Coup de Grace

Strength
Presence
Agility

Short Description

Coup de Grace is a lethal finishing move delivered to a helpless or incapacitated opponent, ensuring maximum damage and a swift end to the fight.

Success Criteria

Effects

Modifiers and Restrictions

Action Examples

When attacking a defenseless opponent you can add your success rate in Coup de Grace to your attack roll and do extra damage in addition to the standard bonus (50 that you will only get once).

Long Description

  • Silent Takedown – quietly render targets unconscious to set up a clean finisher
  • Backstab – sneak into position and strike without being seen
  • Choke Hold – restrain or knock out a foe for a follow-up kill
  • Bleed the Bastard – use after Coup de Grace for maximum sustained damage with a piercing weapon
  • Decoy Tactics – mislead foes to make one vulnerable for the final blow
  • Deceptive Strike (Module) – force target into a weakened stance before striking
  • Sequencing

    Potential Counters

    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.