Riposte

Agility
Quickness
Intuition

Short Description

Strike back the moment your opponent finishes their attack.

Success Criteria

Roll 1d100 + Riposte skill bonus. Subtract any damage taken from the attack to beat DR 100.

Effects

If successful, you gain the opportunity to do an attack against the original attacker. It will cost you the price in Action Points, but it will not count as an attack meaning that it will be with no penalty to the attack due to being an extra attack (and if you have your attack after, that also will not be penalized as an extra attack).

Modifiers and Restrictions

Standard combat modifiers (including the +25 to DR for re-use).

Action Examples

You barely block a strike, suffer 10 damage, subtract it from your 120 riposte roll - your result is 110, enough to counterattack with your glaive.

Long Description

Riposte turns pain into opportunity. It allows a character to immediately counterattack after absorbing or deflecting a blow. Unlike attack-of-opportunity mechanics, Riposte is based on discipline, agility, and intuition. The more damage you take, the harder it becomes to respond, reflecting the physical toll of melee combat.

Riposte demands strong combat instincts, quick reactions, and a refusal to give ground. It's ideal for melee fighters who wish to punish overconfident enemies or duelists who rely on precision and timing. It can be used to attempt to gain an extra attack, or it can be used as the main attack from a strong defense.

Sequencing

Usually starts a sequence followed by an attack.

Potential Counters

Feinting: A deceptive attack causes a failed riposte attempt by baiting the defender into reacting to the wrong strike

Staggering Strike Reduces AP and initiative, often making Riposte impractical

Disengage - Sequenced with the main attack, this can lead to an opposite roll to see, if the original attacker manages to jump out of range before the riposte.

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.