Forensic Medicine

Medical

Reasoning

Memory

Intuition

Short Description

Investigate the cause and time of death, analyze wounds, and reconstruct scenes to uncover what happened and how.

Success Criteria

Roll d100 versus DR 100

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Might end in an oopposed roll if body, scene etc. was purposedly tampered with to destroy evidence. One could use Forensic Medicing to do this.

Effects

Determine (or hide):

Cause of death (blunt force, spell, toxin, etc.)

Approximate time of death (with ±1 hour per 10 SR margin)

Damage type (physical, energy, magic, hybrid) (+20 SR can be more specific (Energy = Fire, Frost, Electricity etc).

Species-specific details if alien or unfamiliar physiology is present

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Modifiers and Restrictions

+20 to +50 to DR if body is partially consumed, decomposed, or magically damaged

+10 to +30 to DR if scene is heavily disrupted, weathered, or tampered with

+20 to +60 to DR Centuries-old death, magical/alien influence

+20 to DR: No easy recognizable

-10 to DR if body is untouched or crime scene preserved

-20 to DR: Easily recognizable signs (burns, wounds etc.)

Action Examples

Examining a centuries-old skeleton in a monster cave

Very decomposed (+50 DR), burns (-20 to DR)
DR = 100 + 30 = 130
Roll = 135 → Success Rate +5 → Findings: blunt force trauma and evidence of high heat source or similar (energy attack)

This suggests that you might want to prepare skill, spells, modules etc. that can defend against heavy, crushing attacks and energy attacks.

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Long Description

Forensic Medicine is the disciplined application of medical, anatomical, and investigative skills to understand death and injury. Practitioners use wounds, tissue damage, body decay, and environmental clues to answer pressing questions: What killed them? When? And how?

This skill is vital in unraveling murders, monster attacks, or magical catastrophes. In wilderness or alien ruins, it can prevent walking into the same fate. In political plots, it can unravel foul play masked as accident. While not always combat-focused, its insights can shape strategic choices—and narratives. It can, if needed, also be used to hide all these things...

Its usefulness grows when combined with other knowledge: Toxicology for poisons, Magic Lore for magical causes etc.

Sequencing

Not optimized for sequencing.

Potential Counters

No direct 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.