Headshot

Agility

Intuition

Self Discipline

Short Description

Headshot is a sneak attack with a missile weapon, often aimed at the back of the head, resulting in significant damage or instant incapacitation of the opponent.

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Success Criteria

Effects

Modifiers and Restrictions

Action Examples

Roll d100. You can add your the success rate to your attack roll (in addition to bonuses from positioning that you will often have - you will only have those bonuses once!).

If target is moving you have a +20 to DR. If target is aware of you or are in melee combat, you will have a +40 penalty to the DR.

Long Description

Headshot represents perfect control under pressure—timed aim, breath control, and anatomical precision. It’s ideal for stealthy shooters, dueling gunslingers, or snipers delivering fight-ending shots. Especially effective with pistols, rifles, or other precision weapons, it rewards patience and accuracy over volume of fire.

Pairs well with:

Move Silently – to get into position
Ambush – for surprise bonuses
Fire Into Melee – to strike cleanly in crowded conditions
Silent Takedown – to eliminate sentries before they can alert others
Deadly Aim – to increase critical chance and damage output
Sniping – for long-distance execution under pressure

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.