Candela Obscura
Originally created by Spenser Starke, Rowan Hall, Christopher Grey, Tracey Harrison, Taliesin Jaffe
Candela Obscura is a tabletop roleplaying game, or TTRPG, about a circle of paranormal investigators who analyze occult phenomena in the turn-of-the-nineteenth century industrial fantasy city of Newfaire. In this game of monstrous gaslamp horror, players create intrepid characters who solve mysteries and defeat monsters with their various skills and specialties. They might play a smooth-talking Face with a knack for mesmerism, a soldiering Muscle bearing scars from the Great War, an ingenious Scholar of magick from the university, the sly Slink of a private detective or a Weird spirit medium. This crew, called the Circle, will take on jobs to set right the problems caused by supernatural phenomena. One player, the Lightkeeper or Game Master (GM), takes on the role of the world those players inhabit. They’ll play as the eponymous Lightkeeper, a character who dispenses assignments and information from the occult organization Candela Obscura. They’ll also play the environment, the city, and of course, the mysterious and even malevolent forces the Circle is called to confront.
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Candela Obscura Reviews (9)
See what other Game Masters and players are saying about Candela Obscura
Terra (TerrariumForge)
Ran 7 sessions
Candela Obscura is one of my favorite game systems to run and experience as a player. I love the adventurous, creepy, gothic atmosphere; I love the d6 system that it offers and the fact that the GM doesn't need to roll at all! It's fun, new, exciting and something for all roleplay lovers to look forward to playing in.
Bryan/OddSquirrel
Ran 51 sessions
Candela Obscura is a breath of fresh air in a sea of bog-standard fantasy games and borderline questionable horror tropes. CO leans into the narrative by spotlighting the characters with the Forged in the Dark-inspired d6 system. With a unique yet malleable turn-of-the-century industrial-Victorianesque setting, Candela succeeds at making the horror feel real. With the right GM, Candela Obscura can be a terrifying, spooky dive into magickal and mysterious phenomena unlike anything else, and it has quickly become one of my favorite systems to run ever since the open beta.
Lilith
Played 12 sessions
This is my favourite game system by far! Cinematic, narrative and character driven, rules light, it's a pure delight to play! You play as investigators of the mysterious organisation Candela Obscura, which goes around investigating mysterious phenomena that occur, partially because an old civilization that used too much magick is buried beneath the city. You play with D6 dicepools, so literally anyone can pick it up (no fancy dice required) and there is a free quickstart guide available from Darrington Press. You can also see a lot of examples of Actual Plays if this game on YouTube, including by Critical Role. The rules are simple and the cinematic scenes favour character growth and narrative, which is great for avid roleplayers. It takes place in a world similar to the Edwardian Era, with a dash of steampunk and some interwar years going on. There is horror, yes, but not necessarily from the phenomena your characters will investigate. This game puts horror in humanity and humanity in horror. I honestly can't say enough positive things about this game. I adore it! I've been playing in a long running campaign and it's the highlight of my week! The book also has some example assignments, but a lot of it is left to you and your Lightkeeper's (GM) imagination. The sky is the limit with this game, though I highly recommend safety tools, as this is a horror game. There is also an amazing community online around this game (you can find many on the Darrington Press discord) with fresh ideas, inspiration, and tales to share. It is the one TTRPG I think everyone should play!
Danil and Dragons
Ran 4 sessions
Candela Obscura is an easy to grasp, cinematic, immersive horror RPG that will have you at the edge of your seat. It is filled with action-packed sequences, psychological horror, in-character drama and everything else your heart might desire from a Victorian horror game. The world is rich but open and easy to interpret and adjust to your story and characters. I highly recommend to give it a go!
Colton Mayo
I love running Candela Obscura. I have adopted the opening scene idea from it into my other games to set the mood and theme for the session. I also love the idea of otherworldly threats that the players can deal with without directly fighting it necessarily.
Jeremiah | The Direpug Storyteller
Ran 1 sessions
A cold open: a scene where you witness the peril's of tonight's session from a mystery perspective, and see what happens to the victims of such horrors. Cut to the library, the secret headquarters, or hidden teahouse room where your guide, your Lightkeeper, gives you a full briefing on tonight's assignment. After some witty banter between you and your Circle members, you each grab your gear bags and head off into the night... Candela Obscura scratches that specific itch when it comes to supernatural investigation. The game mechanics mimick the style and feel of of great 90's-00's mystery dramas, the shows from the days of commercial breaks and 'monsters of the week'. However, this unique setting that straddles the lines between Victorian-punk and Gatsby-punk is a treat to dive into. With just enough setting to imply a fully-fledged world full of adventures and enigmas, this game is perfect for more roleplay- and improvisation-oriented groups. Player choice may seem limited at character creation, but this game relies heavily on the tropes of its mixed genres. The lack of complete freedom here is the games way of subtly guiding your hand into gameplay options appropriate for mystery/horror. However, once you have the mechanics set, there are many options for character customization when it comes to personality, backstory, and genre-defining creativity. For Storytellers/GMs, this game is a breeze to run in terms of system mechanics. Almost every single action in the narrative is dictated by the Players and their agency, with most of your task in running CO concerning reactions and improvisation. It can be difficult, at first, for more 'systems-oriented' GMs to get used to leading the Players in this game, but it is well worth the reward.
How to Play Candela Obscura
After players create their characters and the Circle, the GM will present them with the mystery those characters find themselves embroiled in, usually with an assignment from the Lightkeeper. Players describe or act out what their characters do, and the GM tells them how the world responds. Frequently, they’ll take risky or uncertain actions that require them to roll dice to find out whether they succeed, fail, or something in between.
When they do, they'll roll a number of six-sided dice equal to their rating in the relevant action. This number might be increased by spending resources, using abilities, or getting help from an ally. Only the highest result is counted, and if it's a 1-3, the action is a failure and the character faces consequences. If it's a 4-5, the action succeeds, but the character still faces a consequence as a cost or complication. And if it's a 6, the action is a complete success. Two 6s mean a critical success, with an additional benefit. If a player doesn't like their roll, they can spend points from their drives to "resist," and re-roll the dice. Additionally, some actions might be "gilded," and include a gilded die. If a player elects to use the gilded die's result (even if it's lower than their best result), the character replenishes one of their drives, which can help them later.
When characters get hurt, they'll take marks, including physical injuries to their Body, mental strain to their Brain, or supernatural damage to their Bleed. Filling three marks in one area results in a Scar, which stays with your character and alters their action ratings.
Piece by piece, player characters will uncover the secret of the mystery they face, until ultimately they must confront the culprit, whether it’s a criminal conspiracy, a diabolical corporation, or a supernatural creature that managed to bleed into this world.
How to Create a Character (and a Circle) in Candela Obscura
To create a character in Candela Obscura, first choose from five roles: the Face, Muscle, Scholar, Slink, and Weird. Each role has two specialties with their own unique set of abilities which you'll choose from as well. Your role and specialty will get you started on your next step: action ratings. These determine how many dice you roll for each of the nine actions in Candela Obscura, and your character's general skill level in those actions. In addition to the points you receive from earlier choices, you'll also get a few extra points to spread around. Next, you'll assign points to your characters Drives, which represent their Nerve, their Cunning, and their Intuition. These drive points can be spent for bonus dice and re-rolls during play when they apply. You'll start with some based on your specialty, and have 6 more to distribute. You'll also get one action gilded by your specialty choice, and choose another to gild as well. You'll replace one normal die with a gilded die when you roll those actions in play. Next, you can choose an ability from your role and one ability from your specialty to start with. Finally, finish your character with their personal details: a name, a personal style, their backstory, and their catalyst, the event that caused them to join Candela Obscura.
Once everyone's character is ready, you'll establish relationships with other members of the Circle, and create the Circle itself. This includes choosing a special ability your group will all benefit from, the history and appearance of your chapter house, and the resources it has available to characters in between missions.
Candela Obscura community artists
Stevie Morley
A paleoartist and fantasy illustrator specializing in scientific and pseudoscientific artwork depicting creatures both real and fantastical. Stevie has also created fictional writing systems.
Explore ArtShaun Ellis
Shaun Ellis is a fantasy illustrator and concept artist who has worked on a number of tabletop games, including illustrated game boards and roleplaying game art and landscapes.
Explore ArtAmelia Leonards
Amelia Leonards is an artist and illustrator specializing in fantastical watercolors inspired by folklore and myth.
Explore ArtMarc Moreau
Marc Moreau is a French fantasy artist and cartographer for video games, comics and TTRPGs. His word is bold and vibrant with an old-school fantasy vibe.
Explore ArtFrequently asked questions about Candela Obscura
Explore Candela Obscura Specialties
Criminal
You are an accomplished outlaw who knows how to operate successfully in the underworld. Your primary drive is Cunning, and your abilities are focused on street connections and nefarious activities.
Detective
You are an experienced investigator who has an outside perspective on the ins and outs of the criminal world. Your primary drive is Nerve, and your abilities are focused on uncovering the truth and stopping malefactors.
Doctor
You are a skilled physician who knows how to conduct medical procedures. Your primary drive is Intuition, and your abilities are focused on anatomy and healing.
Explorer
You are a fearless daredevil who knows how to navigate difficult and dangerous environments. Your primary drive is Nerve, and your abilities are focused on endurance and confronting danger.
Journalist
You are a bold investigator who knows how to get to the bottom of things. Your primary drive is Cunning, and your abilities are focused on collecting and assessing information.
Magician
You are a talented entertainer who knows how to deflect attention and create illusions. Your primary drive is Intuition, and your abilities are focused on performing and detecting tricks.
Medium
You are an adept psychic who knows how to commune with the otherworldly. Your primary drive is Intuition, and your abilities are focused on divination and connecting with spirits
Occultist
You are a highly studied practitioner of the mystic arts who has a fundamental knowledge of the supernatural. Your primary drive is Intuition, and your abilities are focused on ritual and knowledge of the arcane.
Professor
You are a professional academic who knows a great deal about your chosen field of study. Your primary drive is Cunning, and your abilities are focused on critical thinking and leveraging your expertise.
Soldier
You are a trained warrior who knows how to fight and make tactical decisions. Your primary drive is Intuition, and your abilities are focused on combat strategy and discipline
Virtual table tops for Candela Obscura (VTTs)
Blog links about Candela Obscura
How to Create a Character For Candela Obscura
Create an investigator and begin searching for the answers to the Fairelands' greatest mysteries.
The Best VTTs for Playing Candela Obscura
Three options for playing paranormal investigation game Candela Obscura with a Circle who meets online instead of in-person.
The Best Places to Find a Group for Candela Obscura, Ranked
Looking to play the paranormal investigation game brought to you by the folks behind Critical Role? This article will help you find a group of your own.