Running NPCs

NPC Tiers

When it comes to combat situations, NPCs are divided into three tiers: ♟ Pawns, ♜ Rooks, and ♛ Sovereigns. These tiers also count as NPC traits.

♟ Pawn

Fragile minions of more powerful masters, Pawns often form squads or hordes in order to pose any kind of threat. All Pawns have Vitality and Stamina values of exactly 1. Therefore, a Pawn that is dealt a single Damage or Blight is immediately defeated, and becomes exhausted when they take a single Stress or Fatigue.

NPCs that aren't very important to the overall story on their own are typically Pawns. They don't usually have names, and are usually found in large groups. If a Pawn NPC suddenly gains more significance in the story, then the GM might upgrade them to a Rook stat block.

For example, if an Initiate of a cult snatches the profane artifact from the ritual circle and runs away from the combat when no one is looking, that otherwise nameless character could become a particular target of the PCs. They might now require a name and a description. This can also come with upgraded attributes, skills, and abilities better fitting for a Rook.

♜ Rook

Rooks are a little more sturdy, or at least more important to the story. They are characters with a little skill to their name, and they don’t go down as easily as Pawns. They have Vitality and Stamina values, but they are usually around half of what a player character might have.

Rook NPCs are often moderately important characters. They might have names, specialized roles, and/or unique motivations. Rooks that become more important to the narrative can be upgraded to Sovereigns by the GM much like Pawns can be upgraded to Rooks. This is particularly useful when the PCs encounter an old foe they thought they'd taken care of, but now has greater tools and powers at their disposal.

♛ Sovereign

Sovereigns are more powerful. Their Vitality might be as high as a PC's or even much higher. They usually have access to powerful abilities to regenerate, take additional actions, or gravely wound their enemies. Sovereigns are the peak of the NPC tiers. They almost always have names, individual motivations, and dangerous abilities. Defeating a particular Sovereign might be an entire adventure all on its own.

Equipment

Many Person NPCs—and certain other creatures—carry arms and/or armor. Each stat sheet specifies what that particular NPC is typically carrying on them. NPCs can use all of the abilities, effects, and boons that come with the items they use.

In the case of boons, since NPCs rarely make rolls, these would be converted into banes by swapping the boon number range to an equivalent bane number range. For example, the Crossbow has the ⮝ Pinpoint (17-20) boon which allows the wielder to add +2 to their Attack roll result. When used by an NPC, this becomes ⮟ Pinpoint (1-4), and instead of adding +2 to the roll result, it adds +2 to the roll's difficulty.

Similarly, items with incremental success effects are inverted to become incremental failure effects. For example, an NPC that Attacks a player character with a Maul would deal additional Damage to them on Failure (-2) instead of Success (+2). This means that if the player fails their ⟳ Defend roll by 2 or more, they'll take 1 additional Damage from the Maul.

The converted rules for relevant NPC items are usually included in their stat sheets, but GMs should feel free to switch out NPC gear to better suit the situation, or to create a variation on an existing NPC. For example, a soldier creature could wield a Polearm instead of a Sword and Shield. Or the soldier might be ambushed in the night, when they aren't wearing their Medium Armor. In this case, they would be easier to hit, but they would also be able to benefit from their full Stamina without the reduction due to the armor's Cumbersome trait.

Defeat

When an NPC has combined Damage and/or Blight equal to their Vitality, they are “defeated.” This wording is left intentionally vague, to encompass a wide variety of outcomes. It could mean the NPC is slain in that very moment. Or they could be rendered unconscious, or disarmed and incited to retreat. The particulars depend on the situation. Often, it’s up to the player who did the defeating to determine what happens. Other times, the GM may have another idea in mind.

In any case, when an NPC is defeated, they are no longer a part of the combat. They can no longer use maneuvers, actions, or instants (except to retreat if they are left conscious).

Creature Traits

Traits are a useful tool to quickly identify common rules about certain game elements, or to easily categorize them, and NPCs are no different. Some traits are purely for referential purposes. For example, a Dire Wolf has the Wolf trait, but there aren't necessarily any special rules surrounding that particular trait, other than specific game effects that refer to Wolf creatures.

Other traits do have special rules that apply to them. For example, the Large trait means the creature is difficult to forcefully move or knock prone, among other things.

Creature Type Traits

NPCs in this section are divided based on their creature type. A creature type reflects an NPC’s nature and origin, and informs something about how they might operate. There are five creature types: Beast, Construct, Horror, Immortal, and Person. Every creature in the game will fall under at least one of these categories, described below:

Beast (trait). Animals both strange and mundane belong to this type. Typically lacking human sapience, beasts are often hunted for sustenance, trophies, or alchemical ingredients. The most impressive beasts are the dragons that soar the skies of Senteia, some of which are sapient. Many Beasts have the Instinctive trait.

Construct (trait). Constructs are artificial entities, composed of inorganic materials and built for a particular purpose. Some are imbued with sapience through magical means, but most are mindless or programmed to perform specific tasks. Most Constructs also have the Inorganic trait.

Horror (trait). Monsters and nightmares, horrors represent that which should never have existed. They include things like undead monstrosities, forgotten creatures of legend, and things that lurk in the farthest reaches of mortal comprehension. Most Horrors also have the Dreadful trait.

Immortal (trait). Although not as elusive as horrors, immortals are nevertheless a rare sight to mortal eyes. They are said to dwell in extra-dimensional planes outside of traditional reality. Human names for these immortals include “angel,” “demon,” “djinn,” etc. They don’t often interface with mortals.

Person (trait). People are civilized creatures, usually bipedal and between 3 and 9 feet tall. Humans are the most common example, but there are many interesting and diverse People in the world of Senteia. Unless otherwise specified, every player character is a Person.

Temperament Traits

Some NPCs have a particular temperament that renders them easier to manipulate when certain tactics are employed. These can be exploited during Tactical Mode or during social encounters. A character who uses the ⮝ Discern boon or the ⦿ Analyze action might be able to pick up on a creature's temperament trait, if they have any.

Adding a temperament trait to an NPC that doesn't already have one is a great and easy way for GMs to add a bit of unique flair to an otherwise less interesting scene or encounter, and to reward players who are paying attention. For instance, one particular pack of wolves might be particularly Aggressive. A force of peasant conscript soldiers might be Cowardly or Suggestible.

Aggressive (trait). This creature is prone to bouts of anger and aggression, and is easily riled. Rolls made to mock or anger this creature (including ⦿ Taunt) are made with +2 edge. Additionally, when a ⦿ Taunt succeeds against this creature, they take 1 additional Stress.

Candid (trait). This creature is an open book, and tends to telegraph their next moves in combat. Rolls made to predict or understand this creature (including ⦿ Analyze) are made with +2 edge. Additionally, when an ⦿ Analyze succeeds against this creature, they take 1 additional Stress.

Cowardly (trait). This creature fears for their own safety and wellbeing to the point of cowardice. Rolls made to command or frighten this creature (including ⦿ Intimidate) are made with +2 edge. Additionally, when an ⦿ Intimidate succeeds against this creature, they take 1 additional Stress.

Gullible (trait). This creature is easily deceived, and is unlikely to be prepared when the rug is pulled out from under them. Rolls made to deceive this creature (including ⦿ Feint) are made with +2 edge. Additionally, when a ⦿ Feint succeeds against this creature, they take 1 additional Stress.

Suggestible (trait). This creature is particularly susceptible to persuasion and de-escalation attempts. Rolls made to persuade or beguile this creature (including ⦿ Parley) are made with +2 edge. Additionally, when a ⦿ Parley succeeds against this creature, they take 1 additional Stress.

Resistance and Vulnerability Traits

Some creatures are hypersensitive or hypertolerant to certain effects. For example, a Construct made of dry straw might be more susceptible to fire damage than other creatures, and a creature that lives in glacial regions might be more tolerant of cold effects than other creatures. The Vulnerable and Resistant traits are used to represent these situations, respectively. Each instance of Vulnerable and Resistant comes with one or more associated traits, listed in parentheses as part of the Vulnerable or Resistant trait. For example, a creature that is Vulnerable to Fire and Lightning would have the Vulnerable (Fire, Lightning) trait.

Note that being Resistant or Vulnerable to multiple traits does not mean the effects are cumulative for effects that have more than one of the relevant traits. For example, a creature that has Vulnerable (Fire, Lightning) would not have their vulnerability trigger twice against an effect that has both the Fire and Lightning traits.

Resistant (trait). This creature is hypertolerant to effects with a particular trait. Whenevery they take any amount of harm (Stress, Fatigue, Damage, Blight) from an effect with one or more of their Resistant traits, they take 1 fewer harm of each of the appropriate types. For example, a creature with the Resistant (Cold) trait that takes 3 Damage and 1 Blight from a Cold effect would take 2 Damage and 0 Blight instead.

Vulnerable (trait). Whenever this creatures takes any amount of harm (Stress, Fatigue, Damage, Blight) from an effect that includes one or more of their Vulnerable traits, they take 1 additional harm of each of the appropriate types. For example, a creature with the Vulnerable (Fire) trait that takes 1 Stress and 2 Damage from a Fire effect would take 2 Stress and 3 Damage instead.

Immunity Traits

Some creatures have unique characteristics that render them immune to certain effects or even types of harm. For example, most Constructs don't tire out the same way most creatures do, and cannot take Stress at all.

When a creature has the Immune trait, it comes with one or more other associated traits or other game rules, listen in parentheses as part of the Immune trait. For example, a creature that is unaffected by Stress and effects with the Fire trait would have the Immune (Stress, Fire) trait.

Immune (trait). This creature is unaffected by effects with the listed traits or game effects. When subjected to one of these effects, they cannot take harm, be forced to use an ability, be given a status effect, etc. If there is any ambiguity about how an effect interacts with a creature that has a relevant Immune trait, the GM decides what happens.

Size Traits

Creature sizes are broadly grouped up into five categories, though the vast majority of creatures fall under one of the three middle categories. The size traits are listed below, in order from smallest to largest. While size categories are traits, they don't appear in the trait line of NPC stat sheets. Instead, it is treated as a main statistic and listed alongside Vitality, Stamina, and Speed, along with a number value that specifies how many spaces the creature typically occupies. This number is often expressed as a range of numbers to allow GMs to tailor a larger creature to a particular environment, or to accommodate both square and hexagonal grids. Creatures that are Small or smaller do not include this value, since they typically occupy less than an entire space on their own.

A creature is usually unaffected by creatures of a smaller size category attempting push or pull them, or knock them prone. When a creature is grappled by a creature that is a smaller size category than they are, they are usually not hampered in any way. If two creatures are in different size categories but are otherwise relatively close in size to each other, the GM may rule otherwise. For example, a Medium creature that occupies 2 spaces might be able to shove a Large creature that only occupies 4 spaces, though doing so might be more difficult or have a reduced effect.

Creatures of smaller size categories are also more difficult to notice to larger creatures. Typically, a creature gains +1 or more edge on rolls made to avoid notice from a creature that is of a larger size category from them. A creature that is multiple size categories smaller than another is unlikely to ever be noticed by the larger creature or have any effect whatsoever on them.

Very Small (trait). This infinitesimal creature is so tiny, it is difficult to perceive using normal senses. This creature never takes falling Damage. They cannot carry any items except for extremely small lightweight items.

Small (trait). This diminutive creature usually occupies less than a single space, meaning it can share a space with other creatures. When this creature falls, they take half the normal amount of Damage. Their normal Burden and maximum Burden limits are both halved. Small creatures can often cling to or ride Medium or larger creatures without imposing a penalty on either creature. For instance, a bird can perch on a Person's shoulder.

Medium (trait). This creature usually occupies 1 to 2 spaces. Any creature that lacks a size trait has the Medium 1 size trait by default.

Large (trait). This giant creature usually occupies anywhere from 3 to around 64 spaces. When this creature falls, they take twice the normal amount of Damage. Unless this creature has wings or some other mode of aerial propulsion, they are unlikely to be able to jump a distance more than a single space, if that. Their normal Burden and maximum Burden limits are both doubled.

Very Large (trait). This colossal creatures occupies a number of spaces ranging from around 64 to an unthinkable number. Because this creature is so large, they often disregard physical laws, or else they subvert them in various ways. For example, blue whales are able to function because they swim in oceans. Vast fungal colonies are made of many different biological structures attached together. Mythical titans use primal magic to sustain their impossibly large frames.

Movement Traits

Many creatures have different locomotion strategies. The rules governing these modes of travel is often summarized by movement traits, seen here.

Aquatic (trait). This creature is at home in the water, allowing them to use their Speed to swim without treating the movement as if it was through difficult terrain.

Gliding (trait). This creature can use their body to ⟳ Glide downward safely.

Levitating (trait). This creature is held aloft by some unnatural or buoyant means, allowing them to float where they wish using their Speed and even hover in place without effort. However, if they are encumbered by Burden, they will drift downward and be unable to float until they are no longer encumbered.

Winged (trait). This creature can use their extended wings to flap and catch air currents, allowing them to ⟳ Glide and ⟳ Hover. They can also fly in any direction using their Speed, but flying straight up or executing complex maneuvers such as sharp turns requires a successful Reflex roll. A creature that flies 1 or more spaces and ends their turn in midair does not fall. However, a Winged creature that starts and ends their turn in the same space in midair without moving must either use ⟳ Glide or ⟳ Hover, or else they fall at the end of their turn.

Other Traits

Dreadful (trait). This creature is horrifying to behold, and their very presence is disquieting to all but Mindless creatures and other Dreadful creatures. As a result, they have +2 edge against Control effects, and Instinctive creatures (such as most animals) must successfully ⟳ Focus against their Presence every round or else use their turns to wildly flee from them.

Incorporeal (trait). This creature lacks a physical form, and exists partially outside of reality. As a result, they are unaffected by Attacks and Toxins, and they can phase through solid objects as if they were difficult terrain.

Inorganic (trait). This creature lacks the usual organic components and processes of other creatures. They might be made of material that was once living, such as wood or flesh, but they don't use them in the way a living organism does. This creature cannot be affected by Toxins and does not need to breathe, eat, or sleep.

Instinctive (trait). This creature lacks the capability for sapient thought, and relies solely on their instincts. Usually, these instincts urge the creature to seek safety, shelter, food, water, and procreation, but some creatures have strange, unnatural instincts. Instinctive creatures typically cannot use Weapons or other such items, but can ⦿ Strike or ⦿ Shoot using natural weapons if they have them. They cannot communicate complex ideas—even among their own kind—, and their communication (if any) is unintelligible to outsiders. As such, they are also incapable of using certain basic abilities that require advanced reasoning or communication, such as ⦿ Analyze and ⦿ Parley. The GM ultimately decides what basic abilities any Instinctive creature can or cannot use.

Mindless (trait). This creature has no conscious thought or instincts beyond their programming, if any. They are incapable of independent thought or decision-making outside of specific parameters. As a result, they are unaffected by Control effects.

Mount (trait). This creature is well-suited to act as a mount or steed for another creature. This creature ignores the Burden imposed by one of their Medium riders, though any other Burden (including that of items carried by the rider) is counted as normal. A creature can only be a rider if they are an appropriate shape and size for the Mount (GM discretion). Typically this means a Medium creature that occupies 1 space (such as a Person) can ride a Medium creature that occupies 2 spaces (such as a horse). Larger creatures can often be ridden as well.

NPC Disposition

The way that any given NPC feels about a player character can be represented using their disposition toward that character. This isn't something that needs to be rigorously tracked for every NPC in the game, however. Some player character abilities interact with NPC disposition, so the GM may have to make a judgment call from time to time.

Disposition Rating. Each disposition rating has an associated edge modifier, which can be applied to any rolls the associated player character makes when attempting to influence that NPC. The difficulty of each roll is still determined by the GM based on the circumstances and the nature of the request, as normal.

For example, a character that is friendly towards a particular PC is slightly easier to influence when that PC asks something of them. But they might have a lower opinion of a different PC in the group, and have a disposition of indifferent towards them.

The GM has full control over what every NPC's disposition is towards every PC, and can adjust dispositions based on player character actions or other in-game criteria at any time.

Limitations of Disposition. Remember that NPCs should still behave according to their own beliefs, capabilities, and common sense. Even a devoted NPC is unlikely to take their own life or give over all their possessions to a trusted player character. Players cannot roll to convince NPCs to do anything outside the realm of possibility for that character.

For example, a famed assassin is extremely unlikely to offer aid to a rival guild member, but it is within the realm of possibility for her help to be persuaded. But that assassin could not be persuaded to give away all of their possessions, turn themselves in to the authorities, and die in prison. At least, not in a single roll. A progress track could be employed for something like this, but it would probably still be futile to attempt and instead result in the PC losing favor in the end.

Designing NPCs

In the course of the GM’s preparation for a session or campaign, they may discover that they have need of unique NPCs that are not presented in the Friends and Foes section. This is perfectly acceptable, and GMs are encouraged to come up with their own creatures to make the world their own.

First, decide what creature type the NPC would fall under. For instance, if you wanted to make a gelatinous ooze monster, what is your vision of how it works? Is it a creature of instinct and hunger? If so, it might fall under the Beast category. Is it more of an eldritch slime from non-Euclidean space? Then it might be a Horror instead. Or, you could always make it have both traits.

Second, decide how many variations you want to make. If all you need is a single creature, then you can get by with a single stat sheet. But if you expect the party to fight many of these oozes, then you might benefit from creating Pawn and Rook varieties, and maybe even a Sovereign for a boss-level NPC.

Third, design the NPC’s stat sheet. Be mindful of how high its physical and mental skills are, as these are the main indicators of its power. And be careful not to allow it too many actions or Attacks per turn, unless it’s a Sovereign and meant to be a great challenge on its own. Refer to other NPC stat sheets for comparison.

Also try to include a few defining effects such as special actions, maneuvers, instants, or banes. These should be thematic to the creature's abilities and behavior.

Finally, decide how the NPC operates. What is its primary motivator? What tactics does it employ in combat? Is it a solo creature, or does it travel in groups? What equipment does it use? The answers to these questions will help you determine how the creature acts in and out of combat.

Character Creation as NPCs

You may be tempted to create unique NPCs using the steps provided in the Character chapter, to make a fully fleshed out NPC with a full suite of abilities. This can certainly work, but it should be done with caution, and sparingly. NPC stat sheets are kept intentionally simple, because the GM must often juggle many different characters at once. Attempting to do this with several fully-realized character sheets could be a difficult task.

If you do decide to create an NPC in this way, follow the character creation steps as normal. Unadjusted, the NPC will be considered a Sovereign. Subtract 2 from its Vitality and Stamina values to make a Rook NPC, or set each of them to 1 to make them a Pawn instead. However, a Pawn created in this way will be complicated to run and more powerful than other Pawns, though also be much more easily defeated.