Counterspell

Quickness
Agility
Reasoning

Short Description

Interrupt and overload enemy spellcasting, forcing casters to spend extra energy - or cancel the spell entirely.

Success Criteria

Roll an opposed d100 against the enemy's spellcasting roll.

You must call the use of counterspell before the spell attack is rolled.

Effects

On success, target must spend +1 AP to complete the spell - If they cannot or will not, the spell fizzles.

For each +20 success rate, the AP cost for the target caster is increased by by +1 Action Point.

Modifiers and Restrictions

+15 bonus to your roll if you are in melee range with the caster.  

+10 bonus to your roll if you know which spell is cast and the spell cast is in a Spell Category you have learned.

+20 bonus to your roll if you know which spell is cast and you can cast same spell.

-10 penalty to your roll if you have used Counterspell before in the current battle.

You will have the -25 penalty for Being obvious if you reuse this skill 2 rounds in a row.

Action Examples

An enemy caster begins to cast a spell that you suspect could have dire consequences if successful. You declare counterspell from outside melee range. The caster rolls 105 on their attack roll, and you counter it with a roll of 110. Thus the price of casting the spell is 1 AP higher and the caster must decide if they want to go through with it.

Long Description

Counterspell allows magical tacticians to manipulate the fragile casting process of opponents. Rather than simply blocking a spell, this skill adds magical resistance to the casting itself, overloading the mental and physical requirements. Casters must then overexert themselves or watch their spell unravel. Counterspell thrives in fast-paced magical duels where a well-timed disruption can waste enemy AP or stop devastating spells outright. Skillful use of Counterspell often determines who dominates a magical confrontation.

Sequencing

Spellcraft (Skill): Helps identify the spell being cast so Counterspell can be timed effectively

Recognize Spell Category (Skill): Allows you to prepare the right counter for unknown casters. Might be a better choice compared to spell craft if you are not a caster.

Potential Counters

Not direct counters, but skills that can make you use counterspell at the wrong time:

Phantom Casting (Skill): Makes you counter a fake spell

Spell Feint (Skill): Applies a penalty to your roll

Counterstrike Casting (Skill): If you counter them, they can respond with a different spell immediately

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.