Back to skillsBack to Character Creation Page

Military Strategy

Academics
No items found.

Short Description

The skill to evaluate and analyse military strategies as well as large-scale combat situations and events. Used to identify strengths, weaknesses, and optimal strategies to ensure battlefield success.

Success Criteria

Effects

Modifiers and Restrictions

Action Examples

Guess the strategic goal of an opposing side in a battle (standard DR 100, can be modified if a strategist on the opposing side aims to conceal their goals).

Long Description

Military Strategy allows a character to evaluate large-scale conflicts, analyze troop movements, and anticipate enemy plans across a battlefield. It can be used in war councils, battlefield observations, or when deciphering an opponent’s broader intent in a confrontation. This skill supports strategic decision-making that can shift the tide of engagements even before swords clash.

‍

Characters trained in military strategy may sequence this skill with formation control to bolster defensive positions, or with tactical coordination to enhance ally maneuvering. It pairs well with risk assessment when evaluating multiple high-risk options, or leadership skills like regroup and rallying cry to maintain morale and battlefield cohesion. A well-timed insight from this skill can prevent disastrous flanking, uncover hidden troop deployments, or optimize your party’s battle plan. A common use is attempting to identify the enemy’s overall goal mid-battle to anticipate and counter it.

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.