diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/HeroAttributes.cs b/Assets/Scripts/HeroAttributesSO.cs
similarity index 67%
rename from Assets/Scripts/HeroAttributes.cs
rename to Assets/Scripts/HeroAttributesSO.cs
index 28f7ce7..2a949bb 100644
--- a/Assets/Scripts/HeroAttributes.cs
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/HeroAttributesSO.cs
@@ -2,14 +2,17 @@ using System.Collections;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using UnityEngine;
 
-public class HeroAttributes : ScriptableObject
+public class HeroAttributesSO : ScriptableObject
 {
-    // TODO(zeph): does these being private make it hard to create a new hero?
-    // what about applying effects?
     [SerializeField] private Attribute STR;
     [SerializeField] private Attribute MAG;
     [SerializeField] private Attribute DEX;
     [SerializeField] private Attribute CON;
     [SerializeField] private Attribute CHA;
     [SerializeField] private Attribute FTH;
+
+    public static HeroAttributesSO New()
+    {
+        return ScriptableObject.CreateInstance<HeroAttributesSO>();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/HeroAttributes.cs.meta b/Assets/Scripts/HeroAttributesSO.cs.meta
similarity index 100%
rename from Assets/Scripts/HeroAttributes.cs.meta
rename to Assets/Scripts/HeroAttributesSO.cs.meta