The Realm of the Gateway series incorporates a wide range of genres, from high fantasy in the Magic Realm to science fantasy in the Science Realm, with a bit of chaos brought in from the Death Zone. These core books provide information for creating and playing a range of different character types and professions. The Advanced Character Guides introduces new options for creating beginning characters and options for creating a wide range of options for advanced characters. Book One: New Beginnings gives players and Game Masters new options for beginning level characters, including new races, new professions, and a new concept, racial classes. These options can be used in every realm and are compatible with all Realm of the Gateway products.
- Seven new races are introduced: the giant kin Aesir, the Elder Elves and Elder Goblins from the far past, the Bossarians, a race of humanoids from another dimension, the God Touched, people blessed by one of the deities, the Omegas, the next step in Human evolution, psionically endowed though physically weaker, and the Vale, a race of living golems.
- New starting professions for each realm, including a new magic using profession, the Sword Mage.
- New optional rules, including a new, alternate starting system for characters. Characters can now start as untrained "normal" people learning to be heroes. There are also optional rules for auto advancing skills and skill maximums.
- 14 new racial classes are presented, from all three realms.
- The Cyberknight: a cybernetically modified Human that evolves into the perfect cybernetic warrior.
- The Drake Seeker: a Drake arcane mage that seeks lost and hidden knowledge.
- The Dream Touched: Fae who wield the power of "The Dreaming".
- Earth Born Dwarves: Dwarves blessed by the god of Earth with elemental strength.
- Eldrin: Ancient Elven and Goblin warriors that wield cosmic powers.
- Exomorph: Changelings with the power to control and shape their bodies.
- Fungal Warriors: Dwellers in Darkness that have evolved to be powerful warriors.
- The Healer Android: a specially created android with the power to heal others.
- The Hellborn Warrior: Demon Forged warriors that mutate to become more demonic.
- The Minotaur Bounty Hunter: the ultimate bounty hunters.
- Night Wing Sonic Lancers: Night Wings that have learned to control and utilize their mutational powers to become powerful warriors.
- The Quantum Mage: Humans and Cybots that use quantum based technological "magic"
- The Wildling: animalistic humanoids that fight like beasts.
- The Willin Observer: Willin spies that can move about unseen and unnoticed.
- Five new creatures for players to summon or Game Masters to use.
