Core Game Principles
Every game is built with a certain set of assumptions. Here are the fundamental assumptions behind Whisperspace’s ruleset.
Specific Trumps General
Whisperspace includes many frameworks for how to resolve different types of situations. However, sometimes these may appear to be in conflict with other rules (weapon keywords, archetype bonuses, etc). In such cases, the specific rule is taken over the general rule. If the rules for combat tell you that making a Called Shot gives you a penalty die, but an archetype feature says you can ignore that penalty die, then the specific rule from your archetype will apply, overruling the general rule of combat actions.
GM Trumps All
The Game Master (or GM) is the final authority for how the rules of this system work. A good GM will work with players to make an experience everyone will enjoy; this system provides a framework to help do that. Thus, whenever a question arises of how a rule should be applied, the GM is the arbitrator. It’s their call whether they want to agree with a player’s interpretation or not - or even use a particular rule in this system or not!
Your Character Affects the Roll. The World Affects the Difficulty.
In Whisperspace, the dice you roll — and what you add to them — reflect your character’s knowledge, training, and decisions.
External conditions — like cover, lighting, distance, or equipment quality — affect the Difficulty Class (DC) you’re rolling against.
Here’s how it breaks down:
You modify the roll:
Skill level adds directly to the roll
Tactical choices may grant Bonus Dice
Traits, archetype features, or cybernetic boosts also apply here
The world modifies the DC:
An enemy behind cover? Higher DC
Poor visibility? Higher DC
Targeting system on your rifle? Lower DC
For example:
You aim and fire at an enemy behind a crate. Your Aim grants a Bonus die, and your Rifle skill adds +3. That’s your side of the roll.
The GM sets the DC higher than normal because of the target’s cover. You can’t control your enemy’s cover; that’s the world making things more difficult for you.
This division is fundamental to the Whisperspace system:
What comes from your character adds to your roll.
Everything else modifies the DC.