Multiple Opponents

Defense

Intuition

Agility

Self Discipline

Short Description

You have specialized your defensive movements to counter multiple opponents.

Success Criteria

Roll d100 versus DR 100

Effects

Add the success rate to your defensive bonus and divide between the number of attackers.

Modifiers and Restrictions

Standard combat modifiers

Action Examples

You find yourself up against 3 attackers for 1 round before your allies can help you. You go into 'Multiple Oppoents' which you have 75 skill bonus in. You roll a 50 and can add 25 to your Defensive Bonus. Your Defensive Bonus is 20, so you reach a total lf 45, which gives you a DB of 15 against each of the 3 attackers. (Orignally you would have had 20 against 1 and 0 against the other 2).

Long Description

Multiple Opponents reflects rigorous training to anticipate, deflect, and mitigate attacks from different directions in melee. Most fighters crumble when flanked or outnumbered, but a trained combatant using this skill maintains their guard through economy of motion, awareness, and endurance.

It scales well with defensive playstyles, shield use, and any combatant operating in tight quarters or tasked with holding lines. This skill's DB bonus stacks with other defensive effects (such as stance bonuses), allowing heavily outnumbered defenders to survive longer.

Sequencing

Great for sequencing.

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Sequence with unflankable to avoid attackers taking advantage of numbers, whirlwind to get attacks against opponents in melee range, defensive stance for an even stronger defense etc.

Potential Counters

Sliding Attack - Undermines fixed defensive postures by attacking from unusual angles

Flanking Maneuver - force an opposed roll against 'multiple opponents'

Coordinated Fire - Gives bonus per attacker to the attackers to overpower the defense against multiple opponents.

Spells against resilience.

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.