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.

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 greatly impede her ability to fight further. Many flesh wounds can ultimately hinder a fighter, however - combatants suffer a -1 to goal rolls for every two Flesh Wounds they have suffered as aching joints, blood in their eyes and general fatigue slow them down.

Thus, a duelist with Strength 5 who takes 4 points of damage receives a Flesh Wound: if it was his first, he suffers no ill effect, but if he has had two, he would be at a -1 to goals.

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 take damage equal to their Strength+4. Thus a character with a Strength of 5 takes a critical wound if she takes 9 or more points of damage. 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.