Combat Reference

Coriolis - The Third Horizon

Initiative & Turn Order

Starting Combat

Step	Action
1	All combatants roll 1D6 for initiative
2	Higher scores act first (ties: roll off)
3	Keep dice visible - score persists all combat
4	When all have acted, new turn begins

One combat turn = approximately 10-20 seconds

Initiative Modifiers

Source	Modifier
Surprise attack	+2 (first turn only)
Weapon initiative bonus	+X (must attack with weapon)
Bonus effect spent	+2 per six
Lower voluntarily	Any (permanent)

Action Points

Each Turn

You receive 3 Action Points (AP) to spend. AP refresh at the start of each turn.

Action Type	AP Cost	Examples
SLOW	3 AP	Aimed shot, Full auto fire, First aid, Activate mystical power, Tinker with gadget
NORMAL	2 AP	Melee attack, Normal ranged shot, Reload weapon, Ram with vehicle
FAST	1 AP	Sprint (10m), Take cover, Draw weapon, Parry, Quick shot, Go into overwatch, Hit the ground, Get up
FREE	0 AP	Roll armor, Defend in opposed roll, Quick shout to ally

Common Action Combinations

Option A

FAST + FAST + FAST

Three quick actions

Option B

NORMAL + FAST

Standard attack + movement

Option C

SLOW

One careful action

Melee Combat

Making an Attack

NORMAL ACTION - 2 AP

Roll

MELEE COMBAT = ATR + SKL + WPN

Success = Roll at least one 6

Requirement	Details
Range	Must be at Close Range (~2m)
Posture	Must be standing (get up = 1 AP)
Weapon	Add weapon's Gear Bonus to pool

Quick Melee Attack

FAST ACTION - 1 AP

-2 modifier to attack roll
Light weapons or unarmed only

Defending in Melee

FAST REACTION - 1 AP

NPCs require GM to spend 1 Darkness Point to defend

Declare defense before attacker rolls
Both roll MELEE COMBAT simultaneously
Defender spends sixes on effects

Defense Effect	Result
Decrease Damage	Cancel one attacker's six (repeatable)
Counterattack	Deal your Weapon Damage to attacker
Disarm	Enemy drops weapon (after attack)
Raise Initiative	+2 to your initiative

Unarmed vs. Weapon: -2 modifier to defend

Melee Bonus Effects (Extra Sixes)

Effect	Cost	Description
Increase Damage	1 six	+1 damage (repeatable)
Critical Injury	Crit Rating	Roll D66 on critical injury table; extra sixes = reroll for worse
Strike Fear	1 six	Target takes 1 stress (repeatable)
Raise Initiative	1 six	+2 initiative next turn (repeatable)
Disarm	1 six	Target drops weapon or item
Grapple	1 six	Pin opponent (see below)

Grappling Rules

Breaking Free

Opposed MELEE COMBAT roll

Pinned person: Normal action
Grappler: Free action

Grapple Attacks

+2 modifier to attack
Unarmed damage only
Target cannot defend

Ranged Combat

Making an Attack

NORMAL ACTION - 2 AP

Roll

RANGED COMBAT = ATR + SKL + WPN + MOD

Success = Roll at least one 6

Range Modifiers

Distance	Range	Modifier
Close	~2m	-3 (in melee) / +3 (unaware)
Short	~20m	0
Long	~100m	-1
Extreme	~1km	-2
Beyond weapon range	+1 step	-3

Target Size Modifiers

Target Size	Modifier
Prone / Small	-1
Normal	0
Large (vehicle)	+1
Huge	+2 or more

Shot Types

Shot Type	AP Cost	Modifier	Notes
Quick Shot	1 AP	-2	Close/Short range only; 3 quick shots = empty clip
Normal Shot	2 AP	0	Standard ranged attack
Aimed Shot	3 AP	+2	Cannot use when engaged in melee
Full Auto	3 AP	-2	See Automatic Fire rules

Automatic Fire

Roll attack with -2 modifier
Keep rolling extra dice one at a time
Roll a 1 = clip empty, must reload
Can split dice between targets (each within Close Range of previous)

Ranged Bonus Effects (Extra Sixes)

Effect	Cost	Description
Increase Damage	1 six	+1 damage (repeatable)
Critical Injury	Crit Rating	Roll D66 on critical injury table; extra sixes = reroll for worse
Suppressive Fire	1 six	Target takes 1 stress (+1 if full auto) (repeatable)
Raise Initiative	1 six	+2 initiative next turn (repeatable)
Disarm	1 six	Target drops weapon or item

No Active Defense: You cannot actively defend against ranged attacks. Use COVER instead!

Special Actions & Tactics

Cover

FAST ACTION - 1 AP to take cover

Cover Type	Armor Rating
Divan	2
Table	3
Door	4
Inner Wall	5
Outer Wall	6
Brick Wall	7
Foxhole	8

Cover + Armor stack! Add all dice together.

Fire Support & Prone

+1 to ranged attacks when behind cover (not quick shots)
Prone: Enemies get -1 to hit you
You get +1 fire support even without cover when prone

Attack of Opportunity

FAST REACTION - 1 AP

Triggers When Enemy:

Moves away from melee engagement with you
Passes within Close Range during movement

Bonus	Details
+2 modifier	To your attack roll
Fast action	Costs 1 AP

Overwatch

FAST ACTION - 1 AP

Declare overwatch and aim direction (90° arc)
Until next turn, fire normal shot (2 AP) at any time
Fire interrupts enemy actions (even after declared)

Overwatch breaks if you:

Perform any other action
Become engaged in melee
Take damage

Reactions Summary

Reaction	AP Cost	When Triggered
Defend (melee)	1 AP	When attacked in melee combat
Attack of Opportunity	1 AP	Enemy leaves or passes Close Range
Overwatch Fire	2 AP	Enemy acts within your 90° arc

Important: Reactions use AP from your current or upcoming turn. Save AP if you want to react later!

Damage & Armor

Taking Damage

Attack hits (attacker rolled at least one 6)
Roll Armor Rating dice - each 6 reduces damage by 1
Apply remaining damage to Hit Points

Broken (0 HP)

Cannot act or test skills
Can still receive critical injuries
Recovery: First aid (MEDICURGY, slow action) or wait D6 hours

Critical Injuries

Spend extra sixes equal to weapon's Crit Rating
Roll D66 on critical injury table
Spend more sixes to reroll for worse injury

Fatal Injuries: Require first aid within time limit or you die!

Combat Flowcharts

Your Turn Structure

START OF TURN

↓

Receive 3 AP

↓

Choose Actions
(Slow / Normal / Fast)

↓

Perform Actions

↓

Save AP for Reactions?

↓

END OF TURN

Melee Attack Resolution

flowchart TD A[Declare Attack
2 AP] --> B{Target Defends?} B -->|No| C[Roll MELEE COMBAT] B -->|Yes| D[Both Roll Simultaneously] C --> E{Any 6s?} D --> F{Compare Results} E -->|Yes| G[Deal Weapon Damage] E -->|No| H[Attack Misses] F --> I[Apply Defense Effects] I --> J[Resolve Remaining Damage] G --> K{Extra 6s?} J --> K K -->|Yes| L[Apply Bonus Effects] K -->|No| M[Attack Complete] L --> M H --> M style A fill:#161b22,stroke:#2dd4bf,color:#f0f6fc style B fill:#161b22,stroke:#22d3ee,color:#f0f6fc style C fill:#161b22,stroke:#4ade80,color:#f0f6fc style D fill:#161b22,stroke:#4ade80,color:#f0f6fc style E fill:#161b22,stroke:#22d3ee,color:#f0f6fc style F fill:#161b22,stroke:#22d3ee,color:#f0f6fc style G fill:#161b22,stroke:#4ade80,color:#f0f6fc style H fill:#161b22,stroke:#f87171,color:#f0f6fc style I fill:#161b22,stroke:#60a5fa,color:#f0f6fc style J fill:#161b22,stroke:#4ade80,color:#f0f6fc style K fill:#161b22,stroke:#22d3ee,color:#f0f6fc style L fill:#161b22,stroke:#2dd4bf,color:#f0f6fc style M fill:#2dd4bf,stroke:#14b8a6,color:#080a0f

Ranged Attack Resolution

flowchart TD A[Declare Attack] --> B[Apply Modifiers
Range, Size, Shot Type] B --> C[Roll RANGED COMBAT] C --> D{Any 6s?} D -->|Yes| E[Deal Weapon Damage] D -->|No| F[Attack Misses] E --> G[Target Rolls Armor
+ Cover if applicable] G --> H[Apply Remaining Damage] H --> I{Extra 6s?} I -->|Yes| J[Apply Bonus Effects] I -->|No| K[Attack Complete] J --> K F --> K style A fill:#161b22,stroke:#2dd4bf,color:#f0f6fc style B fill:#161b22,stroke:#60a5fa,color:#f0f6fc style C fill:#161b22,stroke:#4ade80,color:#f0f6fc style D fill:#161b22,stroke:#22d3ee,color:#f0f6fc style E fill:#161b22,stroke:#4ade80,color:#f0f6fc style F fill:#161b22,stroke:#f87171,color:#f0f6fc style G fill:#161b22,stroke:#60a5fa,color:#f0f6fc style H fill:#161b22,stroke:#4ade80,color:#f0f6fc style I fill:#161b22,stroke:#22d3ee,color:#f0f6fc style J fill:#161b22,stroke:#2dd4bf,color:#f0f6fc style K fill:#2dd4bf,stroke:#14b8a6,color:#080a0f

Damage Resolution

flowchart TD A[Attack Hits] --> B[Determine Base Damage
Weapon Damage + Extra 6s] B --> C[Defender Rolls Armor
+ Cover dice] C --> D{Any 6s
on Armor?} D -->|Yes| E[Reduce Damage
-1 per 6] D -->|No| F[Full Damage Applied] E --> G{Damage
Remaining?} G -->|Yes| F G -->|No| H[Attack Negated!] F --> I[Subtract from HP] I --> J{HP = 0?} J -->|Yes| K[BROKEN!
Cannot act] J -->|No| L[Continue Fighting] K --> M{Critical Injury
Inflicted?} M -->|Yes| N[Roll D66
Apply Effects] M -->|No| O[Await First Aid
or D6 Hours] style A fill:#161b22,stroke:#f87171,color:#f0f6fc style B fill:#161b22,stroke:#f87171,color:#f0f6fc style C fill:#161b22,stroke:#60a5fa,color:#f0f6fc style D fill:#161b22,stroke:#22d3ee,color:#f0f6fc style E fill:#161b22,stroke:#4ade80,color:#f0f6fc style F fill:#161b22,stroke:#f87171,color:#f0f6fc style G fill:#161b22,stroke:#22d3ee,color:#f0f6fc style H fill:#161b22,stroke:#4ade80,color:#f0f6fc style I fill:#161b22,stroke:#f87171,color:#f0f6fc style J fill:#161b22,stroke:#22d3ee,color:#f0f6fc style K fill:#f87171,stroke:#dc2626,color:#f0f6fc style L fill:#161b22,stroke:#4ade80,color:#f0f6fc style M fill:#161b22,stroke:#22d3ee,color:#f0f6fc style N fill:#f87171,stroke:#dc2626,color:#f0f6fc style O fill:#161b22,stroke:#60a5fa,color:#f0f6fc