Combat

Combat is a common occurrence in Sunless Sea. Warning: May cause death or general discomfort.

Overview

SS Combat Interface — Combat encounter with an Auroral Megalops

Combat is resolved in real time, with pause available at any moment. However, rather than rely on how fast the player can press buttons to determine victory in combat, each side selects from a pool of abilities to use in combat. The objective is to increase the Illumination of the enemy, so that you can land an accurate hit. Of course, the same applies to the player.

All abilities have a cooldown. You and your opponent each have an array of abilities for defence, damage, healing and trickery. Your Iron stat allows you to attack; your Mirrors stat allows you to Illuminate your enemy, leaving them vulnerable; your Veils stat hides you from your enemy's Illumination; Hearts and Pages allow for healing, drugs, trickery, diplomacy. Your Officers enhance all these, so equipping the right Officers may unlock further abilities.

Once again, light and dark are key. Begin a battle with your enemy in your prow-light to have them begin the battle Illuminated, or turn your lights off to ensure your own Illumination starts low.

As your stats rise, and as you purchase new equipment for your ship, the number and power of your abilities will grow. Begin with a Splinter-Salvo and Evasive Manoeuvres: aspire to the Rarefaction Cannon and the terrifying Unclear Bomb...

Combat actions

Illuminate

Icon	Name	Charge Time (Seconds)	Requirements	Effects
File:SS Seek Icon.png	Seek	8	None	Increases enemy Illumination
File:SS Flares Ico.png	Flares	5	None	Increases enemy Illumination Increases your Illumination
File:SS Potent Flares Ico.png	Potent Flares	5	None	Increases enemy Illumination Increases your Illumination Consumes 1 fuel unit More effective than standard flares
File:SS Smell Fear.png	Smell Fear	7	Terror 50	Increases enemy Illumination Your crew must be no more than 0 (This is for zee-creatures only)
File:SS Hypothesise.png	Hypothesise	3	none	Does small amounts of Illumation, Hull, and Terror damage. Onlyl used by Mt Nomad

Attack

Icon	Name	Charge Time (Seconds)	Requirements	Effects
File:SS Salvo Ico.png	Salvo	5	50 Illumination	Deals damage based on Iron
File:SS Devastating Salvo Ico.png	Devastating Salvo	5	100 Illumination	Deals damage based on Iron
File:SS Desolation.png	Desolation	5	100 Illumination	Deals damage based on Pages Only used by Mt Nomad

Evade

Icon	Name	Charge Time (Seconds)	Requirements	Effects
File:SS Evade Ico.png	Evade	6	None	Reduces your Illumination Slightly increases Distance
File:SS Flank Speed Ico.png	Flank Speed	4	None	Reduces your Illumination Reduces enemy Illumination by a small amount Increases Distance Consumes 1 fuel unit
File:SS Flee Ico.png	Flee	5	None	Reduces your Illumination Increases Distance

Misc

Icon	Name	Charge Time (Seconds)	Requirements	Effects
File:SS EmRepairs Ico.png	Emergency Repairs	2	None	Slightly reduces your Illumination Repairs 2 Hull points Consumes 2 Supplies
File:SS Observe Ico.png	Observe	5	25 Illumination	Increases enemy Illumination by 5 Gains 1 Observation (3 required for 1 Fragment, 10 required for a major bonus)

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