Resist Magical Drain

Magic Insights

Self Discipline

Reasoning

Constitution

Short Description

Withstand harmful magical effects that attempt to drain Action Points, Health, or other personal resources.

Success Criteria

Opposed Roll (1d100 + skill bonus vs. Spell’s Attack Roll)

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You must know which spell is being cast at you. If you only know the spell category, you get a -20 penalty to your roll.

Effects

Success: Resist the magical effect that would drain Action Points, Health, or similar resources.

Modifiers and Restrictions

+20 to your roll if the spell has already been used against you in the same battle.

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You will suffer the -25 being obvious combat penalty if you re-use this skill in the same combat.

Action Examples

You are hit by Spirit Tap and roll an opposed check against the caster’s attack roll of 115. You succeed with 125. You avoid losing the Action Point to the spell's effect.

Long Description

Resist Magical Drain represents a caster’s or creature’s innate or trained ability to resist spells and effects that would leech away their stamina, health, or focus. By recognizing magical patterns and building internal fortitude, you can stand your ground against some of the most insidious forms of arcane assault — from spirit-draining hexes to siphoning rituals cast by blood mages. The more familiar you are with the threat, the easier it becomes to endure its pull.

Use this skill whenever confronted with drain-type effects, whether in traps, monster abilities, or spells like Drain Life, Spirit Tap, or Curse Target.

Sequencing

Spellcraft – Identify incoming spells, making resistance easier

Potential Counters

Skills etc. that makes it harder to detect which spell is cast can make the use of this skill harder even if they are not 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.