Introduction
Whisperspace
Skippable Intro
Whisperspace is a tabletop roleplaying game system created by Stuart Pringle. In this book you will find the core rules of play as well as suggestions on how to make the most of them. This book does not include a setting, however it is loosely based on a modern or near-future setting and can be adapted for use as required.
Whisperspace began as an extremely simple system of rules I put together when creating one-shot adventures. I wanted the adventures to be system-agnostic and I didn’t want to have to put a lot of thought into how to alter existing systems to allow me to put together the character archetypes I wanted to include. This had the advantage of being useful for players who were unfamiliar with existing roleplaying game rulesets to play a new setting easily and quickly. I’ve since rebuilt the system from the ground up but I’ve kept the core identity of what Whisperspace is: an easy-to-play, simple rule system designed to promote fun, quick-paced gameplay and minimize dead time during your gaming sessions.
Table of Contents
Core Philosophies 5
Core Game Principles 5
Specific Trumps General 5
Your Character Affects the Roll. The World Affects the Difficulty. 6
Core Mechanics 6
D12 System 6
Difficulty Class 7
Bonus Dice and Penalty Dice 8
Character Creation 8
- Concept 9
- Origin, Background, and Motivation 9
- Pick an Archetype or a Feat 11
- Choose a Learning Focus 11
- Spend Skill Points (SP) 11
- Attribute Calculation 12
- Equipment 12
- Final Steps 12
- Go play! 13
Attributes and Skills 13
Attributes 13
Skills 14
Archetypes and Feats 20
Stress 26
Stress From Damage 26
Stress Penalties 27
Crucible Test 27
PTSD Range (stress levels 6-8) 27
Stress Breakdowns 28
Reducing Stress 28
Health & Wounds 30
Wound Tracking 30
Wound Severity Effects 30
Healing 30
Poisons and Toxins 31
Stealth 31
Movement 31
Movement Bonuses and Penalties 31
Types of Movement 32
Standing from prone 32
Swimming 32
Climbing 33
Carrying Capacity 34
Combat 36
Action Economy 36
Surprise 36
Seizing the Initiative 37
Attacking 37
Melee Combat 39
Armour 41
Combat actions 41
Ranges 45
Cover 46
Resting 47
Conditions 48
Grappled 48
Unconscious 48
Agonized (X) 48
Asphyxiating 48
Dying 48
EMP (X) 49
Floating 49
Demoralized 49
Frightened 49
Fleeing 49
Stunned 49
Immobile 50
Blinded 50
Bleeding (X) 50
Frenzied 50
Sluggish 50
Environments 50
Hard Vac 50
Zero-G 50
Hacking 51
Optional Rule: Simple Hacking 51
Hacking Sequence 52
Data Decryption 53
Character Progression 53
Downtime 54
Exploration 54
Equipment & Gear 54
The Right Tool for the Job 54
Salvaging 54
Crafting 54
Repair and Modification 54
Gear List 56
Hacking Equipment 68
Robots 69
Starships 70
Ship Movement 70
Basic Functions (Every Ship Has These) 72
Stock Ship Models 72
Building Your Own Ships 72
Modules 75
Empaths 80
Using Empathy 81
Empathic Paths 81
Empathic Abilities 82
Empaths and Machines 83
Nanomancy 83
Nanite Density 84
Using Nanomancy 85
Fine Control 88
Stress is Both Cost and Fuel 88
The World 89
The Halcyon Empire 89
The Shatterbelt 89
Whisperspace & The Anchorate 89
The Mega-Corporations 90
Whisper Cults 91
The New Dawn 92
Kael’s Remnant 92
The Black Suns 93
Nanites, Sensitives, and Nanomancy 93
Empaths 95