How to prepare

You'll need a webcam (optional) and mic (not optional), plus at least 5 index cards (or separate sheets of paper) and something to write on them with. You'll also need ten six-sided dice, plus one six-sided die of a different color (or you can use the online dice roller on our Discord server--See Prep Materials). We'll be using Zoom (I'll provide a link at least an hour prior to game start) for audio and visual (you don't need to use the video portion of this if you don't wish), so some familiarity with Zoom is good, but not required.

What I provide

I'll be covering everything else we'll need so that you can sit back (or lean forward in tension) and enjoy! But if you like, feel free to check out Ten Candles at https://cavalrygames.com/ten-candles

Gameplay details

You need not ever have played this game before (in fact, I will generally expect that you haven't). It is a game HEAVY on narrative roleplay as the Candlekeeper and the players vie for control of the narrative through dice rolls. As candles burn out (through bad rolls or on their own), the Candlekeeper gains more and more narrative control, until, with only one candle left, the players get to narrate their characters' deaths (if they like -- I'll be happy to do it, otherwise). I encourage you to stay in character as much as possible after character creation, but, hey, we can have some table talk, too and I'm hardly a stickler. We'll also take official breaks after character creation (about 45 minutes in) and when the 5th candle goes out. We can have other breaks if needed, but as the tension builds during the last three candles, I'd like to let it. A Ten Candles session may contain material not suitable for all players; discretion is advised. And because we are a diverse group of individuals with differing life experiences, we cannot be certain that what one person finds innocuous another person won't find traumatizing (which is different than the 'horrifying' we're going for here), so we'll also be incorporating gaming Safety Tools into gameplay. We'll talk about these tools, such as Lines/Veils/and the use of the X-Card in the first few minutes of the session. My table is a place of entertainment and enjoyment. As such, there's no place at it for racism, sexism, ageism, bigotry, intolerance, or gatekeeping among the players. Sometimes some of those themes may be explored in the game itself, but if so there will be warnings of that as much ahead of time as possible and we'll discuss how to approach these delicate topics. Out of character, however, these are behaviors that I will not tolerate from my players. LGBTQ+ players are more than welcome!

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

• Breaks

• Lines and Veils

• Open Door

• X, N, and O Cards

How will character creation work

In Ten Candles, character creation is part of gameplay, so no need to worry about that beforehand; but feel free to have some rough ideas based on the concept for this particular session. However, you should bring five index cards and something to write on them with.