Precision Nerve Shock

Agility
Quickness
Creativity

Short Description

Exploit the nervous system with a sudden, targeted strike to disrupt an opponent’s action, forcing them to expend additional effort or abandon their attempt.

Success Criteria

Your Skill + d100 vs. DR 100 + target resilience.

Effects

If successful, the opponent must spend 1 additional Action Point to complete the action.

If the target cannot or chooses not to spend the extra AP, the action fails.

Modifiers and Restrictions

You must be in melee range and you must have a hand free to do this.

-20 if you reuse this skill in the same batlle (per extra use.)

Standard combat modifiers apply to this skill.

Action Examples

An enemy attempts to cast a spell next to you and you can reach out and hit them with a seemingly harmless jab, but you hit a nerve point causing a jolt in the enemy.

  • Opposed Roll: You roll 138 - the caster rolls 127
  • Result: Spell costs 1 additional AP; the caster is now short and loses the spell

Long Description

Precision Nerve Shock uses precise strikes to intercept the body’s neural signals at the moment of action. Drawing on detailed anatomical knowledge, the user targets exposed junctions or nerve pathways, causing pain, misfire, or momentary shutdowns that interfere with motor coordination or cognitive focus. This isn’t a full disabling blow—it’s a perfectly timed jolt that forces the target to work harder just to follow through with what they intended.

It functions as a battlefield reaction against any adjacent opponent initiating a skill, attack, spell, or tech-based action. A well-timed nerve shock can force enemies to spend extra Action Points, throwing off their tempo or even canceling the action outright if they’re overextended. This makes it a potent defensive option, especially for support characters trained in anatomy and high-pressure intervention.

Sequencing

Sequence with skills like unarbmed fighting, touch spell to make the move less dangerous for you.

Potential Counters

Event Horizon: Applies –10 to all rolls within a 3m radius, which includes your reaction roll or skills etc. that enhance 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.