Unarmed Combat

Brawling

Strength

Agility

Quickness

Short Description

Engage in melee without weapons while avoiding the usual defensive penalties.

Success Criteria

Roll d100 against DR 100.

Effects

If successful, you can subtract the successrate from the standard -25 (vulnerable) penalty to defense bonus as you are not considered vulnerable.

Modifiers and Restrictions

Subtract 10 per round (after the first) you're fighting unarmed against armed opponents

Action Examples

Rush into melee and deflect blade swings with bare hands and dodges while delivering a martial arts strikes

Defend against an attacker while unarmed

Long Description

Unarmed Combat allows a character to fight back or defend themselves without needing to draw a weapon. It shines in improvised brawls, surprise attacks, or when disarmed. While effective at avoiding the worst of the vulnerability penalty, it does not increase your offensive potential unless paired with martial maneuvers like Martial Art Strikes.

Each additional round you fight unarmed against armed foes makes it harder to maintain your defensive posture, represented by an accumulative –10 penalty per round. This skill emphasizes staying fluid and reactive in close quarters even when outmatched by weaponry.

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.