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Situational Awareness

Awareness
Intuition
Memory
Empathy

Short Description

Special training improves your general perception when you are actively scanning for specific threats. You must clearly state what you're looking for - an item, concealed weapons etc.

Success Criteria

Effects

Modifiers and Restrictions

Action Examples

Roll d100 against DR 100 to see if you are successful.

Before entering the market plaza, you declare that you're watching for individuals carrying concealed weapons. You roll Situational Awareness to spot bulges under jackets, unnatural posture, or scanning behavior.

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  • +10 DR – You are multitasking or under time pressure
  • +15 DR – The target is using moderate concealment or sleight of hand
  • +20 DR – The area is crowded, loud, or chaotic
  • +25 DR – Target is deliberately blending in or using active disguise
  • +30+ DR – The environment is unfamiliar, or the threat uses magic/tech to hide

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    Long Description

    Situational Awareness provides a focused, tactical perception boost when you are alert and observant—but it is not passive. The skill only applies if you clearly declare what you’re watching for before or during the scene. Vague intent like “I stay alert” is not enough.

    When used properly, you can spot surveillance devices, ambushers, saboteurs, or environmental hazards before they activate. Success may allow you to reposition, warn allies, or act before others. In coordinated teams, this skill becomes key to preventing surprise and seizing initiative.

    This skill requires concentration, so you can only do this one skill.

    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.