Diplomatic Pressure

Presence

Creativity

Empathy

Short Description

Exert sustained influence on others by applying social leverage, emotional appeal, or repeated framing to erode resistance over time.

Success Criteria

d100 + Diplomatic Pressure skill vs. DR 100 + target resilience

Effects

If successful, you will gain +10 to any skill checks in the Diplomacy, Leadership, Social and Tactics categories aginst the target. This increase by +5 per 10 success rate.

Modifiers and Restrictions

–30 DR — You are in combat

–20 DR — You hold leverage or social authority

‍–10 DR — Target is already hesitant, conflicted, or emotionally worn

‍+10 DR — You are of lower rank or perceived as weak

‍+25 DR — Target risks major loss if they comply or they do not like you

‍+20 DR — You’ve recently been caught in a lie or manipulation

Action Examples

In a negotiation with a mining guild rep, you apply Diplomatic Pressure by hinting at realistic political fallout. The GM sets DR to 80 due to the rep’s stress and your leverage. You roll against this to see if they start to concede.

Long Description

Diplomatic Pressure is the art of wearing down resistance without open confrontation. It involves repeated framing, layered appeals, and subtle emotional influence—often over multiple exchanges. This skill is not about single convincing arguments, but about persistence: reframing losses as gains, creating openings through empathy, or leveraging doubts until the target reconsiders.

Unlike bluffing or persuasion, this technique is slow-burning and best suited for drawn-out negotiations, bureaucratic stand-offs, or psychological influence during tense standoffs. It is particularly effective when the target must make a difficult decision or is under conflicting loyalties.

Sequencing

Sequence with skill like Read the Room or Glibness for a more effective pressure.

‍

Sequence with Academic skills such as history, social sciences or philosophy to gain leverage.

Potential Counters

Influence Detection – Identifies your long-term tactics and raises DR for further pressure

Sense Motive – Reveals intent behind your approach, increasing resistance

Black Velvet (Dark Magic Spell Power)Adds a +10 bonus to persuasion-type skill checks. Can only be used once per target but stacks well with Diplomatic Pressure

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.