Quickened Casting

Reasoning
Memory
Quickness

Short Description

Accelerate your magical tempo to unleash multiple attack spells in a single round with reduced penalties.

Success Criteria

Roll d100 versus DR100

Effects

Success: Subtract 10 from the penalty for each extra attack plus gain an additional -5 modifier per 10 points of success rate

Failure: You have disadvange on your next Fatigue Threshold roll (roll twice - use lowest)

Modifiers and Restrictions

-10 to DR if you casts spells within the same category

+10 to DR if you change category

(if you cast the same spell, you will face the -25 combat modifier of recasting attack spells as well as the penalty to cast multiple attack spells, but that modifies the spell - not this skill).

Action Examples

You cast Lava Eruption followed by Incinerate Orb and you roll a 120 total on your skill check. The second spell's penalty is reduced from -50 to -25 (DR is 90 because you stayed in the same category).

Long Description

Quickened Casting lets combat mages break traditional action limits. It channels deep familiarity and mental agility into an offensive tempo that overwhelms slower foes. While no spellcaster can completely ignore the strain of multiple casts, this skill allows them to shave penalties and make two or even three attacks feasible within one round.

The reduced penalty only applies to attack spells (as spells cast as a defensive reaction do not have the attack penalty), and requires a lot Action Points to support multiple casts. Tactical positioning, target selection, and storing up Action points are key. If paired with Delay Spell, Phantom Casting, or Spell Feint, the result is unpredictable and hard to counter.

It also synergizes well with:

  • Spell Sculpting – to adjust AoE impact
  • Seeking Spell – for redirecting follow-ups
  • Smart Casting – for +5 to most attack spellls

Sequencing

Will often be to expensive to sequence, but consider any of the above mentioned skills.

Potential Counters

Counterspell, Dispelling Strike (if the spell requires concentration), Evade Spell Attacks and similar are direct 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.