Wounds and Healing

Unlike in prior editions of Fading Suns, characters on Star Crusade do not have a Vitality track; instead, they take damage in wounds, either as Flesh Wounds, Serious Wounds, or Critical Wounds. The type of wound a blow does depends on how much damage a character takes compared to the character's Strength.

All wounds cause characters to lose a point of Stamina; serious and critical wounds apply additional penalties.

Flesh Wounds

If a character takes less damage than their Strength, they take a Flesh Wound - small cuts, bruises, and the like that do not impede her ability to fight further.

Thus, a duelist with Strength 5 who takes 4 points of damage receives a Flesh Wound: he loses a point of Stamina, but otherwise suffers no ill effect.

Serious Wounds

If a character takes damage equal to or greater than her Strength, she instead takes a Serious Wound - a deep cut, a fracture or a similar serious injury. Characters suffer a -2 for every Serious Wound they have suffered.

If the duelist in the above example had taken 5 points of damage, he would instead have suffered a Serious Wound, with a -2 to all future rolls. If he suffered a second Serious Wound, he would be at a -4.

Critical Wounds

Characters suffer a Serious Wound if they Critical Wounds are life-threatening blows that cripple limbs, collapse lungs and otherwise place a character in serious risk. Characters are at a -6 for every Critical Wound they have taken and are at a risk of dying.