Steelmind

Self Discipline
Constitution
Presence

Short Description

Use pure willpower to shield your mind from magical intrusion, gaining temporary resilience against mental effects.

Success Criteria

Roll d100 versus DR 100

Effects

On a successful roll, you gain +3 Resilience plus 3 per 10 Success Rate.  SR +10 = +6, SR +20 = +9 for 1 round.

Modifiers and Restrictions

On reuse of this skill, add +10 to your next Fatigue Threshold roll per reuse.

Action Examples

Anticipating a charm spell

Roll: d100 + Steelmind skill (e.g. 75) = 118

SR: 118 – 100 = 18 → +6 Resilience for 1 round.

Long Description

Steelmind represents intense inner control and clarity of thought. Practitioners use it to resist spells and abilities that cloud the mind, such as fear, confusion, charm, or domination. It is a mental buffer, honed through meditation or trauma-hardened discipline, that temporarily enhances the user’s Resilience against these influences. The effect scales directly with focus and mental fortitude—players willing to spend more AP and maintain composure in crisis can repel even advanced mental assaults.

This skill is particularly effective in battles involving Mentalists, Mind-affecting Tech, or Illusion-based magic. It pairs well with skills or actions that anticipate magical threats.

Sequencing

Not optimized for sequencing.

Potential Counters

No 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.