Broken Wing Gambit

Creativity

Self Discipline

Empathy

Short Description

Feign weakness, fear, or injury to draw enemy aggression, provoke tactical errors or gain sympathy in social situations.

Success Criteria

Roll d100 against DR 100 + target resilience

Effects

In combat, if you are successful, the target of the gambit will prioritize attacking you in their next action phase. Against that attack, you will have a bonus to any reaction you make.

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Can also be used socially to draw sympathy, appear non-threatening, or manipulate perceptions giving a bonus to all social and diplomatic skills in situations directly related to the gambit.

The bonus in and out of combat is +5 per 10 success rate.

Modifiers and Restrictions

-20 to DR if the gambit is believable (you are already injured but feign to be very injured for example).

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Action Examples

You let your blade clatter to the ground and clutch your shoulder, baiting a dominant foe into charging you while you secretly prepare a defensive or offensive counter to their attack.

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In a tense negotiation, you present yourself as overwhelmed and fragile, shifting the emotional balance in your favor.

Long Description

Broken Wing Gambit is a psychological manipulation tactic designed to provoke rash actions by appearing wounded or vulnerable. Drawing on social cunning and emotional presence, it works by painting the user as an easy target—only to use that false impression to lure enemies into disadvantageous actions.

In combat, it can redirect enemy attention, setting them up for counters or decoys. Outside of combat, it functions as a form of emotional leverage, opening doors for deception, escape, or control. It is particularly powerful when used by those who can follow up with defensive reaction skills or strategic repositioning.

Sequencing

Sequence with defensive counters such as parry melee, Hedgehog Tactics or dodge missile if ranged.

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Potential Counters

Not any direct counters except things like true seeing.

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.