How many Heroic Surge Points can I have?

You can hold up to 3 Heroic Surge Points at one time, even if you would earn more through GM awards or milestones.

When can I spend a Heroic Surge Point?

You can spend a Heroic Surge Point at any time — as a free action — even during another creature’s turn.

What can I do with Heroic Surge?

You can reroll any d20, take an extra Action, immediately interrupt the initiative order to act, or gain Advantage on a saving throw against fear or mental influence.

SWURPG Heroic Surge – Push Beyond Limits

Q: What is Heroic Surge in SWURPG?

Heroic Surge is a flexible, cinematic mechanic in SWURPG that allows characters to reroll d20s, act immediately, take extra actions, or resist mental effects. Every character begins each session with 1 point.

Q: How do I gain more Heroic Surge Points?

Every character gains 1 point at the start of each session. The GM may also award Heroic Surge Points for exceptional roleplay, dramatic sacrifices, brilliant plans, or milestone achievements.

Heroic Surge

Heroic Surge is SWURPG’s answer to heroic defiance — that iconic Star Wars moment when a character leaps across a chasm, fires the impossible shot, breaks free from mental domination, or throws themselves between danger and a friend.

It functions like a flexible hero point system, allowing players to bend fate, act faster than the initiative order, reroll critical failures, or power through fear and mind-affecting abilities. Players get to seize the spotlight exactly when the story calls for it.

This page explains exactly how Heroic Surge works, the best times to use it, how GMs can integrate it into pacing and storytelling, and how different characters can build around it.

Heroic Surge Overview
Heroic Surge Points
Spending Heroic Surge
Best Times to Use Heroic Surge
GM Guidance
Heroic Surge in Character Builds
Heroic Surge FAQ

Heroic Surge Points

Every character begins each session with 1 Heroic Surge Point. No exceptions — all heroes get at least one moment to shine.

Ways to Gain Heroic Surge:

Start of Session: Every character gains 1 Heroic Surge Point at the beginning of a new session or chapter.
GM Awards: Exceptional bravery, emotional roleplay, clever tactics, or big story moments.
Milestones: Completing missions, resolving character arcs, or major narrative breakthroughs.

Cap: You cannot hold more than 3 Heroic Surge Points at any time.

Example — GM Award:
A player dives from a burning speeder to rescue a civilian dangling over a sky-lane on Coruscant. The GM awards a Heroic Surge Point for cinematic heroism that enhances the story.

Spending Heroic Surge

Heroic Surge lets characters push beyond normal limits. Spend 1 Heroic Surge Point to perform one of the following feats:

Spend 1 Heroic Surge to:

Reroll any d20 and choose either result.
Take an extra Action on your turn.
Act Immediately: Interrupt the initiative order and act before the active creature finishes.
Resist Fear or Mental Influence: Gain Advantage on a saving throw.

Free Action: Spending Heroic Surge is always a free action. You can use it at any time — even during someone else’s turn.

Why This Mechanic Matters

It mitigates disastrous rolls during important moments.
It encourages bold, cinematic Star Wars-style heroism.
It gives every player agency, even when dice go cold.
It allows GMs to pace scenes with dramatic highs and tension spikes.

Example — Saving an NPC:
A Sith Inquisitor raises their blade to execute a captured ally.
A player spends Heroic Surge to act immediately, firing a shot that forces the Inquisitor to dodge. The NPC’s life is spared because of one split-second heroic decision.

Best Times to Use Heroic Surge

Using Heroic Surge well can turn a close call into a triumphant victory. Players often save their points for:

Critical attacks where hitting or missing changes everything.
Avoiding devastating damage from high-DC saving throws.
Escaping danger during chases, explosions, or collapsing structures.
Breaking mind-control or resisting Force-based influence.
Iconic cinematic moments where the whole table knows this is the turning point.

Example — The Impossible Leap:
A Force Warrior must reach a live detonator 40 feet away before it explodes.
The player spends Heroic Surge to gain an extra Action and just barely reaches and throws the device clear. A near party defeat becomes a legendary table memory.

GM Guidance: Using Heroic Surge to Shape Story

Heroic Surge is one of the GM’s strongest tools for pacing. Awarding or withholding points can strengthen themes, reward roleplay, and heighten emotional stakes.

When to Award Extra Heroic Surge

Character-defining emotional scenes.
Brave self-sacrifice.
Clever problem solving or tactical brilliance.
Major lore discoveries or breakthroughs.
Heroic Star Wars-style defiance of overwhelming odds.

When Not to Award Heroic Surge

Routine success.
Standard combat actions.
Attempts to farm points through repetition.

Heroic Surge should feel rare, meaningful, and exciting. Award it to help shape drama, not to replace normal gameplay difficulty.

Heroic Surge in Character Builds

Some classes and archetypes naturally synergize with Heroic Surge, turning their strongest moments into explosive bursts of heroism.

Marksman Sniper
Uses Heroic Surge to reroll critical shots or interrupt the initiative order to fire before an enemy escapes cover.

Force Warrior
Chains kinetic leaps and disruptive strikes using extra Actions from Heroic Surge to dominate key turns in battle.

Smuggler Duelist
Interrupts ambushes with lightning-fast blaster draws, using Heroic Surge to act before attackers can complete their opening volley.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Heroic Surge in SWURPG?

Heroic Surge is a flexible hero-point mechanic allowing characters to reroll, act instantly, or resist mental effects.

How many Heroic Surge Points can I hold?

Your maximum pool is 3 points.

When can I use Heroic Surge?

You can spend Heroic Surge at any time, as a free action, even outside your turn.

What can I spend Heroic Surge on?

You can reroll d20 rolls, gain an extra Action, act immediately in the initiative order, or gain Advantage to resist fear and mind influence.

How do I gain more Heroic Surge Points?

You gain 1 point at the start of each session, and the GM can award additional points for bravery, roleplay, or major story moments.