Fantasy Heroes Unbound started with a simple idea:
Give players the tools to build the character they actually imagined.
We recently sat down with Fantasy Heroes Unbound creator Mark MacKinnon to talk about where the game came from, why customization became such an important part of its design, and what he hopes players discover when they create their first character.
For Mark, the inspiration came from seeing how much players enjoy the Fifth Edition framework while still wanting more freedom within it. “Gamers are big fans of customisation, and many view the traditional species/class/level approach in Fifth Edition as too restrictive. They like the framework, but yearn for more flexibility and creativity.”
That desire for flexibility became one of the foundations of Fantasy Heroes Unbound.
Build the Character You Have in Mind
Character ideas don't always fit neatly into the options available in traditional Fifth Edition character creation.
Fantasy Heroes Unbound introduces a point-based framework alongside its familiar Class and Level structure. Build Points give players more control over the features, abilities, and talents that shape their characters.
That means your original idea can guide more of the decisions you make during character creation.
As Mark puts it: “Give players the tools to be creative, and they’ll make unbelievably rich and evocative characters.”
Classes and Species provide a foundation, while Attributes and other customization options give you room to develop the details that make your hero distinct.
The result is a character creation system designed to support a much wider range of concepts while staying connected to the Fifth Edition framework players already understand.
Give Players the Tools
Fantasy Heroes Unbound comes packed with new options, including 14 original Classes and 12 new, point-costed Species.
But Mark's larger goal for the system goes beyond expanding the menu of available choices. “Unbound doesn’t tell players and DMs ‘this is the way it’s done’ with another monster book, another set of classes and species, another tome of prescribed spells. Rather, it provides the means for them to decide for themselves the best way to create and play.”
That philosophy extends throughout Fantasy Heroes Unbound.
The point-based framework gives players greater control over their characters, while the broader toolkit gives Dungeon Masters additional ways to shape their games.
The possibilities come from what you decide to create with those tools.
A Fresh Look at Fifth Edition
Fantasy Heroes Unbound supports both the 2014 and 2024 versions of Fifth Edition, allowing players to bring their existing knowledge of the game with them.
Mark hopes the additional flexibility can help longtime players discover new possibilities within a system they already enjoy. “The endless variety of Fantasy Heroes Unbound means players and DMs can avoid ruts and the dangers of ‘sameness’ with Fifth Edition play.”
A new character concept, an unusual combination of features, or a different approach to building a campaign can be enough to get the ideas moving again.
That's what Unleash Fifth Edition means to us: opening up the framework and seeing where your creativity takes it.
Fantasy Heroes Unbound launches September 8 on BackerKit.
Follow the campaign now to get the Fantasy Heroes Unbound RPG Primer free and be there when the campaign goes live.
You can also reserve your pledge for $5 to receive a 32-page Fantasy Heroes Unbound Character Folio, valued at $15!
One More Question Before You Go...
We want to hear from you:
How often have you had a character idea that Fifth Edition couldn't quite build?
Cast your vote in the poll below, then tell us about that character in the comments!
What were you trying to build? What part of the character couldn't quite work the way you imagined?
We may even pick a few of your ideas and show you how we'd build them in Fantasy Heroes Unbound.
