Whirlwind

Agility
Strength
Presence

Short Description

Hold your attack and unleash a flurry of reactive strikes the moment enemies enter your melee range - forcing them to either stay back or get hit.

Success Criteria

No roll when used — Whirlwind is a prepared defensive action

Attack automatically triggers when an opponent steps into melee range

Attack is made with –20 to Attack Bonus (AB)

Effects

No roll when used — Whirlwind is a prepared defensive action

Attack automatically triggers when an opponent steps into melee range

Attack is made with –20 to Attack Bonus (AB)

Modifiers and Restrictions

You must give up your main attack that round to prepare Whirlwind and you cannot move while you have Whirlwind 'activated'.

Each attack triggered only costs 1 AP.

Action Examples

Chokepoint Defense

You ready Whirlwind in front of a narrow corridor.

→ Two enemies step into range.

→ You spend 2 additional AP and make two separate attacks at AB –20 each.

Long Description

Whirlwind is a proactive combat skill that lets a character abandon their standard offensive action in favor of controlling their surroundings. It simulates wide sweeping strikes, maintained pressure, and a strong defensive stance that punishes any foe stepping into your threatened zone.
Ideal for warriors with reach weapons, tanks defending doorways, or fighters controlling a tight battlefield space.

While simple in setup, it requires good anticipation and timing. Since you're forgoing your main attack and committing to reactionary behavior, the risk is that enemies might stay out of your range, or use skills like Sliding Attack to bypass your threat area.

However, when correctly positioned and supported, Whirlwind can dominate an entire zone—especially against aggressive melee opponents.

Sequencing

Sequence with Defensive Matrix Stabilizer for a strong defensive combo.

Potential Counters

Closing skills, lunging attack and sliding attack.

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.