Defensive Stance

Defense

Agility

Self Discipline

Presence

Short Description

You have perfected your defensive stance and can go very defensive with less penalty to your offense.

Success Criteria

Roll d100 against DR 100.

Effects

You instantly go to Defensive Stance and for 1 round you:

- gain your full success rate as a bonus to your Defense Bonus

- only suffer half that amount as a penalty to your Attack Bonus

After 1 round, you revert to standard defensive stance (+20 DB / -20 AB)

Ex: Success Rate 40→ +40 DB / -20 AB for 1 round

Modifiers and Restrictions

+10 DR per use in the same battle.

+20 DR if you want to use the DB against 1 extra opponent (+40 for 3 opponents eg.)

Action Examples

Falling into a low, guarded stance with minimal openings as a reaction to an aggessive and dangerous opponent.

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Long Description

Defensive Stance allows a character to switch directly into a heightened state of physical and mental defense. Unlike the standard defensive posture (which grants +20 DB and imposes –20 AB), this skill grants a much greater defensive bonus—equal to your success rate—while reducing the penalty to your Attack Bonus to only half that amount. This means skilled users can potentially raise their defense dramatically without becoming completely passive or giving up all offensive potential.

The stance can be assumed without delay, making it a tactical choice in the flow of combat, especially when anticipating heavy incoming attacks or drawing enemy attention. It shines when used in conjunction with reaction-based skills or as a way to hold ground while awaiting support.

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Sequencing

Not very good for sequencing.

Potential Counters

No direct countes, but offensive stance and skills, modules and magic that boosts attack and naturally those that go against Resilience as only Defensive Bonus is boosted.

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.