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Ten Candles
Ten Candles is a storytelling game of tragic horror designed for one-shot sessions. It is played by the light of ten tea light candles which provide atmosphere, act as a countdown timer for the game, and allow you to literally burn your character sheet away as you play. Ten Candles is described as a "tragic horror" game rather than survival horror for one main reason: in Ten Candles there are no survivors. In the final scene of the game, when only one candle remains, all of the characters will die. In this, Ten Candles is not a game about "winning" or beating the monsters. Instead, it is a game about what happens in the dark, and about those who try to survive within it. It is a game about being pushed to the brink of madness and despair, searching for hope in a hopeless world, and trying to do something meaningful with your final few hours left.
Ten Candles may be played with any number of players and one gamemaster. It takes between 2-4 hours for an average session. While there are some components that need to be gathered to run a game (such as ten tea light candles), the game requires no addition preparation by the gamemaster.
The setting of Ten Candles will change game to game as the gamemaster selects different "modules" to run for an ever-changing lineup of doomed characters and scenarios for them to play within. The antagonists of the game also change, leaving you to fight nightmares in one session only to fight sentient shadows, bloodthirsty clowns, or the gods themselves in the next. Every session of Ten Candles is unique and will present an entirely new tragic story for you to tell.
The standard setting of Ten Candles is this: Ten days ago the world went dark. The sky betrayed you. The sun vanished. The fall into chaos was sudden and predictable. The world was filled with riots and fear. You were told that the sun was not gone, and that it was still out there beyond that black sky. Order returned. Five days ago, They came. Now the lights flicker low and the dark is where They hunt. Now you can hear the screams. Now They're coming for you. Keep moving. Don't lose hope. And stay in the light.
Ten Candles may be played with any number of players and one gamemaster. It takes between 2-4 hours for an average session. While there are some components that need to be gathered to run a game (such as ten tea light candles), the game requires no addition preparation by the gamemaster.
The setting of Ten Candles will change game to game as the gamemaster selects different "modules" to run for an ever-changing lineup of doomed characters and scenarios for them to play within. The antagonists of the game also change, leaving you to fight nightmares in one session only to fight sentient shadows, bloodthirsty clowns, or the gods themselves in the next. Every session of Ten Candles is unique and will present an entirely new tragic story for you to tell.
The standard setting of Ten Candles is this: Ten days ago the world went dark. The sky betrayed you. The sun vanished. The fall into chaos was sudden and predictable. The world was filled with riots and fear. You were told that the sun was not gone, and that it was still out there beyond that black sky. Order returned. Five days ago, They came. Now the lights flicker low and the dark is where They hunt. Now you can hear the screams. Now They're coming for you. Keep moving. Don't lose hope. And stay in the light.
88 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 3, 2018
5.0⭐ Ten days ago, the world went dark. Five days ago, They came. Keep moving. Don't lose hope. And stay in the light.
**Light Spoilers**
I think my review is particularly valuable because I am not an RPGer. My friends Tyler & Emily merely gave me a brief description about this game and I bought it immediately. Like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, or Call of Cthulhu, Ten Candles is a tabletop role playing game, but unlike those three games, ten candles is a one-and-done game play. I’ve played three games now, and they average about three and a half hours max. Most go a little shorter.
I am also not a fan of tabletop rpgs. I don’t like playing one character who needs to constantly upgrade and update, to go on various adventures to little or no end, for weeks upon weeks, hoping that every game player can be in sync with schedules to keep the ball rolling. Ten Candles is built to play one time. Ten Candles, while giving your characters a guaranteed mortality, also gives your character closure and substance that most other RPGs are starved of. Since survival isn’t an option, the game does a great job of giving your character objective in it’s dark world.
I played 2 games as a game maker, and one as a player. This game is fantastic because really, everyone has some form of narrative control. Not just for your character but for the antagonists, for other characters, for circumstances, for everything. It’s impossible to play the same game twice.
There’s also a lot of flexibility with the modules. I look forward to writing some of my own. The game’s fire aesthetic is unique and emotional for players. The found footage aspect could be expanded upon, but game makers can do that on their own. I enjoy that aspect immensely. This game stole my heart, I can honestly say its my favorite game to play, provided I’m amid friends who can get into it. The players really make the game.
The game has interesting structure, I didn’t find it too hard to learn, although you want to spend a good amount of time getting to know this game before you host one. It helps to get online and watch a play through, although I will say that if you’re paying attention to how narrative works, many of the well-meaning game makers take narrative control when they shouldn’t—this is common I think, if the players are going cold, but I personally like to ask questions to keep them moving and motivated. When my players seem a little stuck, I tend to remind them of “established truths”, so they don’t overlook a new introduced aspect/element/resource, or, I ask them what they think is most important to their character or group at the moment. They start moving all on their own.
You do not want to take narrative where it isn’t merited yet, because it makes it much less interesting when you finally have to take narrative. If you’ve been telling the story and deciding things for your group the whole time, there’s no contrast, dread, or shock by the time you’re seizing constant control via dice and end-game. They lose that horrible sensation of having no control, which is what makes ten candles so grim.
One last thing to share - I played with a group that had only one frequent RPGer. The rest of the players had never played an RPG before. One player in particular complained about the amount of time the game was going to take, and didn’t have much faith in the game being fun. That same player went in for a second game, making for a total of 7 hours of straight Ten-Candle game play. The entire table was down for the second game. They instantly fell in love. They couldn’t wait to play the second game now that they had their rhythm. It’s that kind of game.
Ten Candles was my top-find of 2017, and one of RPGs best kept secrets. If you have a horror fan in your life, even if RPG hasn’t been their thing before, you may want to introduce them to Ten Candles—here is a quick explanation (Very quick, several things not mentioned, but this is a general how-to)
**Light Spoilers**
I think my review is particularly valuable because I am not an RPGer. My friends Tyler & Emily merely gave me a brief description about this game and I bought it immediately. Like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, or Call of Cthulhu, Ten Candles is a tabletop role playing game, but unlike those three games, ten candles is a one-and-done game play. I’ve played three games now, and they average about three and a half hours max. Most go a little shorter.
I am also not a fan of tabletop rpgs. I don’t like playing one character who needs to constantly upgrade and update, to go on various adventures to little or no end, for weeks upon weeks, hoping that every game player can be in sync with schedules to keep the ball rolling. Ten Candles is built to play one time. Ten Candles, while giving your characters a guaranteed mortality, also gives your character closure and substance that most other RPGs are starved of. Since survival isn’t an option, the game does a great job of giving your character objective in it’s dark world.
I played 2 games as a game maker, and one as a player. This game is fantastic because really, everyone has some form of narrative control. Not just for your character but for the antagonists, for other characters, for circumstances, for everything. It’s impossible to play the same game twice.
There’s also a lot of flexibility with the modules. I look forward to writing some of my own. The game’s fire aesthetic is unique and emotional for players. The found footage aspect could be expanded upon, but game makers can do that on their own. I enjoy that aspect immensely. This game stole my heart, I can honestly say its my favorite game to play, provided I’m amid friends who can get into it. The players really make the game.
The game has interesting structure, I didn’t find it too hard to learn, although you want to spend a good amount of time getting to know this game before you host one. It helps to get online and watch a play through, although I will say that if you’re paying attention to how narrative works, many of the well-meaning game makers take narrative control when they shouldn’t—this is common I think, if the players are going cold, but I personally like to ask questions to keep them moving and motivated. When my players seem a little stuck, I tend to remind them of “established truths”, so they don’t overlook a new introduced aspect/element/resource, or, I ask them what they think is most important to their character or group at the moment. They start moving all on their own.
You do not want to take narrative where it isn’t merited yet, because it makes it much less interesting when you finally have to take narrative. If you’ve been telling the story and deciding things for your group the whole time, there’s no contrast, dread, or shock by the time you’re seizing constant control via dice and end-game. They lose that horrible sensation of having no control, which is what makes ten candles so grim.
One last thing to share - I played with a group that had only one frequent RPGer. The rest of the players had never played an RPG before. One player in particular complained about the amount of time the game was going to take, and didn’t have much faith in the game being fun. That same player went in for a second game, making for a total of 7 hours of straight Ten-Candle game play. The entire table was down for the second game. They instantly fell in love. They couldn’t wait to play the second game now that they had their rhythm. It’s that kind of game.
Ten Candles was my top-find of 2017, and one of RPGs best kept secrets. If you have a horror fan in your life, even if RPG hasn’t been their thing before, you may want to introduce them to Ten Candles—here is a quick explanation (Very quick, several things not mentioned, but this is a general how-to)
January 4, 2021
Perhaps the best RPG book I've read in years, and (un)surprisingly I've read a few. Concise, and strangely beautiful, Ten Candles offers a "tragic horror" experience wherein every single player character is killed by the final scene.
Certainly bleak, but Ten Candles feels defiant all the same. It is the distillation of every RPG character's life into a few hours - you scavenge for loot, encounter harder and harder challenges, and then face at last an enemy not even you can defeat. It feels like life distilled into a single horror RPG, with compelling and scary mechanics. It cuts away any of the fat that one could say plagues a traditional tabletop RPG - XP grinding, long and complex stories - and asks your players to sacrifice any thoughts of an ongoing narrative they can get invested in to a story you tell over one night, and theoretically remember for many years to come. For isn't that what these games are about, at their core? Sharing a story? They can be about stat grinding and min-maxing and what have you, but that's very far from my interest in them. I play these games to challenge the people playing them to tell a story with me, as crazy and off-rails as it may go. But original intent means nothing with these games, and especially not with Ten Candles. The opening plan of a "module" might seem straightforward. But I suspect it rarely remains that way.
I can't wait to play it.
Certainly bleak, but Ten Candles feels defiant all the same. It is the distillation of every RPG character's life into a few hours - you scavenge for loot, encounter harder and harder challenges, and then face at last an enemy not even you can defeat. It feels like life distilled into a single horror RPG, with compelling and scary mechanics. It cuts away any of the fat that one could say plagues a traditional tabletop RPG - XP grinding, long and complex stories - and asks your players to sacrifice any thoughts of an ongoing narrative they can get invested in to a story you tell over one night, and theoretically remember for many years to come. For isn't that what these games are about, at their core? Sharing a story? They can be about stat grinding and min-maxing and what have you, but that's very far from my interest in them. I play these games to challenge the people playing them to tell a story with me, as crazy and off-rails as it may go. But original intent means nothing with these games, and especially not with Ten Candles. The opening plan of a "module" might seem straightforward. But I suspect it rarely remains that way.
I can't wait to play it.
April 11, 2021
This seems like it would be so cool to play.
February 16, 2023
The recent (as of February 2023) PR disaster involving Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro and their disastrous handling of the restrictive changes they intended to make to the OGL (which would, in practice, impose massive restriction on independent content creators for D&D) brought about a new interest in independent and niche RPGs... and players looking out to expand beyond the borders of legacy games could do far worse than look out to innovative games like Ten Candles. The creators seems a firm believer in the "less is more" motto and has certainly put a lot of time and effort in streamlining this atmospheric survival game is not to gear up to the maximum to slay as many monsters as you can, but to sit around a table to tell a tragic story of doomed-from-the-start characters who dare to face Them and the darkness in which they thrive (and will inevitably win). And that story is told literally by candlight... the ten candles of the book's title. And that system is a stroke of genius: as players fail in actions (and consequently get to use increasingly less dice to solve the obstacles with they are faced), the candles are put out one by one, until darknesses prevails and all the characters perish, hopefully in the most heroic and meaningful way possible. Of course, the system is a bit more complex than that, but overall the system involves a collective way to create characters and to handle how the world is fleshed out. And that is a modern trend in RPGs that is not always well handled, but which, in the case of Ten Candles seems quite successful (and it is certainly exhilarating). In conclusion, this game is friendly enough to welcome new players and complex enough to open new paths for experienced players.
December 27, 2021
This is a collaborative horror storytelling "game", with ONE cool, original idea: using the candles for atmosphere and increasing tension/dread, as you blowing them out at the end of each "chapter", leaving fewer and fewer until the story concludes. However, that's about all it's got going for it. It makes zero suggestions as to what the characters are facing, you all come up with that.
And finally, the worst aspect of this game: character generation winds up with the players to your right and left determining more about the character you will play than you do, so you're probably not going to be too invested in it.
And finally, the worst aspect of this game: character generation winds up with the players to your right and left determining more about the character you will play than you do, so you're probably not going to be too invested in it.
November 14, 2024
Eerie, chilling, dark, atmospheric, can’t wait to play it
January 6, 2022
A peculiar RPG, light on rules, heavy on narrative and involvement of players in creating the story; it's marked as tragedy horror, as the characters are all going to die in the end, trying to find hope in a world which has turned black.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2022
First, the premise: the sun, moon, and stars have been blotted out of the sky. Players are a part of a group of survivors looking for safety in the aftermath of society's fall, but also from Them, the antagonistic force that helps drive the narrative. Perhaps there is salvation in the light. Perhaps.
What's the twist? The game is described as, "tragic horror," (as opposed to survival horror). At its core, this distinction is made because the players' characters will not survive the telling of the tale. Players and the game master are asked not to min-mix, not to find the "right" or "best" way; they are simply asked to tell the best possible story they can together.
Pros:
- The system is rules-light, meaning no character sheets or complicated mechanics. This means the barrier to entry is pretty low.
- The game specifically encourages the use of props to build tension (e.g. actually having the eponymous "10 candles," around the table so they can be interacted with as the game progresses).
- The game includes a fair amount of potential scenarios, including a few "user submitted," options.
Cons:
- Though the game includes a number of potential scenarios, some seem more ready-to-run than others. The user submitted content, for example, seems to vacillate pretty wildly in tone. Also, a lot of the scenarios boil down to "you're running out of supplies / can't stay where you are, so try to get to this other, presumably safer place." Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that most of the scenarios are no more than 2 paragraphs long. Oof.
- The rulebook doesn't include a lot of art. To some this might be just a nit-pick, but I think art can help establish the tone / "feel" of a setting and inspire GMs and players. In short, having more is almost always a plus. In its current state, the game includes 5 pieces of art over its 100-ish page run (if you include the cover).
- Given the dark tone of the game's premise, I wish the manual would've done more to discuss TTRPG "safety tools," like the "X Card." Moreover, I think the game would benefit from a section on how to "debrief," after the game wraps up, especially given how heavy a given session is likely to be.
- This isn't a con, per se, but it's more-or-less a foregone conclusion that the game will have a dark tone. The players are asked to be both an "advocate and an antagonist," to their characters, and the GM is explicitly instructed to inform players that their characters will die in the end. Basically, I wouldn't begrudge anyone who wanted something lighter for game night.
Conclusion:
I think this game has a lot going for it, especially for those looking for a game that's shorter to run and darker in tone than many other mainstream options on the market (e.g. D&D, Pathfinder, etc). While I don't think it'll ever be my go-to game because of the tone and abbreviated storytelling style, I have no doubt that it'll make for great one-shots and changes of pace when my friends want something different than the typical fantasy fare. Perhaps the biggest compliment I could give this game is that I could totally see playing it as a Halloween tradition.
Read more reviews at: Quinn's Curios
What's the twist? The game is described as, "tragic horror," (as opposed to survival horror). At its core, this distinction is made because the players' characters will not survive the telling of the tale. Players and the game master are asked not to min-mix, not to find the "right" or "best" way; they are simply asked to tell the best possible story they can together.
Pros:
- The system is rules-light, meaning no character sheets or complicated mechanics. This means the barrier to entry is pretty low.
- The game specifically encourages the use of props to build tension (e.g. actually having the eponymous "10 candles," around the table so they can be interacted with as the game progresses).
- The game includes a fair amount of potential scenarios, including a few "user submitted," options.
Cons:
- Though the game includes a number of potential scenarios, some seem more ready-to-run than others. The user submitted content, for example, seems to vacillate pretty wildly in tone. Also, a lot of the scenarios boil down to "you're running out of supplies / can't stay where you are, so try to get to this other, presumably safer place." Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that most of the scenarios are no more than 2 paragraphs long. Oof.
- The rulebook doesn't include a lot of art. To some this might be just a nit-pick, but I think art can help establish the tone / "feel" of a setting and inspire GMs and players. In short, having more is almost always a plus. In its current state, the game includes 5 pieces of art over its 100-ish page run (if you include the cover).
- Given the dark tone of the game's premise, I wish the manual would've done more to discuss TTRPG "safety tools," like the "X Card." Moreover, I think the game would benefit from a section on how to "debrief," after the game wraps up, especially given how heavy a given session is likely to be.
- This isn't a con, per se, but it's more-or-less a foregone conclusion that the game will have a dark tone. The players are asked to be both an "advocate and an antagonist," to their characters, and the GM is explicitly instructed to inform players that their characters will die in the end. Basically, I wouldn't begrudge anyone who wanted something lighter for game night.
Conclusion:
I think this game has a lot going for it, especially for those looking for a game that's shorter to run and darker in tone than many other mainstream options on the market (e.g. D&D, Pathfinder, etc). While I don't think it'll ever be my go-to game because of the tone and abbreviated storytelling style, I have no doubt that it'll make for great one-shots and changes of pace when my friends want something different than the typical fantasy fare. Perhaps the biggest compliment I could give this game is that I could totally see playing it as a Halloween tradition.
Read more reviews at: Quinn's Curios
January 21, 2017
This is a really intense and fantastic game, presented in an easy-to-read, easy-to-grasp, easy-to-follow manner. Through the game, you tell a story of tragic horror in which every character will die in the apocalypse that blotted out the sun weeks before. Think Cormac McCarthy's The Road meets Pitch Black. There is a GM who works with the players to create an ad lib story of darkness, desperation, and hope against all odds. The rules of the game evoke horror by using lit tea candles to visually mark the scenes; as the characters get closer and closer to their doom, the lights go out one by one, leaving all the players huddling in what light remains to read the dice and tell their stories like campers over a dying fire. It's awesome.
There's a lot of cleverness here, and the game is quick to read and quick to get to the table. At the back of the book are a number of modules that allow you to tell a wildly different story each time you play.
I highly recommend this game!
There's a lot of cleverness here, and the game is quick to read and quick to get to the table. At the back of the book are a number of modules that allow you to tell a wildly different story each time you play.
I highly recommend this game!
June 14, 2019
Wonderful, creative, with unique mechanics. It doesn't happen often that reading a rulebook makes me itch to go out and play this marvelous game immediately! It's like Stephen King's The Mist as an RPG, tragic horror, death being imminent, allowing a deep story.
January 10, 2024
this is the most excited i've been to GM a game just from reading the rules, i'm so excited to play it!!
January 18, 2022
Honestly the best roleplaying game (and I emphasise ROLEplaying) game I have yet played.
February 4, 2024
This is one of the most well-designed role-playing games I have ever heard of. This little rulebook is all you need to start a night of tragic horror storytelling with your friends or game group. Well, this rulebook and a few candles, dice, pens, and paper. Nonetheless, the rules are very simple to understand and equally simple to explain to your players. I ran this game for the first time last night and we had an absolute blast. We crafted a four-hour dark horror story that I'm sure I will think (or dream) about for months to come. You can make it as creepy or light-hearted as you want, though I think this game works best with a group of serious horror afficionados. Of course horror role-playing is more niche than fantasy or sci-fi. Also, for some inexperienced players, this game might provide a little less framework than they'd like. Otherwise, however, there is no way to go wrong with this little spooky booklet that will provide you with hours of darkness, tragedy and... gaming table fun.
November 28, 2021
These Things Are Known: The World is Dark and We Are Alive.
All natural light has gone out. The sun has vanished. The stars are gone. Even the moon no longer hangs in the sky of this endless night. Infrastructure begins to fail and even artificial light is now down to a few buildings powered by unreliable generators and battery-eating flashlights. This was bad enough but humanity could find a way to get through it.
But then.. They came.
Thus is the premise of Ten Candles, a storytelling horror roleplaying game. The players take on the roles of survivors of this apocalypse with a concrete hope just out of reach. They can get there and perhaps they can accomplish something of meaning. But distance and Them stand between. Ten Candles is for dark moody horror and this is exemplified in one of the most concrete mechanics: In the last scene, every character will die. So why play, you ask? To find meaning in those deaths. To share in a unique and melancholic experience. The GM is not out to 'get' the players. The GM is part of this storytelling process and for most of the first part of the game they probably won't have much narrative control.
The central mechanics beautifully play in to desperation and resignation setting in. In the beginning the players have a communal dice pool equal to the number of remaining candles. When something which could have negative or positive consequences occurs the GM may call for a conflict roll. The player rolls all the dice in the pool. If even a single die shows a '6' the roll is successful. However, any dice that show a '1' are removed for the rest of this scene. Characters have traits that can be burned for benefits (Literally. You write the trait on an index card and burn it when you use it). When a roll is failed, a candle is snuffed out, and the scene moves on. The dice pool is refilled but with fewer candles there are fewer dice. Additionally, dice lost to snuffed out candles go to the GM who begins rolling against the players. If the GM gets more 6s than the player, the GM gets narrative control of the outcome. This doesn't necessarily mean the GM is encouraged to make it a failure, but you should keep ramping up the dangers and the horrors as we build to the inevitable bloody conclusion. When each candle is snuffed out the players go through a mantra "These Things are True" and then name one thing of narrative significance each for each candle remaining until the last candle gives the final mantra of "And We Are Alive." These truths could be positive or negative. They can build on each other but they cannot contradict one another. Once something is out there, it is true. As the candle goes out (and candles going out for any reason counts) there are fewer truths for the players to supply.
Ten Candles may not have the most replayability, but it does have some. The Them will be different in each session and their powers and potential weaknesses and even what they are will be decided by the players and GM in the narrative of the game. The game itself provides such a singularly unique experience that I don't think anyone will want to play again immediately after the game ends. At least not for a bit. You'll need time to digest the game and for it to settle.
The book is written in clear language and it reads fast. The last 20 or so pages comprise a series of modules (That is, themes and locations and basic plots for a session. Narrative control still falls to the people at the table and no specific moments are scripted). These are hit or miss but most are at least thought provoking and you should get some idea of where you'd go with the idea with minimal brain power after reading it.
Ten Candles is a slick product and it tells stories that have teeth. Perhaps literally.
All natural light has gone out. The sun has vanished. The stars are gone. Even the moon no longer hangs in the sky of this endless night. Infrastructure begins to fail and even artificial light is now down to a few buildings powered by unreliable generators and battery-eating flashlights. This was bad enough but humanity could find a way to get through it.
But then.. They came.
Thus is the premise of Ten Candles, a storytelling horror roleplaying game. The players take on the roles of survivors of this apocalypse with a concrete hope just out of reach. They can get there and perhaps they can accomplish something of meaning. But distance and Them stand between. Ten Candles is for dark moody horror and this is exemplified in one of the most concrete mechanics: In the last scene, every character will die. So why play, you ask? To find meaning in those deaths. To share in a unique and melancholic experience. The GM is not out to 'get' the players. The GM is part of this storytelling process and for most of the first part of the game they probably won't have much narrative control.
The central mechanics beautifully play in to desperation and resignation setting in. In the beginning the players have a communal dice pool equal to the number of remaining candles. When something which could have negative or positive consequences occurs the GM may call for a conflict roll. The player rolls all the dice in the pool. If even a single die shows a '6' the roll is successful. However, any dice that show a '1' are removed for the rest of this scene. Characters have traits that can be burned for benefits (Literally. You write the trait on an index card and burn it when you use it). When a roll is failed, a candle is snuffed out, and the scene moves on. The dice pool is refilled but with fewer candles there are fewer dice. Additionally, dice lost to snuffed out candles go to the GM who begins rolling against the players. If the GM gets more 6s than the player, the GM gets narrative control of the outcome. This doesn't necessarily mean the GM is encouraged to make it a failure, but you should keep ramping up the dangers and the horrors as we build to the inevitable bloody conclusion. When each candle is snuffed out the players go through a mantra "These Things are True" and then name one thing of narrative significance each for each candle remaining until the last candle gives the final mantra of "And We Are Alive." These truths could be positive or negative. They can build on each other but they cannot contradict one another. Once something is out there, it is true. As the candle goes out (and candles going out for any reason counts) there are fewer truths for the players to supply.
Ten Candles may not have the most replayability, but it does have some. The Them will be different in each session and their powers and potential weaknesses and even what they are will be decided by the players and GM in the narrative of the game. The game itself provides such a singularly unique experience that I don't think anyone will want to play again immediately after the game ends. At least not for a bit. You'll need time to digest the game and for it to settle.
The book is written in clear language and it reads fast. The last 20 or so pages comprise a series of modules (That is, themes and locations and basic plots for a session. Narrative control still falls to the people at the table and no specific moments are scripted). These are hit or miss but most are at least thought provoking and you should get some idea of where you'd go with the idea with minimal brain power after reading it.
Ten Candles is a slick product and it tells stories that have teeth. Perhaps literally.
March 5, 2022
I was dead set on four stars for most of this read, because I really love the foundation of Ten Candles and the amount of emotion a good table can pull out of the setup, but I was wondering why it was so focused on the single gimmick of “the world loses light.” This is a great concept, but I can’t see myself running that more than once with the same people because it just circles itself too quickly: faltering generator, flickering flashlight, sputtering car. However, in the modules section, I found this:
“Breaking The Mold: You may have noticed that the above module breaks away from the default setting of “the world is dark” and replaces it with the setup for a classic teen slasher flick. Ten Candles can be used as a foundation to run any form of tragic horror game, and advanced or adventurous players should feel free to run such games where the world is not dark, or games where the GM has decided what They are from the beginning (such as in the case of a zombie apocalypse or alien invasion session, for example). Feel free to break the mold and run any kind of horror story you want!”
I had spent the entire time I read this rulebook coming up with a way to use this as an exposition drop for a larger story, because I genuinely think the world-building opportunities it gives the players are great, but the dark world concept just didn’t work for me. I’m glad to see them take that into account. It’s also just a good reminder that any rulebook for a ttrpg is only a guideline, and you are supposed to throw out any rules that would make the game less fun for your table.
“Breaking The Mold: You may have noticed that the above module breaks away from the default setting of “the world is dark” and replaces it with the setup for a classic teen slasher flick. Ten Candles can be used as a foundation to run any form of tragic horror game, and advanced or adventurous players should feel free to run such games where the world is not dark, or games where the GM has decided what They are from the beginning (such as in the case of a zombie apocalypse or alien invasion session, for example). Feel free to break the mold and run any kind of horror story you want!”
I had spent the entire time I read this rulebook coming up with a way to use this as an exposition drop for a larger story, because I genuinely think the world-building opportunities it gives the players are great, but the dark world concept just didn’t work for me. I’m glad to see them take that into account. It’s also just a good reminder that any rulebook for a ttrpg is only a guideline, and you are supposed to throw out any rules that would make the game less fun for your table.
August 19, 2018
Second reading, as I prep for a session this autumn. A unique, well-conceived one-shot horror RPG experience which uses tea candles, six-sided dice and a recording device to mechanically compel its doomed narrative. Zero prep required once you know the rules, which are simple but sensible, and you can either choose one of the scenarios from the book or create your own. The book is a brisk read and there isn't much confusion to be had. The one caveat is that certain types of tabletop players might find it difficult to adapt to this sort of shared-storytelling. There is still a GM, with a very important role, but players will also be taking part of the narrative and scene-building upon themselves, so if you know folks that are uncomfortable being the center of attention, or participating in storytelling type board/card games, they might not be the best fit. That said, Ten Candles could prove an EXCELLENT way to draw them out of their shell. All told, this is a superb standalone product, an indie RPG worth supporting, which can be enjoyed repeatedly, since the stories will always be different, even if the outcome is the same.
November 29, 2020
I'd be willing to play with the right group of people. It really is "collaborative storytelling" with the dice determining who controls the narrative, so you would need people who are willing to take that on. The emphasis is absolutely on story, not on winning. In fact, you cannot win. Of course, the candles and all the other trappings are brilliant.
Here is the creator's YouTube video on how to play.
Here is the creator's YouTube video on how to play.
July 24, 2021
This game is great fun.
The book itself can be read through by the DM in the afternoon and played in the evening. It is written in a clear and straightforward way, the mechanics are easy to understand and play through. Overall, we didn't hit any major snafus that didn't balance themselves out a bit further in the game. The examples are written to help underscore the point they're making and do not detract or confuse the issue.
Overall, great core book for a fun, lighthearted game.
The book itself can be read through by the DM in the afternoon and played in the evening. It is written in a clear and straightforward way, the mechanics are easy to understand and play through. Overall, we didn't hit any major snafus that didn't balance themselves out a bit further in the game. The examples are written to help underscore the point they're making and do not detract or confuse the issue.
Overall, great core book for a fun, lighthearted game.
November 21, 2022
very interesting rpg where PCs are doomed from the very begining,but they have much to say about their grotesque death.
A gema where in the beginning, the players have most of the narrative authority but smoothly shifts to the GM as the lights are going out.
Good mechanics, lots of examples and a good bunch of scenarios to spice up the thing. And of course a very clever use of the candles as a prop. Very recommended
A gema where in the beginning, the players have most of the narrative authority but smoothly shifts to the GM as the lights are going out.
Good mechanics, lots of examples and a good bunch of scenarios to spice up the thing. And of course a very clever use of the candles as a prop. Very recommended
June 18, 2018
This is a very cool concept for this beginner in the role playing world. I am already preparing to play this game. It is a very simple mechanic and has so much potential for making great stories. Storytelling is the best part and I love that this is geared for just that.
January 15, 2023
It was a simple and short read. Setting up the scenario for my group of friends was fun and we had a blast. It seems more like a one and done game though there are modules to play it multiple times. I am still figuring out how I can do another run through with it.
June 10, 2019
Cannot wait to start running this game. I’m thinking it will be great for my RPG classes.
February 6, 2020
Can't wait to play! Thank you to Dicebreakers for shouting this system out.
March 20, 2021
An intriguing tabletop rpg, though it's much more story-focused than most. I'm excited to run it for some friends on a dark night.
March 25, 2021
Great way to include rules into the atmosphere of the game itself without having it feel gimmicky.
November 5, 2022
An absolutely excellent RPG that just keeps getting tenser until an excellent dénoûment. Would heartily recommend
October 16, 2023
This is just amazing, I can't wait to grab some friends and play it
October 23, 2023
Amazing! Super interesting and I’m excited to run it, I’ll have to come back once I’ve done so
November 3, 2023
Não acho que eu tenha encontrado na vida um RPG tão bom pra jogar com pessoas iniciantes. Sensacional
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2024
Amazing game! Can’t wait to play it.
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