ARC: Doom Tabletop RPG Survival;Narrative-Driven;Rules Lite;Low Prep;Quick-Play
At‑a‑glance: Survival drama • 2d6 risk rolls • Real‑time Doomsday Clock • 2–5 + GM (solo possible) • Low prep • Rules‑lite • 2–3h sessions
Theme and Setting
ARC frames stories where the world will end unless your table acts with purpose. Dooms range from cosmic disasters to intimate, hometown heartbreaks. Tone is flexible—grim, hopeful, mythic—but always under pressure: time is scarce, resources are thin, and choices matter.
Core Mechanics and Rules
Resolution uses concise 2d6 risk rolls tied to Skills and Approaches; players describe how they act to shape odds and consequences. The signature Doomsday Clock ticks in real time, converting table minutes into mounting threat. Initiative is intent‑based and collaborative, keeping everyone engaged between rolls. Magic and techniques are flavorful with costs that bite. There are no deep feat trees—capability emerges from fiction, gear, and how you spend precious minutes.
What Makes It Unique
ARC makes time the core resource. The ticking clock shifts scenes from dithering to decisive: scouting, planning, and trade‑offs become dramatic because doom advances whether you act or not. Guidance and tools (dooms, omens, clocks, sheets) make it easy to facilitate even if you’re new to GMing.
Target Audience and Player Experience
Great for groups who enjoy survival stakes, quick onboarding, and story‑first play. Expect tense decisions, teamwork, and meaningful consequences in a tight 2–3 hour slot. If your table wants crunchy builds or tactical grids, ARC stays intentionally lean; if you want momentum and pressure that sings, this delivers.
