Doom

“All men are born to fate. Mine was merely louder than most.”

Doom measures the weight of fate upon a character.

It is not simply bad luck. It is the accumulation of:

bargains made
powers invoked
lines crossed
attention drawn

Doom grows. And as it grows, the world begins to notice.

Starting Doom

All characters begin with:

Doom 0

Some Flaws or Boons may increase this at character creation.

Gaining Doom

Doom is gained when characters:

Use Chaos-tainted powers
Invoke demons or supernatural forces
Take Restricted Boons
Break oaths or violate Law
Attract the attention of powerful entities
Choose power over restraint

Some abilities explicitly grant Doom.

Spending Doom

A player may voluntarily gain 1 Doom to:

Reroll any failed roll
Avoid certain death
Force a dramatic success

This represents calling upon fate—and being heard

Doom Effects

Doom does not apply constant penalties.

Instead, it triggers when it matters.

The GM may invoke Doom to:

Introduce complications
Twist success into cost
Escalate danger
Attract attention

Doom Thresholds

As Doom rises, its effects intensify.

Doom 1–2: The Mark

Something is off.

Animals react uneasily
Minor coincidences turn against you
Sensitive individuals feel your presence

Doom 3–4: The Shadow

You are no longer unnoticed.

Dreams become troubled or invasive
Supernatural forces take interest
Small failures become costly

Doom 5–6: The Chain

You are entangled.

Demons, priests, or agents begin to seek you
Powers you used begin to demand return
Success often carries a visible cost

Doom 7+: The Inevitable

Fate tightens.

The GM may override outcomes for dramatic consequence
Powerful entities act directly
Your actions reshape the story around you

At this level:

> You are no longer merely a character. > You are an event.

Clearing Doom

Doom does not fade easily.

It may only be reduced by:

Fulfilling a major obligation
Rejecting power at great cost
Completing a significant quest
Sacrifice (time, power, relationships, or more)

The GM determines when Doom may be reduced.

Typical reduction:

−1 Doom per major act of restraint or resolution

Doom and Death

At high Doom, death is rarely simple.

A character may:

Survive—but changed
Die—but trigger greater consequences
Be claimed by a power

Death becomes transformation, not ending

Using Doom at the Table

Doom is not a punishment system.

It is a pacing and tone tool.

Use it to:

Raise tension gradually
Reward risky decisions
Reinforce the cost of power
Drive story forward

Final Rule

Players are encouraged to embrace Doom.

Because in Stormbringer the greater the Doom, the greater the legend.

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