cost anywhere from 5 to 20 skill points, and some abilities such as Turn Undead and Marksmanship have multiple levels that can be invested in.
Heroes are the only units that can cast spells (i.e. the only units that can possess the Spell Casting ability) or use items.
Heroes cost 5 plus 2 for each level of the hero in upkeep per turn.
New Heroes[]
There are several reasons a hero might join a cause:
- Each cause starts with one leader, who is a hero.
- As a leader acquires fame, a hero may offer to join as a random event.
- Heroes may offer to join when freed from dungeons.
- A hero can be summoned through the Call Hero spell.
- A hero can be resurrected or reanimated through spells.