Law

Reasoning
Memory
Self Discipline

Short Description

Understanding, interpreting, and exploiting legal systems, regulations, and judicial processes for personal or group advantage.

Success Criteria

Roll: d100 + Law skill vs. DR 100

Effects

Success: You interpret or apply the law to your benefit (gain access, reduce penalties, sway a legal figure).

Modifiers and Restrictions

–20 DR — You are in a legal system you know well

–10 DR — The case involves common or straightforward rules

+20 DR — Legal system is unknown or obscure

+15 DR — You are trying to exploit a loophole

+30 DR — You are trying to manipulate or overturn established rulings

Action Examples

You’re detained by Ofelas police on a charge of theft. You invoke Law to cite jurisdictional conflicts in the Ofelas Mandate. The GM sets DR to 110 due to the complexity and your lack of full access to case files. A strong roll may grant release.

Long Description

The Law skill allows characters to navigate legal systems with precision—whether acting as attorneys, political operatives, or just savvy criminals. It spans courtroom drama, interstellar treaties, and minor legal maneuvers like permits, contracts, or extradition.

You can use Law to delay trials, expose hidden clauses, challenge authorities, or win diplomatic immunity. The better you know the jurisdiction, the easier the roll. High-level play may include rewriting clauses in old trade accords or shielding allies under obscure legal protections.

Sequencing

Not optimal 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.