What are Aptitudes?

An aptitude is a pool of choices that opens at certain class levels. The level-up wizard reaches into the right pool whenever it asks you to pick something.

Examples on the SRD ruleset:

• Fighter Bonus Feat — picks at Fighter levels 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, …

• Cleric Domain — two picks at Cleric level 1.

• Wizard Spells — spells added to the spellbook at every level.

• Sorcerer Spells Known — the spontaneous spell list.

• General — the standard "any feat" pool, available at character levels 1, 3, 6, 9, …

An aptitude defines:

• Which entities show up at a given pick — only entities tagged for that aptitude.

• How many picks are granted at each class level.

• For spell pools, which spell levels are available at each character level.

Aptitudes are for choices the player actively makes. Automatic class features like Barbarian Rage or Trapfinding aren't aptitudes — they're class-granted feats applied without a pick.