GAME MASTER

GM REFERENCE

NPC tiers, passive TN combat, and how to run Named NPCs using the full Duel Flip system.

NPC TIERS

Voidmarked uses two NPC tiers to separate meaningful threats from battlefield noise.

Named NPCs: significant enemies (bosses, lieutenants, recurring antagonists). Use the full Duel Flip system identical to player characters. Have a complete stat block — all six stats, derived Defence, Health pool, and any class abilities or keywords.
Minor NPCs: grunts, fodder, mobs. Use the passive TN system — the GM never draws a card. Defined by two numbers: Attack Value and Defence TN.
Minor NPC deaths are expected — they exist to apply pressure and make Named NPCs feel dangerous.

Defence TN = 8 + NPC Defence value | NPC Defence = (Physique + Dexterity) / 2

Redline Guard (Phys 0, Dex 1): Defence 0, TN 8
Ironclad Enforcer (Phys 3, Dex 1): Defence 2, TN 10
Voidtouched Lurker (Phys 1, Dex 4): Defence 2, TN 10
Heavy Siege Unit (Phys 5, Dex 0): Defence 2, TN 10
Skirmisher Scout (Phys 1, Dex 3): Defence 2, TN 10

7 represents the average card flip. Raise or lower freely to tune difficulty.

Attack Value = 7 + attack stat modifier | Melee: Strength / 2 | Ranged: Dexterity / 2

Used when player abilities force a test (e.g. Resilience(tn12)). No card draw required — compare fixed total against the TN.

Passive Check Total = 7 + relevant stat modifier

Resilience checks: use the Physique modifier.
Mental Defence checks: use the Willpower modifier.
If the NPC's passive total is within 3 of the TN, the GM may choose to flip a single card — never required.

Same formula as player characters. Set base health to fit the enemy's role.

Max Health = Base Health + (Physique × 2)

Named NPC: both sides flip cards | full six-stat block | Advantage/Disadvantage work normally on both sides | death is meaningful
Minor NPC: player only flips | Attack Value + Defence TN + HP only | Advantage/Disadvantage adjust fixed numbers (±3) | death is expected

Minor NPCs do not flip cards. The GM never draws for them. All resolution uses the player's flip against fixed numbers.

Player attacks Minor NPC: flip + attack modifiers vs NPC's Defence TN. Meet or beat to hit.
Minor NPC attacks Player: flip + Defence value vs NPC's Attack Value. Meet or beat to avoid being hit.
Advantage/Disadvantage always apply to the player's flip, regardless of attack direction.
Effects that would give the NPC Advantage or Disadvantage instead adjust their fixed number by ±3.
NPC in Cover → Defence TN +3.
NPC Weakened (Defence halved) → recalculate TN: 8 + (NPC Defence / 2).
Player Paralyzed → attack automatically hits, no flip needed.

Effects on NPCs that would normally affect their card flips are instead converted to fixed number adjustments.

NPC in Cover (would give NPC Advantage on defence) → Defence TN +3
NPC Weakened (Defence halved) → TN recalculated: 8 + (NPC Defence / 2)
NPC Distracted (Disadvantage on their next attack) → Attack Value -3
NPC Suppressed (forced into cover, attacks at Disadvantage) → Attack Value -3; also gains Cover TN bonus if applicable
NPC Dazed (Disadvantage on all checks) → Attack Value -3
Player Restrained (attackers have Advantage) → Attack Value +3
Player Prone (attackers have Advantage) → Attack Value +3
Player Paralyzed (attackers have Advantage, no defence flip) → attack automatically hits

When player abilities require the NPC to pass a test, use the Passive Check Total instead of a flip.

Passive Check Total = 7 + stat modifier

Resilience: uses Physique modifier
Mental Defence: uses Willpower modifier
Endurance: uses Physique modifier
Psychic Defence: uses Willpower modifier
Intimidation: uses Strength modifier
If the NPC doesn't have a defined value for a stat, default to 0 (no modifier).
The ±3 Drama Rule (optional): if the passive total lands within 3 of the TN, the GM may flip a single card if the moment matters.

Named NPCs use the full Duel Flip system — both sides draw cards and add modifiers. The outcome is genuinely uncertain in both directions.

Player attacks Named NPC: Player flips + attack modifiers vs Named NPC flips + Defence. Player total ≥ NPC total → Hit.
Named NPC attacks Player: NPC flips + attack modifiers vs Player flips + Defence. NPC total ≥ Player total → Hit.
Named NPCs are not bound by the 12-point character creation stat limit.
Named NPCs may have unique abilities not drawn from the player class list — write them in the same ability format.
Advantage, Disadvantage, Cover, and all status effects work identically to player rules — no conversions needed.

Works exactly as for players — the GM draws extra cards and keeps the best or worst.

The GM draws extra cards for the NPC's flip and keeps the best or worst, exactly as a player would.
Status effects granting attackers Advantage apply to whichever side is attacking, regardless of player or NPC.
If a Named NPC is Restrained, players attacking draw two cards and keep the highest; the NPC attacking back flips two and keeps the lowest.

Keep their hand small: give named bosses a fixed hand size (e.g. 3–5 cards) to preserve player ability management. Track it openly or secretly depending on the encounter's tone.
Telegraph their abilities: make the NPC readable so players can react — a warlord building to a devastating attack, a Voidstrider growing more unstable over the fight. Telegraphing is not the same as being predictable.
Use stats to tell a story: high Physique + low Dexterity = physically imposing, easy to slip past. High Foresight = seems to predict the party's actions. Let the numbers inform how you play them, not just how hard they are to kill.