Music

Presence

Empathy

Creativity

Short Description

The art of singing, performing on a musical instrument, producing musicial compositions, and expressing emotions, stories, or messages through music.

Success Criteria

Effects

Modifiers and Restrictions

Action Examples

You perform in a tavern with skill and emotion.

DR 80: The innkeeper offers food and a place to sleep.
DR 100+: You sway the local crowd's opinion or draw out hidden admirers.
DR 130+: Gain a temporary ally or access to an exclusive location (e.g., noble hall or rebel hideout).

Long Description

Music channels emotion and rhythm into influence. Whether soothing wounded spirits, inciting courage before battle, or luring crowds into a trance, skilled musicians turn performance into power. You might calm a mob, signal allies during stealth, or mask the sound of infiltration.

Music is especially useful when paired with:

Battle Chant – to turn rhythm into combat impact
Poetry & Writing – for lyrical compositions or propaganda
Storytelling – to deliver musical narratives with deep meaning
Illusion Magic – to enhance sound-based illusions or glamours
Sonic Magic – amplifies magical effects tied to sound

In cultural, social, or magical situations, music can be more than art—it becomes your voice, your mask, or your weapon

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.