Much like a typical RPG, characters in Untold advance in level (or, in this case, UP) as they journey to strange lands, encounter enemies, overcome obstacles, and progress the collective storyline. In Untold, gaining additional UP is the method by which your character grows and, in turn, can add additional Aspects and Powers.
Exactly how much UP to award is the purview of the GM, as it determines how challenging and difficult the overall game will become. Some GMs prefer a quick game progression, with characters rising in levels every few sessions or months of game play, while others take a more gradual approach, with characters advancing in level only once every year or so. Ideally, the manner in which a game progresses in level should be driven by both the desires of the Players and the GM, but the GM has the final say.
In terms of specific numbers of UP awards, we offer a simple table:
| Event | Story Significance | Example | UP Award |
| Achieving an in-game goal | Minor | Finding a rusted sword | 0 |
| Achieving an in-game goal | Major | Saving the princess from the detention cell | 1 |
| Surviving a game-play session | Varies | Your character did not die tonight | Varies |
| Contributing to a game-play session | Major | Your quick thinking/action/role-play saved your fellows | 2 |
| Distracting from a game-play session | N/A | You talked on your cell phone through the entire game | -2 |
| Achieving a small quest | Minor | Finding the map that will lead to the phoenix's nest | 3-4 |
| Achieving a large quest | Major | Defeating the evil Empire | 6-12 |
| Excellent role-playing | Major | Developing a history for your character | 1-3 |
| Excellent use of skills | Major | Snipping the red wire just before the bomb explodes | 1-3 |
| Excellent tactics/combat ability use | Major | Defeating the Black Knight in single combat | 1-3 |
| Working with fellow Players | Major | Executing the planned escape from the dark tower | 1-3 |
| Being a leader | Major | Standing with your men, despite the alien advance | 1-3 |
|
Sacrificing oneself |
Major | Pressing THE BUTTON while your pals escape to safety | 3-6 |
Once you've received your UP Awards, it may be used to upgrade, enhance, or entirely reconstruct your character – Untold allows for quick and easy character modification at ANY level! Simply remove the cards from your Character Deck that you no longer desire, add the new cards, and recalculate your UP totals to ensure that you are not exceeding the limits for the Character or Swap Deck, as set by your GM. But remember, before you can add those cards to your Character Deck, you MUST fulfill the Swap type requirements!
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