Vulnerability Assessment

Intuition
Reasoning
Empathy

Short Description

Identify vulnerabilities (and strengths) in enemies to exploit in combat or spellcasting.

Success Criteria

Effects

Modifiers and Restrictions

Action Examples

Roll d100 – against DR 120 adjusted for target’s Base Defense and Resilience

-10 DR per battle round after the first

-10 DR per extra Action Point spent on this check

Long Description

Vulnerability Assessment enables you to recognize tactical vulnerabilities or key strengths in your opponent. With each 20 points of success rate, you learn 1 significant trait—starting with the most exploitable or dangerous. This could reveal a low Resilience or Base Defense score, a reliance on specific attacks, or even immunities and resistances.

You may combine this with tactical or magical choices to adjust your next attack, support a teammate, or switch strategy entirely. Spot Weakness works especially well in the early phases of battle, where a high success can reframe the whole encounter.

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.