Anticipate

Intuition
Agility
Empathy

Short Description

Predict your opponent’s next move to enhance your defense or prepare a precise counteraction.

Success Criteria

Roll d100 against DR 120

Effects

Add your success rate to your reaction skill check against the incoming attack.

Modifiers and Restrictions

-10 to DR per battle round you have fought against opponent

-20 to DR if attack is sequenced in a way that was used before (Power attack, bleed the bastard etc)

Action Examples

Step back just before a blade flashes

Lean to the side in sync with a gun barrel shift

Long Description

Anticipate is the art of reading subtle cues—tension in a muscle, eye direction, breath patterns—before an attack is launched. While it doesn’t guarantee avoidance, it can turn a deadly strike into a glancing blow or set up a perfect dodge. When used repeatedly, its power scales with your familiarity: the more often you see an opponent's tactics, the easier they are to read.

The skill is especially potent when countering known styles or used against arrogant foes who rely on repetition. Though it lacks raw power, Anticipate forms a cornerstone of reactive defense, especially when paired with movement skills or predictive modules.

Sequencing

Not great for sequencing as such, but will often be used as an initial reaction against an attack upon which you can do another re-action based on the result of Anticipate.

Potential Counters

Feints

Secret Casting

How to use this page

All the information above is intended as a guide to help you navigate the many situations that can arise during your game. Since it's both impossible—and frankly uninspiring—to plan for every possible outcome, players are encouraged to think creatively when using their skills. Game Masters, in turn, are encouraged to embrace and support that creativity.

Whenever possible, aim to resolve situations through narrative choices, logical thinking and role playing. If that’s not feasible, agree on a Difficulty Rating (DR) using the provided Success Criteria and Modifiers. These are not rigid rules, but suggestions - starting points to help you find the right level of challenge. The player describes their intended action, and the Game Master proposes a DR. This should be open to brief discussion at the table, ideally resulting in consensus. If not, the Game Master has the final say.

It’s important to emphasize that all suggested effects, modifiers, and action examples are exactly that: suggestions. If you’re unsure how to resolve something, they offer a reliable fallback—but wherever possible, we encourage you to push boundaries. That’s where some of the most memorable and exciting moments in play are born.

Sequencing and Potential Counters are far from exhaustive. With hundreds of skills, spells, and tech modules in the game, the possibilities are too vast to list. You’re encouraged to explore combinations that make sense in your story and setting and in the situations that arise in your game. Sequencing and countering are core to Cosmic Odyssey - they’re where strategic depth meets dramatic flair, and where legendary moments often take shape. Even if no sequencing and counters are mentioned, some certainly exists and can be smartly utilized.

So explore boldly, improvise wisely, and enjoy the game as it unfolds around your choices.