Staggering Strike

Melee Expertise

Strength

Agility

Intuition

Short Description

Strike with precise force to shake your opponent’s balance and defensive posture, leaving them exposed.

Success Criteria

Roll d100 versus DR 100 + target resilience.

Effects

Target loses 5 DB for the remainder of this round plus 5 per 10 success rate. +10 Success rate =10, +20 success rate =15, +30 success rate =-20 etc.

Modifiers and Restrictions

+20 DR on reuse against the same opponent.

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-20 to DR if used with a shield.

Action Examples

You jab your opponent off-center during an exchange. Target Resilience = 15 → DR = 115. Skill 60 + Roll 70 = 130 -> DB penalty of -10 for the remainder of this battle round.

Long Description

Staggering Strike is designed to compromise an enemy's defensive posture without necessarily doing damage. It exploits a brief moment of instability or lapse in physical resilience to lower the target’s ability to deflect or absorb attacks. When timed correctly, it opens a window where your allies—or you—can strike with increased effectiveness. Since the DB reduction only lasts until the end of the round, it’s best used early or in coordination with follow-up attacks. This makes it an ideal opener in melee combos or team tactics.

Sequencing

Sequence with any skills, spells and modules that can enhance your dice roll (like Focus - spell) or lower target resilience like (Biochemical Warfare - module)

Potential Counters

Skills, spells and modules that allows you to anticipate the move or enhances your resilience (stone skin - spell)are good 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.