Hapless Forest found themselves 3-0 down by half-time, as Doncaster made the most of their chances - and a few moments of good fortune - with goals from Paul Heffernan, Martin Woods and Richie Wellens.
The Reds may have produced more of a fightback in the second period, had they not found themselves reduced to ten men after 48 minutes, when Julian Bennett was injured after they had made all three substitutions.
Heffernan's second goal of the game had made it 4-0 in the 65th minute, but plucky Forest hit back through an Sam Hird own goal and a Joe Garner strike.
It had started brightly for Forest, with Robert Earnshaw seeing a fiercely struck drive deflected inches wide of the post following some superb build-up play between Brendan Moloney and Joe Garner.
But, while the home side had been firmly on top, it was a slip from Earnshaw that played a key role in Doncaster taking a 12th minute lead.
The striker gave away possession with a bizarre pass, giving Woods the opportunity to bend the ball towards the far post, where Heffernan stooped to plant a downward header into the back of the net.
It got worse for Earnshaw as, when it appeared he had been sent clean through by an incisive pass from Lewis McGugan, he miscontrolled at the vital moment, although the Welsh international did force a save from Neil Sullivan a few minutes later, with a stinging shot.
But it was Doncaster who were to extend their advantage, with another well-taken goal, with Woods lofting a delightful, unstoppable chip over Lee Camp from the edge of the box and into the back of the net in the 33rd minute.
And, by the time the half-time whistle blew, the Forest fans were furiously calling for Calderwood's head, as Doncaster - having scored two goals for the first time in a match this season - went on to get a third.
It was a questionable free-kick awarded against Chris Cohen, but Wellens was in no mood for sympathy, with his bending shot finding its way into the back of the net with the aid of a huge deflection off the defensive wall.
Forest's luck got worse straight after the interval, as they found themselves reduced to ten men.
Calderwood had made a double change at the break, bringing on Nathan Tyson and Julian Bennett. But, having already introduced Arron Davies in place of the injured Kelvin Wilson in the first half, Forest could not replace Bennett when appeared to injure his knee two minutes after the restart.
With the numerical advantage, it was no surprise when Doncaster added a fourth, as Heffernan converted the loose ball after Cohen had cleared a Spicer effort off the line.
But Forest were not finished themselves, with Tyson's dangerous ball across the face of the box deflected into his own net by Doncaster's Sam Hird.
And, after Earnshaw had hit the bar, Forest eventually forced a second as Garner cleverly flicked home a Cohen free-kick from close range.