Poison Use

Boldness

Reasoning

Creativity

Short Description

Understand how to dose, apply, and handle poisons safely and effectively—without causing harm to yourself or wasting the toxin.

Success Criteria

Effects

Modifiers and Restrictions

Action Examples

- Determine the correct dosage of a toxin based on target size (DR 100-120+ (if unfamiliar with race)).

- Apply poison to a weapon without risking self-contamination (DR 100, harder with unstable or magical toxins).

- Assess whether a poison should be inhaled, ingested, or delivered via wound (DR 100–140, depending on rarity).

- Recognize if a poison is still active or has degraded due to time or exposure (DR 90+)

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Does not include creation of poisons, toxins etc.

Long Description

Poison Use helps you understand how a toxin works, how to handle it, and how much is needed for effect. It doesn't cover stealthy delivery, concealment, or crafting—only the application knowledge needed to support those actions. You ensure poisons don’t backfire or go to waste.

Pairs well with:

Toxicology or Herbalism – to create or refine poisons
Sleight of Hand – for covert delivery
Weapon Use – to choose correct delivery platforms
Medical – for understanding symptoms or countermeasures

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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.