Tales of Absolute Doom v1
Basic Rules - derived from Into the Odd
1 - Saves. When facing a risk, you may have to save. The game host chooses one of your stats.
Roll a d20. If it’s =< the stat, you pass the save. If > the stat, you fail.
2 - Ease and Strain. Especially more or less difficult saves.
Eased saves grant a reroll when failed. Strained saves impose a reroll when passed.
3 - Initiative. Every combat round, all players SPD save for initiative.
Passing players move before the GM, and failing players move after.
Everybody gets one action (plus grace actions) per turn. Some beasts have multiple actions.
4 - Attacks. Normal attacks always hit! Few beasts have a chance to dodge attacks.
Roll a d6 for damage. Add your weapon’s damage value and subtract the victim’s armor value.
If you grab or shove an enemy, they STR save to struggle free, skipping an action if they fail.
5 - Hit Points. If damage takes you to 0 HP, You are at Death’s Door!
If at Death’s Door and any damage UNDER your max HP hits you, STR save vs. Knockout!
If the damage is OVER your max HP, STR save vs. Death instead! Many beasts can’t save vs. Death.
If any damage hits you while knocked out, you die!
6 - Rest and Healing. If you eat a snack or drink some water, regain 1 HP.
If you eat a good meal or sleep comfortably, regain all of your HP.
If you are knocked out, a friend can shake you awake, or carry you away from danger.
7 - Spellcasting. You can cast any spell in your known Lore of Magic. WIL save vs. Miscast each time.
Start from the lore’s first Miscast and proceed through the whole table for further Miscasts.
Some Miscasts change you forever. The 6th will be your last.
Character Generation
1 - Character Stats
Strength (STR), Speed (SPD), and Moxie (MOX) are each 2d6+2. Hit Points (HP) are 1d6+2.
2 - Chromatic Realm of Doom, or C.R.O.D. (d6)
Your region of origin. Roles, Events, and possible Wizard Guild come from your Crod.
Your next character of the same family may also be from this Crod.
3 - Character Role (d6)
Your place in society grants you some items and a special skill.
Skills can ease saves, grant information, special abilities or anything the host allows.
4 - Wizard Guild (optional)
MOX save to pass the Wizard Test. If you pass, get your Crod’s Lore of Magic.
If you fail, get a Mutation (d6) and the Wizard Guild rejects you.
The Six Crods (d6)
1 | DeathVania, the Amethyst Crod |
2 | BloodVania, the Ruby Crod |
3 | ThornVale, the Amber Crod |
4 | CrystalVale, the Golden Crod |
5 | MossWood, the Emerald Crod |
6 | ThunderWood, the Sapphire Crod |
Mutation Table - Lose 1d6 max HP from Mutating! STR save vs. Death by Exploding Flesh if max HP becomes 0!
Eye Stalks | Lose your eyes. Grow 1d6 eyeballs on stalks. Pop one to cast any spell from a random lore. |
Snail Shell | Chitin armor +2. You cannot wear any more armor. |
Tentacle Arm | Can grab in combat as a free action. Replaces an arm. |
Crab Arm | Pinching damage +2. Replaces an arm. |
Spider Legs | Walk on walls! SPD save to walk on ceilings. Replaces legs. |
Skull Face | Your skull is bare, with popping eyes and lolling tongue! Mortals must MOX save to attack you! |
DeathVania, the Amethyst Crod (gods of death, undeath, entropy)
Roles
Disinherited Noble | Silver Spoon -1, Oil Painting, Loyal Servant 3hp | Occult History |
Minister of Doom | Lead Scythe +1, Doom Bible | Depressing Poetry |
Mortician | Dire Shovel +0, Box of Death Salts | Extreme Taxidermy |
Executioner | Guillotine Axe +1, Scary Hood | Feel Nothing |
Belligerent Peasant | Sharpened Pitchfork +0, Bag of Lucky Bones | Loathe Outsiders |
Headstone Carver | Chisel -1, Bag of Stone Blocks, Jar of Stone Wax | Sculpt Gargoyles |
Spells
Life Drain | Shrivel flesh +1, damage restores HP | Sight |
Last Words | Speak with corpses and residual spirits | Area |
Face of Death | Terrifying glance causes mortal to faint | Sight |
Death's Door | Interrupt death, target survives with HP 1 | Sight |
Miscasts
1 | Magical Rigor Mortis sets in! Reroll your SPD! |
2 | As your body becomes more corpse-like, you lose 2 STR! |
3 | You glimpse the Realm of the Dead! MOX save vs. Death by Heart Attack! |
4 | Your command over death grants you +2 max HP! Wailing spirits drift faintly around you! |
5 | Your eyes glow violet! The death energy flowing around you grants you +1 damage! |
6 | Your time has come! Your body crumples to the floor as the Gods of Death finally harvest your exalted soul. |
BloodVania, the Ruby Crod (gods of fire, hell, blood)
Roles
Crown Taker | Brass Greatsword +1, Copper Crown | Glorious Declaration |
War Priest | Ruby Dagger +0, Vial of Holy Blood | Demand Repentance |
Butcher | Cleaver +0, Sausage Machine | The Special Recipe |
Barber Surgeon | Surgical Tools -1, Jar of Leeches | Amputate Something |
Warband Veteran | Bloody Halberd +1, Copper Armor +1 | Brutal Leadership |
Anarchist | Sharpened Sickle +0, Keg of Lantern Oil | Challenge Authority |
Spells
Lava Blast | Throw glowing blob +d6 | Sight |
Fire Sword | Conjure flaming sabre +2 | Self |
Steam Shield | Cloud armor +1, grants riposte | Self |
Enrage | Victim attacks ally | Sight |
Miscasts
1 | You pass out from heat stroke, pallid and sweating! |
2 | You accidentally cast Lava Blast on yourself! |
3 | Your eyes glow with red fire! MOX save vs. Death by Mind Burn! |
4 | Your hair flashes, turning bright red! Intense passion grants you +2 SPD! |
5 | You impulsively set your least favorite teammate on fire! +d6 |
6 | A portal to hell roars open! White-hot chains yank you in before it screams shut! |
ThornVale, the Amber Crod (gods of animals, monsters, emotion)
Roles
Monster Slayer | Bone Battle Axe +1, Antler Crown | Swallow Fear |
Reindeer Druid | Antler Staff +0, Reindeer 3hp | Beast Empathy |
Goat Farmer | Gnarled Staff -1, Goat 3hp | Pasture Games |
Highwayman | Matchlock Pistol +1, Mask and Cloak | Insulting Threats |
Beast Hunter | Wood Crossbow +0, Bear Trap +1 | Track Beast |
Burglar | Thump Stick -1, Box of Lockpicks | Silent Acrobatics |
Spells
Beast Friend | Tame wild animal | Touch |
Bear Form | STR +4, claw bash +2, thick hide +1 | Self |
Raven Form | SPD +4, flight | Self |
Hunting Howl | Ease all allies' next initiative saves | Area |
Miscasts
1 | You grow a shaggy coat of fur! You get Weakness - Fire! |
2 | Growls and barks replace your human speech! |
3 | You impulsively attack your least favorite teammate! |
4 | Wild squirrels nest in your hair! STR save vs. Death by Squirrel Fever! |
5 | Your eyes glow tiger orange! You gain predator reflexes, armor +1! |
6 | You accidentally transform permanently into a mundane squirrel! |
CrystalVale, the Golden Crod (gods of metal, industry, physics)
Roles
Royal Banker | Iron Briefcase +0, Investment Vouchers | Seem Confident |
Fortune Teller | Crystal Ball, Box of Incense | Detect Desires |
Blacksmith | Hammer +0, Wheelbarrow Forge | Smelt Alloy |
Alchemist | Bottle of Universal Solvent, Chemistry Box | Detect Elements |
Gladiator | Bronze Scimitar +0, Bronze Armor +1 | Please Crowd |
Watchmaker | Grandfather Clock, Artificing Box | Build Machine |
Spells
Metalwarping | Armor or weapon becomes twisted lump of lead | Touch |
Transmutation | Matter becomes simple item of equivalent mass | Touch |
Shining Body | Flesh becomes gold armor +2 | Self |
Golden Lance | Bolt of molten metal +d6 | Sight |
Miscasts
1 | Your body's atomic structure begins to change! Reroll your STR! |
2 | As your bones slowly continue becoming metal, you lose 2 SPD! |
3 | Your body's chemical instability must end now! MOX save vs. Death by Turning Iron! |
4 | Your skin gets a golden luster! Your hybrid metal body grants you +2 max HP! |
5 | Your eyes glow cadmium yellow! Your command over physics grants you +1 armor! |
6 | You accidentally cast Metalwarping on yourself! |
MossWood, the Green Crod (gods of plants, plagues, life)
Roles
Naturalist | Box of Dissection Tools -1, Big Net | Analyze Biology |
Druid | Mossy Club +0, Squig Horn | Plant Empathy |
Hermit | Dowsing Stick -1, Loyal Chipmunk 3hp | Go Off Trail |
Botanist | Machete +0, Bag of Manure | Graft Hybrids |
Hedge Knight | Mossy Greatsword +1, Copper Armor +1 | Tell Good from Evil |
Minstrel | Old Lute -1, Bag of Confetti | The Legends of Tog |
Spells
Fermentation | d6 servings of mud become food | Touch |
Resonance | Speak with plants, rivers, boulders | Self |
Cloud Form | Become flying, immaterial | Self |
Thorn Blood | Inflict internal thorns +2 | Sight |
Miscasts
1 | Green Vines grow in your hair! You get Weakness - Fire! |
2 | You accidentally cast Thorn Blood on yourself! |
3 | Your skin turns leaf green! STR save vs. Death by Poison! |
4 | Planetary vibrations replace your human speech! |
5 | Your eyes glow aqua green! You can now walk on water! |
6 | You accidentally transform permanently into a mundane cloud! |
ThunderWood, the Sapphire Crod (gods of time, abyss/stars, thought)
Roles
Lonely Noble | Cane Sword +0, Ornate Lantern, Grey Cat 3hp | Gentle Manners |
Astrologer | Telescope -1, Deck of Tarot | Lucid Dreaming |
Ocean Diver | Harpoon Gun +0, Brass Diving Suit +1 | Poison Resistance |
Electrician | Lighting Rod -1, Spool of Copper Wire | Meteorology |
Jousting Knight | Pennoned Lance +0, Grey Horse 3hp | Antique Heraldry |
Struggling Painter | Palette Knife -1, Roll of Canvas, Painting Box | Artistic Critique |
Spells
Blue Lightning | electric bolt +d6 | Sight |
Starlight Vision | astral bodies grant future sight | Self |
Astral Wings | flight, stardust armor +1 | Self |
Time Stutter | rewind time slightly | Area |
Miscasts
1 | An abyssal gust sends your astral body spinning! You black out! |
2 | You accidentally cast Lightning on yourself! |
3 | Your eyes glow with blue ether! MOX save vs. Death by Ether Shock! |
4 | Your hair flashes, turning bright blue! Astral wisdom grants you +2 MOX! |
5 | The Blue Horror emerges from beyond! HP 12 STR/SPD 16, psychic armor +2, four lightning antennae +2! |
6 | A wormhole to space whooses open, ripping you into saturn's orbit before hissing shut! |