Improvised Weapon

Strength

Quickness

Creativity

Short Description

You have a natural talent for turning everyday objects into makeshift weapons. While these improvised tools may not be the most effective in combat, catching an opponent off guard can grant you a surprise attack.

Success Criteria

Roll d100 and subtract –20 from your attack roll as you're using a non-standard weapon.

Effects

You choose from one of three base weapon tables: dagger, axe, or mace.

Modifiers and Restrictions

Standard combat modifiers.

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Action Examples

Slamming a bar stool across someone's back when they weren’t expecting violence (+25 surprise and +25 rear attack bonus)

Using a tankard to crack a jaw just as an argument escalates (+25 surprise bonus)

Ripping a pipe from the wall and swinging it like a club when cornered

Long Description

Improvised Weapon allows you to weaponize the environment. In chaotic brawls or desperate moments, characters who master this skill can make do with whatever’s at hand—creating violent openings or even finishing a fight with a shattered bottle. This is a one-off weapon strike designed for surprise and opportunity, not sustained combat. The skill encourages creative thinking and benefits from preparation, positioning, and situational awareness.

Sequencing

Quick Draw (1 AP) → Improvised Weapon (2 AP) – Grab and swing in a fast motion to catch your opponent off-guard.

Feint (1 AP) → Improvised Weapon (2 AP) – Distract with body language before striking with a concealed object.

Potential Counters

Anticipate – Prepares against sudden attacks like thrown bottles

Riposte - allows for a counter

Dange sense - allows to sense if aggression is immanent.

Predictive Combat Overlay (AR) - bonus to defense

Chrono Lock (Chronology) - delays the damage of the attack if it is a projective/thrown object

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.