One of the many great aspects of roleplaying games is advancing your character, watching her grow from a Novice adventurer to a Legendary hero.
Advances are granted by the Game Master at the end of some game "sessions" (about 4–5 hours of play).
An Advance lets a character make one of the adjustments listed below. Remember that no Trait may be raised above its maximum (usually d12 unless modified by an ancestral ability, Edge, etc).
Attribute: Increase one attribute one die type. This option may be taken only once per Rank. Legendary characters may raise an attribute no more than every fourth Advance, up to the ancestral or class maximum.
Skills: Increase a skill that is equal to or greater than its linked attribute one die type;
OR increase two skills that are lower than their linked attributes by one die type each (including new skills the character didn’t have before at d4). You cannot increase the same skill twice with the same Advance.
Edge: Gain a new Edge. You should have a story-based reason to take a Background or a core Class Edge. You can’t become a barbarian overnight, after all. Gaining these Edges should usually take years or some dramatic change in the character’s life, and should only be done with the Game Master’s permission. Core Class Edges and core Prestige Edges are also limited to one per Rank. Legendary characters may choose a core Class Edge (or Prestige Edge) no more than every fourth Advance.
Buy Off a Hindrance: Permanently remove a Minor Hindrance, or reduce a Major Hindrance to a Minor (if possible). The player and GM should work out how and when this happens. Perhaps the shocking death of an ally triggers a change in attitude, the hero puts real effort into improving harmful behavior, or seeks professional help during Downtime.
Followers and other allies who stay with the party for extended periods can improve their abilities as well.
If the party advances and the Game Master feels the allies have played a significant role in the story, they Advance as well. This gives player characters a group of loyal retainers and hirelings to interact with and deepens immersion.